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Council moves Town Center parking ordinance to second reading without mobile app for on‑street spaces; app still planned for commuter lot
Summary
After debate about enforcement and accessibility, Mercer Island City Council voted 4–2 to send Ordinance 25 C‑03 back for second reading in May with on‑street two‑hour parking implemented without a required mobile app; the recently built Town Center commuter lot will continue with a paid, app‑based system.
The Mercer Island City Council on April 15 approved a motion to return Ordinance 25 C‑03 (Town Center parking regulations) for second reading and final adoption in May, directing staff to implement two hours of free on‑street parking in Town Center without requiring a mobile app while keeping app‑based paid parking at the new Town Center commuter lot.
City staff and police officials told the council the decision represents a tradeoff between enforcement practicality and public preference. Commander Mark Seifert of the Mercer Island Police Department said parking enforcement is “a secondary issue to public safety” and described limits on officer time and current enforcement practices. He warned that manual enforcement (chalk or two‑point checks) is time‑intensive and difficult to sustain with existing patrol staffing.
The ordinance as drafted establishes definitions (including a block definition to prevent immediate re‑parking in the same area), authorizes the city to regulate parking by official signs, and contemplates use of a parking payment device and mobile provider. Management Analyst Amelia Chyden presented the code language and explained how ParkMobile would operate for the paid commuter lot, including free registration for the first two hours and a $2.50 hourly charge thereafter to a $12.50 daily maximum.
Supporters of dropping the app requirement for on‑street spaces said the community strongly prefers a simple free two‑hour limit without an app. Council member Weinberg, who seconded the motion, said the measure was a compromise between staff needs and public feedback and urged an “open mind” to revisiting the approach later.
Opponents warned enforcement without an app may fail to provide the consistent turnover businesses want. Council member Reynolds said he feared inadequate enforcement would harm downtown merchants and said enforcement reliability should be a focus.
Under the council motion, the Town Center commuter lot (the former Tully site) will open with the app and pay structure; on‑street parking will be signed as two‑hour parking with staff using a combination of existing enforcement tools. Staff recommended directing any net revenue first to cover the ParkMobile subscription (about $500/month if used for on‑street) and any excess toward enforcement.
The council directed staff to return the ordinance for a May reading reflecting the change and to carry out community outreach before launch.
