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Council approves $130,000 carry‑forward and $150,000 appropriation for facilities planning, transfers $587,594 from street fund
Summary
The Mercer Island City Council voted unanimously Jan. 20 to carry forward roughly $130,000 for public safety and maintenance (PSM) campus site work and to transfer $587,594 from the street fund — including a $150,000 appropriation for space planning at the 9655 Building — directing staff to return with findings in March 2026.
The Mercer Island City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to carry forward about $130,000 remaining from the 2025 Public Safety and Maintenance (PSM) facility project to finish site work and geotechnical assessment, and to transfer $587,594 from the street fund to the capital improvement fund, appropriating $150,000 to complete space‑planning at the 9655 Building and to revisit options for the Luther Burbank administration building.
City Manager Jesse Bond and staff told council the package is a follow‑up to the recent bond measure and is intended to preserve the work already completed while the city reconsiders project scope and alternatives. "We're not starting over," Bond said, adding that the new consultant will build on prior site work and that the work in the next six to eight weeks will produce cost estimates and options to inform future decisions.
The motion to carry forward the PSM funds was moved by Deputy Mayor Debbie Mayer Becker and seconded by Council member Reynolds; the motion passed on a roll call with all councilmembers voting Aye. A separate motion, also moved by Deputy Mayor Becker and seconded by Council member Reynolds, transferred $587,594 from the street fund to the capital improvement fund and appropriated $150,000 for the 9655 Building space planning; that motion also passed unanimously.
Finance Director Matt Mordnick explained that the street fund transfer complies with eligible uses because the funds moved will be applied to projects involving parks, streets and open space, and staff said they will realign fund accounting to preserve the "color of revenue" as required by law. Council members asked for a concise explanation of the reconciliation steps and for clear documentation of which capital projects the street funds will cover.
The motions direct staff to complete the site work and geotechnical assessment on the City Hall and Public Works campus, refine cost estimates for renovating or reusing the 9655 Building and Luther Burbank building, and return to council in March 2026 with findings and preliminary alternatives. Bond said the consultant has already begun preliminary work and that any further phases would depend on council direction in February and March.
The council did not adopt a design or construction contract tonight; instead, the actions fund near‑term planning and analysis so the council can make informed choices about whether to downsize the original PSM scope, renovate existing facilities or pursue a new building.
