Survey shows Mercer Island voters branded the 2025 facilities measure 'too expensive'; staff report paths to scaled proposals and EV and climate progress

Mercer Island officials briefed council on March 3 about two interlocking items: the results of a statistically valid survey about a failed 2025 facilities measure, and progress on the city's climate action work, including an electric-vehicle charging plan.

Survey results and interpretation

Consultant Ian Stewart of Fulcrrim Strategy Group presented a 400-interview, voter-only survey and an open public survey. The statistically valid survey matched the ballot outcome closely: in the study instrument 55% of respondents supported the measure while election results were 55/45.

Stewart said the measure's dominant brand among voters was cost. "The brand of the November 2025 measure was its cost and the property tax increase," he said. Respondents who opposed the measure most often cited the property-tax size and concerns over whether the city would spend money wisely. However, the consultant emphasized that a substantial share of voters — including many who opposed the measure — indicated they would support a scaled, lower-cost package if key features were trimmed.

Survey takeaways for council: awareness of the facilities situation was uneven (roughly a quarter of voters said they had not paid attention), the top priorities for a smaller package include a permanent home for the police department, maintaining parks/streets/utilities and earthquake-resilient design, and there is a persuadable middle that outreach and transparency could reach.

Climate and sustainability updates

Sustainability Program Manager Alana Deratus reported the city's 2024 greenhouse gas inventory is down 8% from a 2007 baseline and 21% on a per-capita basis. She described a successful PSE (PSSE in the presentation) green-power campaign: "we ended the year with 142 total new enrollments," and said the city had secured $12,500 in PSE support for a community solar project.

Deratus also reported the Energy Smart Eastside heat-pump program recorded 26 installations last year (52 total to date) including income-qualified installs subsidized by grants. She and consultant staff previewed an EV charging infrastructure plan (municipal and community phases) that models demand, prioritizes multifamily / equity gaps and estimates municipal fleet needs.

EV charging and municipal fleet highlights

Consultant Eleanor Garrett (EXP) and staff presented the municipal fleet analysis: a full municipal EV transition would require roughly 64 charging ports (including about 18 DC fast chargers) and about 2.5 megawatts of additional power capacity. The consultants said electrification increases initial capital costs but reduces long-term operating costs in many vehicle classes and advised phased, site-prioritized rollouts that pair city-owned chargers with incentives for private and multifamily properties.

What's next: staff said they will continue outreach and refine any scaled facility package and will finalize the EV charging community plan in June with implementation recommendations, potential funding sources and prioritized sites.

Sources: Fulcrrim Strategy Group (Ian Stewart); Alana Deratus, Sustainability Program Manager; Eleanor Garrett, EXP.