Why we Need a Public Safety and Maintenance Building: Specialized Functions Require Unique Space; Consolidating staff, equipment, and operations is critical and cost-effective.
While the Mercer Island Police Department are working out temporary trailers, the current building that houses our public works team and equipment was built over 50 years ago. Our team and equipment need updated systems, storage space, a workspace that supports them in the work they do to keep Mercer Island utilities like water, storm water, roads, tree canopies and our park maintenance services running smoothly. This new facility will also house an emergency operations center so City staff can keep islanders safe during natural disasters and emergencies.
Our Police Department Needs A Permanent Space
Our police department has been working out of portables and trailers since 2023 when our former City Hall was permanently closed. The police department has lost accreditation as a result, and the current facilities make it harder to recruit and retain officers.
Our City's Police and Public Services vehicles need a storage, maintenance, and deployment covered fleet home base.
Our 180 city service support vehicles - including police vehicles, utility vehicles, snowplow equipment, sewage system pumpers, street sweepers, etc - need a central, organized, covered location for easy, emergency access, maintenance, and preservation.
We Need an Emergency Operations Center
Our community's emergency operations supplies and equipment need to be better organized and emergency-ready than in a storage container outside of the MI Community Center. Given increasingly harsh winter weather, regional threat of earthquakes, and variety of potential manmade emergencies, our trained and prepared City staff need to have a better base for being ready to go and work through whatever emergency arises with an Emergency Operations Center that works for Islanders.
Storing supplies and equipment outside minimizes staff efficiency and reduces the equipment's access and long-term viability
Given current storage and covered space constraints, much of our City's expensive equipment and supplies of all kind must be kept outside and or without sufficient organization and access to city staff working every day on our utility infrastructure - roads, water systems, sewer lines, open spaces, facilities, etc. Having one building with shared and easily accessible tools, supplies, and equipment inventory will help our city staff be more organized, efficient, and able to more quickly complete projects or manage emergencies.
The existing buildings are inadequate
The current Public Works building is too small, unsafe, and failing - with leaks, poor heating, and even a series of portable restrooms.
Snow response is a critical service
Islanders expect a more effective snow response than when our facilities were built 50+ years ago. The current setup takes hours longer for plows to be ready to get on the road, meaning a slower and less efficient response clearing each of our neighborhoods.