On October 22, the City will hold a community-wide open house to provide a forum for additional public input, to discuss the lessons learned from the Tent City experience, and to provide an overview of the draft Temporary Encampment ordinance.
You Are Invited…
Community Open House Regarding Tent City
October 22, 2009
7 to 9 pm
Community Center at Mercer View
For three months beginning in August of 2008, the Mercer Island United Methodist Church hosted Tent City 4, a temporary homeless encampment managed by SHARE/WHEEL, a non-profit homeless advocacy organization. To read background information about Tent City’s stay on Mercer Island, please visit www.mercergov.org/tentcity.
At the June 20, 2009 Council Mini-Planning Session, the City Council directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance for Council’s consideration. The City Council asked to have an ordinance ready to pass no later than January 31, 2010. The Council directed staff to hold a public meeting with the First Hill neighborhood to receive their input and perspective regarding their experiences related to the 2008 hosting of Tent City, as well as a community wide public meeting to respond to the draft ordinance. City staff held a public meeting on August 25 at the Mercer Island United Methodist Church to receive input from the greater First Hill Neighborhood.
The draft ordinance will be presented to the Mercer Island Planning Commission on October 7 for a first reading and discussion. To view the documents related to the Temporary Encampment ordinance, please see the Planning Commission Agenda. Comments and questions can be directed to George Steirer, Principal Planner at 206.275.7719 or george.steirer@mercergov.org. | 
