After an unexpectedly heated discussion during its last meeting of 2015, the Mercer Island City Council voted 6-1 to order a cake honoring the service of outgoing council member Mark Uno. The sole dissenting vote was cast by council member Mark Uno. It was Uno’s 348th time on the losing side of a 6-1 vote in his eight years on the council.
“Once again the majority of my colleagues are proposing to recklessly venture into uncharted territory,” said Uno. “Before you know it, city employees will expect us to order cakes for their retirements or, heaven forbid, on their birthdays. There’s no way the city budget can sustain this kind of profligacy without a massive tax increase.”
A second council member threatened to vote against the measure until proponents agreed to include a gluten-free option.
Local citizen activist Ian Peachpit testified in opposition to ordering the cake, calling it “a complete betrayal of traditional Mercer Island values”, but added that if the motion passes, the Washington Open Public Meetings Act requires that he be allowed to videotape the baking, cutting, and eating of the cake.
The meeting also included a thirty-minute discussion of whether paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils would be covered by the measure. This matter was referred to the city attorney for further review.
“For crying out loud!” retorted Deputy Mayor Don Grouch. “I was just going to drive over to the QFC and pick up one of their delicious chocolate fudge cakes. I’ll even pay for it with my own money.”
The council tabled a separate resolution concerning who would get the first piece.