City council reluctant on annexation

By John Santana

Mill Creek Enterprise Editor

Three hours of discussion Tuesday night did not result in a decision as to whether or not the city will annex areas east of 35th Avenue SE. But a majority of council members appear to be against annexing many of the residential areas to the east of the city.

Despite expressing reservations about annexation, council members asked city manager Robert Stowe and finance director Joanne Gregory to give more detailed analysis of potential impacts to city finances and services as a result of annexation.

In a memo to council members, Stowe suggested getting the annexation process started now so the city can control what type of residential and commercial development gets built in the areas.

“I am confident that the city will be able to provide the same level of service that exists today to the (new) areas without a subsidy from the city’s current taxpayers,” Stowe wrote in the memo.

During Tuesday’s workshop prior to the regular city council meeting, a majority of council members expressed a desire to annex an area known as the northeast quadrant. That area is bordered on the north by 132nd Street SE and on the west by 35th Avenue SE, with the current city limits to the west and south. The area includes the Thomas Lake Shopping Center, an area likely to bring in an estimated $1.4 million annually to city coffers in terms of sales taxes.

Council, however, questioned the city’s estimates of potential revenues from Thomas Lake. Council member John Start and Mayor Terry Ryan both urged for a more detailed analysis of potential revenues. Start said all the potential annexation areas to the east would create new expenses the city might not be able to meet.

Council member John Hudgins came out as the most vocal voice favoring annexation of not only the northeast area, but several areas east of 35th Avenue SE.

“There is community pride in being a progressive city,” Hudgins said. “We cannot support the arts and parks with a population of 15,000.”

Council member Donna Michelson, meanwhile, said she hopes the Town Center development along the Bothell-Everett Highway would bring the community vibrancy Hudgins was talking about. She insisted that annexation not become a burden to current city residents.

Council member Dan Hodge came out in favor of annexing several areas north of 155th Street SE, but asked for more information about sales and property tax revenues for the areas, as well as potential impacts to the Mill Creek Library and storm water drainage.

Council member Dale Hensley also expressed concern about revenues versus expenses. Although city projections show an initial short-term revenue boost, Stowe admitted in a memo that annexation will not solve all the city’s financial issues.

“It’s a short-term fix and it becomes a bigger problem seven years from now then the problems we have now,” Hensley said.

Council member Mary Kay Voss said she wasn’t convinced annexation would be a positive move, and said she was concerned about maintenance issues related to annexation.

“I haven’t seen a good reason to do this,” she said. “Being bigger just for the sake of being bigger will cause headaches.”

Mayor Ryan, meanwhile, said he was leaning against any annexation that will not benefit the city. He urged a slow approach to annexation in order to be financially responsible.

“This may be a financial drain for future councils,” he said.

The total area in question consists of 1,754 acres east of the current city limits and would add up to 9,000 more residents within seven years.

Even if the council agrees to proceed with any annexation, residents and voters of any affected areas would still have to initiate annexation proceedings.

A bill awaiting Gov. Gary Locke’s signature would mean a petition would have to be signed by 50 percent of the registered voters in the area and 50 percent of the residents to be annexed.