Esperance residents are again being asked to decide if they want to become a part of Edmonds or remain in unincorporated Snohomish County.
With no qualified party invoking jurisdiction on the matter by last week’s deadline, the Snohomish County Boundary Review Board has cleared the way for the election requested by Edmonds. The two-part measure will appear on the ballot of the general election Tuesday, Nov. 8. Only Esperance residents may vote.
This will mark the third time the city has attempted to annex the island of land it completely surrounds, according to the boundary review board. Previous elections were held in 1989 and 1997.
Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson said the third try was triggered by a considerable number of Esperance residents who asked him for another vote. He insisted this will be the last time the matter will surface during his tenure.
Voters will be asked to consider two propositions:
• Shall the Esperance annexation area be annexed to the city of Edmonds?
• If annexation is approved, shall the property be assessed and taxed at the same rate and on the same basis as the property within city of Edmonds?
If voters approve annexation but elect not to assume the city’s bonded indebtedness, it will be up to the Edmonds City Council to decide if the annexation will stand, according to Dan Clements, Edmonds director of administrative services. Annexation of the Firdale area, he pointed out, was completed without the residents’ assumption of bonded indebtedness.
A simple majority will be required for approval of annexation; 60 percent for assumption of indebtedness. If approved, annexation will go into effect January of 2006.
The special election will cost Edmonds between $5,000 and $7,000, according to Clements.
A breakdown of how annexation will impact Esperance residents economically and in terms of public safety and other services is offered on the city’s Web site, www.ci.edmonds.wa.us. Those without a computer may use the one in the lobby of City Hall.
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