A proposal to have Panther Lake residents vote on whether to become part of Kent moved another step closer Tuesday night – although not everybody was happy about it.
Following a public hearing at Sunrise Elementary School that drew more than 80 people, the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County unanimously agreed to draft a resolution allowing an annexation election next year.
The board will vote Nov. 13 on the adoption of the resolution. That measure, if passed, would enable the city of Kent to conduct the annexation vote. The election would be for Panther Lake residents only, and would enable them to approve – or disapprove – becoming part of the city proper.
The annexation area is 5 square miles, with an estimated 24,000 residents.
“The city did its homework to see if it could handle the annexation and did a survey to see if people want to join the city,” said A.J. Culver, one of the 11 Boundary Review Board members, charged with reviewing annexation proposals to ensure state guidelines are met.
“The city presented written material that answered all of the questions” (the board needs to approve the proposal). “And the city will allow sufficient time so people can digest facts and have their questions answered.”
“We believe we are fully capable of handling the annexation,” said John Hodgson, city chief administrative officer, told the board Tuesday. “We annexed 16,000 in 1997 in the Lake Meridian area. That area is very similar in demographics and housing as the Panther Lake area.”
But while some residents spoke in favor of the annexation, one speaker made it clear he didn’t favor the move.
Heinz Strakeljahn didn’t mince words.
“Be careful of what you vote for,” he told attendees at the meeting in his testimony. “Once you hand over your dollars (to the city), you have nothing to say.”
Strakeljahn then yelled, “Forget it!” and walked out of the meeting before board members could question him further.
Several others who testified spoke in favor of the annexation.
“I support annexation and to allow the public to vote,” said Panther Lake resident Sajjad Khan at the hearing. “I have concerns about King County’s ability to provide services. The city is in a better position to provide police, storm water and other services.”
Marvin Eckfeldt testified that he has lived for 25 years just two blocks outside of Kent city limits and that he wants to join the city.
“The police service in our area is terrible,” Eckfeldt told the board. “We have like three (sheriff’s) deputies assigned to our area. It takes them at least an hour and sometimes as many as four hours before an officer will come.”
There would be incentives to becoming a part of the city.
City officials estimate the owner of a $300,000 home in Panther Lake would save about $37 a year in taxes if the area annexes to the city.
Property taxes would be lower because property owners would no longer have to pay the county road tax or the Fire District 37 levy. Garbage and drainage services also are lower in the city.
But new residents also would have to pay a 6 percent city tax on electric, gas and telephone utilities.
For more information about the annexation, go to www.ci.kent.wa.us/annexation or call the city’s annexation hotline at 253-856-5799.
For more information about the Boundary Review Board, go to www.kingcounty.gov/property/annexations.
Contact Steve Hunter at 253-872-6600, ext. 5052 or shunter@kentreporter.com.
Background
The jagged borders of the potential annexation area generally start north of Southeast 236th Street to near Southeast 192nd Street, and run east of 108th Avenue Southeast to near 132nd Avenue Southeast. The area covers 3,200 acres and includes the Benson Hill area as well as neighborhoods near Soos Creek Park.
If the board approves the proposal, the Kent City Council would set an election date. City staffers are aiming for a May 2009 election, rather than August 2009, in order to give the city more time to prepare to serve an additional 24,000 residents.
The Council unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 2 to let Panther Lake area residents vote next year whether to annex their area to the city. That decision sent the proposed annexation to the Boundary Review Board for approval.
The city’s population now stands at 86,000. If the annexation is approved, the city would need to add 91 employees, including 33 police officers and 23 public works department employees.
If the Council places an annexation measure on the ballot in 2009 and Panther Lake residents approve annexation to the city, the effective date of annexation would be Jan. 1, 2010.
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