Title
Annexation Feasibility Study
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive briefing on the preliminary draft. Briefing only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the preliminary draft annexation feasibility study for the Southeast Urban Growth Area.
Staff Contact:
Tim Smith, Planning & Engineering Manager, Community Planning and Development Department, 360.570.3915.
Presenter(s):
Tim Smith, Planning & Engineering Manager
Gary Cooper, Consultant - Local Planning Solutions
Background and Analysis:
The Land Use & Environment Committee (LUEC) directed staff to complete a feasibility study for the City’s SE Urban Growth Area (UGA). The study was to include an infrastructure and service profile (i.e. road, parks, sewer, police, fire, solid waste); demographic profile; and fiscal analysis. The fiscal analysis would be a “bottom line” costs-versus-revenues summary of the study area, as well as a projection of future costs and revenues (ongoing and one-time). An additional, abbreviated analysis was requested for the Friendly Grove Park area in the City’s NE UGA.
The City selected Local Planning Solutions in the spring of 2019 to prepare the study. Over the past several months, the consultant met with service providers to obtain information on infrastructure and services to evaluate the benefits and costs for annexing the entire SE UGA, and for annexing the SE UGA using a two-phased approach: north of Yelm Highway (Phase 1), and south of Yelm Highway (Phase 2).
A preliminary draft of the study has been completed. Following LUEC review and input, the study will be finalized and presented to the City Council. The timing on whether to initiate an annexation will be a topic of discussion based on the outcomes of the final report.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Annexation proceedings generate substantial agency, property owner, resident and business interest. For any annexation proceeding, the City would follow a process that ensures all interested parties are well-informed and have an adequate opportunity to participate.
Options:
1) Provide input on the preliminary draft feasibility study
Financial Impact:
A formal annexation will require additional staff and financial resources. The annexation feasibility study addresses potential cost and revenue impacts of annexing the Southeast UGA.
Attachment:
Preliminary Draft Southeast Urban Growth Area Annexation Feasibility Study