West Hill Annexation
How to find out more about this issue.
A vote to annex the West Hill/Skyway area to the City of Renton was held on November 6, 2012. Annexation was defeated by more than 680 votes out of almost 6,000 votes cast.
| Renton Proposition 1: West Hill Annexation (results certified Nov 27, 2012) |
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| No | 3,352 |
|---|---|
| Yes | 2,662 |
Below, an extensive list of links and information related to the West Hill/Skyway annexation initiative of 2005-2012 has been collected for your information. The information is divided into sections indexed by the above menu.
Also, check out the West Hill Annexation Timeline page to see the timeline of events that led to this historic election.
The West Hill Connects Google group is a place to discuss issues related to the West Hill Unincorporated Area in King County, Washington, including annexation issues:
 Google groups
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The West Hill Annexation Google group was a separate place to discuss issues related to annexation between February and December 2009. Visit the archives of this group. It contains some good information not found on this page.
Annexation is not a new issue in these parts. Read this quote from A Tale of Between Two Cities: Skyway History 1870-1983 (pp. 11-12):
Someone came up with the idea that the community would be better off ruling itself rather than have the County Commissioners do the job. A petition was therefore filed in 1946 to incorporate the area as a fifth-class city, with a slate of mayor and councilmen listed. The line was very plainly drawn after some citizens said they "did not like the idea" and subsequently filed for annexation to the City of Seattle. Until the time came for an election to determine which course would be taken, there were a lot of former good neighbors and friends who were no longer on speaking terms. But it was all ironed out in the long run by both sides being defeated, and peace once again settled over the fledgling community.
Local Links
- In June 2012, West Hill Yes (pro-annexation group) launched www.westhillyes.org (external), a web site “to provide background, ongoing information, resources and support for this important governance matter.”
- In a West Hill Connects post on 4 April 2010, Paul Berry, West Hill Community Council President posted a message explaining the Boundary Review board process and upcoming public hearing.
- At a Skyway Solutions (external) meeting on 18 March 2010, Marty Wine of the City of Renton distributed a handout explaining the process and funding issues.
- Contents of a February 15, 2010 e-mail from Alex Pietsch, summarizing the status of the annexation of West Hill and possible next steps.
- The Lakeridge Block Watch web site has a page on annexation (external).
- Annexation was a topic at the January 20, 2009, West Hill Community quarterly meeting. Click here to select audio from that meeting.
- Recent annexation efforts were announced at the October 21, 2008, West Hill Community quarterly meeting. Click here to select audio from that meeting.
- Annexation was part of the King County Library presentation on July 15, 2008. Click here to hear (or right-click to download) that part of the July WHCC quarterly meeting. (Starting at time mark 9:20 thru 16:56, 20:23 thru 23:54, 25:23 thru 27:28: What happens under different annexation scenarios? What are the capital improvement plans for the Skyway Library? How does the annexation timing affect construction timing?)
- Contents of a July 24, 2007 e-mail from Paul Berry, summarizing the status of the annexation of West Hill.
- In 2005, the West Hill Governance task force studied governance options for West Hill. You can read about it on the Governance Task Force page. This page includes links for a governance options report, "what if" explanations of the options, explanations of annexation processes, and a Minority Position opposing annexation.
King County Links
- King County Annexation Initiative- Annexation & Incorporation Process
- King County Annexation Initiative- West Hill
- King County Annexation Initiative- Frequently asked questions about Annexation
- King County Road Services - 2012-2017 Adopted Capital Improvement Program contains two sidewalk projects in West Hill, programmed for design and construction in 2014
- Boundary Review Board Hearing Notice
- Boundary Review Board File for West Hill
- Boundary Review Board Map
- Executive Constantine on defeat of proposed annexations in North Highline and West Hill (Nov 8, 2012)
- Executive Proposed 2005 Budget- Annexation Initiative
- West Hill residents considering governance options (Feb. 28, 2005 News Release)
- Proposed Unincorporated King County Budget and Annexation Strategy (2004)
- West Hill Project: Governance Options in the Years Ahead (August 1999 Survey)
- Sims proposes pedestrian and traffic improvements in North Highline and West Hill (April 20, 1999 News Release)
- November 16th deadline for citizens to serve on North Highline and West Hill governance panels (Oct. 30, 1998 News Release)
City of Renton Links (external)
- City Contemplates Three Large Potential Annexation Areas
- West Hill Potential Annexation Area
- Renton City Council
- Renton City Council Agendas, Minutes, & Video Archives
- Renton Services
- Animals at Large Regulations
- Standards And Review Criteria For Keeping Animals
- Information for Businesses
- West Hill annexation options threatened by Governor’s budget ax (Renton Councilman Randy Corman Blog Nov 6, 2011)
- April 6, 2009 Minutes (video)
Earlington Annexation hearing - April 6, 2009 Agenda
Includes link to Earlington Annexation hearing document. - March 16, 2009 Minutes (video)
Approved, as part of the Consent Agenda, was the 60% Petition to Annex for the proposed Earlington Annexation, with a public hearing to be set on 4/6/2009. - March 16, 2009 Agenda
Includes link to Council Agenda Bill for Earlington 60% direct petition to annex. - February 2, 2009 Minutes (video)
Includes 1 audience comment about West Hill Annexation and annexation of Renton libraries to the King County Library System (beginning 11:20) - January 26, 2009 Minutes (video)
Includes 5 audience comments about West Hill Annexation (beginning 13:00/16:00/18:00/30:45/33:45), and a Committee of the Whole report on West Hill & Fairwood annexation (beginning 43:30). Annexation petitions were approved.
"Mayor Law stated that Council will hold additional public meetings regarding the annexation proposal in the next few months." - January 26, 2009 Agenda
Includes link to Certificate of Sufficiency for the West Hill Annexation petition. - January 26, 2009 Committee of the Whole video concerning West Hill annexation for about the first half hour.
- October 27, 2008 Minutes (video)
Includes 3 audience comments about West Hill Annexation (beginning 33:30/39:00/40:30). - October 13, 2008 Minutes (video)
Includes 1 audience comment about West Hill Annexation (beginning 41:45). - August 18, 2008 Minutes (video)
Time mark 0:50 thru 25:26.
Earlington Annexation: Council accepted the 10% Notice of Intent to Commence Annexation petition.
Includes 2 audience comments. - Planning Commission Information 2005
- West Hill Briefing
(includes histories of neighborhoods) - EXHIBIT 'A' Unincorporated West Hill Map
- EXHIBIT 'B' West Hill Governance Alternatives
- EXHIBIT 'C' Assessment of the Fiscal Impact of Annexation of West Hill
- EXHIBIT 'D' King County Land Use and Zoning Map
- EXHIBIT 'E' Renton Proposed Land Use Designation for West Hill Map
- EXHIBIT 'F' West Hill PAA, from 2003 King County Growth Report
- EXHIBIT 'G' Renton & King County Land Use and Zoning Comparison
- West Hill Briefing
- Council Member Randy Corman's Blog Entry- 15 January 2008 (not a City of Renton link)
City of Seattle Links (external links)
City of Tukwila Links (external links)
- Meeting Minutes February 28, 2005 (West Hill annexation is discussed)
News Media Stories (external links)
- Significant majority took hard look at annexation | Letter to the editor (Renton Reporter Nov 30, 2012)
- West Hill faces uncertain future | Commentary (Renton Reporter Nov 21, 2012)
- Letter: West Hill Voted Against Annexation, Must Now Accept Its Future As Unincorporated King County (Renton Patch Nov 8, 2012)
- West Hill votes against annexing to Renton, ending talks of who will govern area Includes reaction by King County Executive and Renton Mayor. (Renton Reporter Nov 8, 2012)
- West Hill Annexation Into Renton Unlikely Includes reaction by Renton Mayor Denis Law. (Renton Patch Nov 7, 2012)
- Renton offers West Hill a positive future | Letter to the editor (Renton Reporter Nov 2, 2012)
- Letter To The Editor: Business Perspective On West Hill Annexation Vote (Renton Patch Nov 1, 2012)
- Residents near Burien, Renton to vote on annexation (Seattle Times Oct 26, 2012)
- Think carefully about annexation, say no once again to charter schools | Our View (Renton Reporter Oct 25, 2012)
- King County: Skyway/West Hill Annexation Video recording from an Oct. 16 West Hill Community Association Meeting where Karen Wolf talks about the impacts of annexation into Renton. Links to other videos and Q&A questions, answers. (Renton Patch, Oct 24, 2012)
- City Of Renton: Skyway/West Hill Annexation Video recording from an Oct. 16 West Hill Community Association Meeting where Jay Covington talks about the impacts of annexation into Renton. (Renton Patch Oct 23, 2012)
- Resident not convinced annexation good idea | Letter to the editor (Renton Reporter Oct 19, 2012)
- Debate West Hill annexation against backdrop of dignity, respect | Letter to the editor (Renton Reporter Oct 4, 2012)
- Letter from Dow Constantine supporting North Highline annexation (via North Highline UAC Oct 1, 2012)
- Annexing West Hill is the right move | Our View (Renton Reporter Jun 21, 2012)
- Renton City Council moves forward with West Hill annexation vote (Renton Reporter Jun 20, 2012)
- Without county support, Skyway annexation may not go to a vote (Renton Reporter Jul 27 2010)
- To Annex Or Not To Annex? on Weekday (KUOW)- Dec 9, 2009
- King County Executive Ron Sims- Marcie Sillman on Weekday (KUOW)- March 16, 2009
- EDITOR'S COLUMN: State must work with Renton to make growth management laws work (Renton Reporter Feb 26 2009)
- Renton City Council accepts Skyway, Fairwood annexation petitions, allowing process to continue (Renton Reporter Jan ?? 2009)
- Annexation problems (Renton Reporter letter to the
editor Jan 22 2009)
- Staying in county is bigger problem (reply Feb 20 2009)
- An annexation concern in Renton (reply Feb 26 2009)
- Griffey, King County Council, Three Strikes Reform and Border Patrol Review- Ross Reynolds on The Conversation (KUOW)- February 17, 2009
- KCTS 9 video recorded on December 9, 2008:
- Annexation is discussed starting at time mark 15:57.
- Ask King County Executive Ron Sims- Steve Scher on Weekday (KUOW)- October 16, 2008
- King County Executive Ron Sims- Steve Scher on Weekday (KUOW)-
April 17, 2008
- RealAudio
- MP3 High
- MP3 Low
- Beginning at mark 38:31-45:40:
Host:
Amy writes, "I was alarmed to hear about the budget deficit the county is facing in '09- 65 million, climbing. It was recently recommended by county budget folks that community health and human services take severe cuts, ultimately eliminating basic needs, services across the county." That's what we're reading as well. She writes, "We have yet to establish long-term, stable, dedicated funding for these kinds of services. What are we going to do about this? How does that gel with the social justice and equity plan?"
Sims:
Well, we are going to need a stable source of funding. Right now we have two legs on the stool. There was an initiative passed years ago that capped property tax- 747- capped property tax growth at 1%- and even through the appraised value ??? we still are only going to pay that 1% - and the other is sales tax So the two legs on the stool- we only have two legs to hold up funding within our CX, so when the economy slowed down- on new housing construction and housing sales- that cost us. When the federal government reduced its interest rates to a pretty significantly low level to re-stimulate the economy- that brought down the returns we're getting off our own portfolio. And on top of that, sales tax- unincorporated King County doesn't generate a lot of sales tax, so we get all of that sales tax, but inside cities we only get a fraction. So what's happened is that we've- I've been saying for several years that if we had annexations, that would alleviate our municipal functions and that would go to the cities, which have multiple prongs- they got utility tax, they got B&O tax, they have fees, they've got sales tax, they do their levies. So we are simply not able to continue, long-term, to provide regional and local services. So, we're sitting down again with legislators in meetings, saying, "We're going to need some relief." But it's not just us, it's all the counties- as counties become more and more urbanized- Snohomish and Pierce County, Kitsap County, Clark and Spokane Counties, and the Tri-cities- they're going through what we're going through, which is that some of your funds are in great shape, but when you- your general operating funds, which are sale-tax-derived, and property-tax-derived, are really taking a beating this year, and will likely take a beating for the next two to three years
Host:
So, are we going to see cuts in social services next year?
Sims:
I think we're negotiating whether or not we can anticipate relief and what that would look like, and if we can do that, we can moderate them, or we can have- the issue is- we can use reserves to moderate the cuts we have to do this year, assuming that we know that we're going to get help from the legislature next year
Host:
Where are they going to get the money?
Sims:
If they are not going to provide us local revenue capacity, in whatever form that would take, then we would say, "Hold a second, we're sorry," and we'd have to make big cuts this year and another round next year. In the social equity format, the caller is correct- we just came out with a report saying poor people are not doing well here, as are most people of color not doing well. So we're going to really be very focused at saying, "How worse do we want the poor to have as a life here, and people of color to have a life here?" It was a report that we were hoping would draw people's attention to the plight of poor, and the people of color here. There's two different counties, quite frankly, when you look at our data. So, we're really wrestling. And it is more than just our CX fund, it's transportation, parks, and trails, and- what we call a lot of upstream impacts. So, with- internally, we're going through a great deal of angst, which is why we're beginning to say there may be a series of mechanisms that we can take, but we're going to test the legislature which controls- We wanted a bill to be passed this year, to grant 1/10 of 1% to the City of Seattle if they annexed north Highline, that was stopped- that cost us $17.5 million. The City of Kirkland just rejected annexation on a 4-to-3 vote. So the area around Juanita- that community will remain in our hands, even though the revenue portions of that were annexed by the City of Kirkland years ago. So, you know this is- so we have to provide municipal services adjacent to cities; we don't have the revenue for that. And so I think we're going to say, you know, folks, Growth Management Act was never intended for us to be the local provider. So what we're face with- none of us- it's a long process. We told people "Here's the bleak picture, if we don't do anything else, here it is." We'll go through this budget process and our end strategy will be what we think the legislature is or is not going to do to assist us next session
Host:
You've already said, you don't think it's time to put more taxes on the ballot spend some of the money that was set aside as reserves just to make up this year's deficit, right?
Sims:
No, we didn't use…. What we did is… we're not setting any supplemental ordinances, that's really clear, and if you're talking about animal control, that was a-
Host:
No- No, I was reading an article in the paper the other day, said your budget director said you had to take some of the money-
Sims:
We've always shaved down the reserve fund, and for the last two years, pending what we believe would be the annexations- the City of Auburn annex, which was well-received. The City of Renton annexed an area called Benson Hill, and we're hoping to see people seriously realize the importance of annexations, including the legislature, because the biggest one that we wanted was North Highline, like I said, we- it died in the senate and we're hoping that will be revisited, because that was a huge cost to the county. So, I'm optimistic about a path out. And, but- the caller is correct in alerting people that this is going to be pretty sobering, and we've been really clear to people, this is very- this is not a scare tactic. These services are essential and must be provided, and the issue is where are we going to find the money to do that. And there was a report sent to the legislature last year by the Department of Commerce, Trade and Economic Development (C-TED) which basically said- here is the entire menu, but the thrust of the report said, these things must be done, because King County is not the only county now faced with this huge challenge. There are some counties in the state of Washington that literally wouldn't exist without direct state aid- they could not function.
- King County Executive Ron Sims- Steve Scher on Weekday (KUOW)-
March 26, 2008
- RealAudio
- MP3 High
- MP3 Low
- Beginning at mark 38:25:
We had a bill that we were hoping was going to pass in Olympia- it would be allowing the annexation of North Highline by the City of Seattle and Burien. We were stopped. We are going to revisit that issue next year because, we have been saying for a long time, we cannot continue to provide urban levels of services that are local. We don't have the wherewithal because we have a lot of unfunded mandates, by the federal and the state government, and as well we have a lot of regional services that we have to support, so we have to get out of local services. And we have been telling people, you know, the Growth Management Act anticipated cities annexing unincorporated King County. We were able to do that in Auburn, we were able to do that in Renton and Benson Hill. Auburn, with a spectacular result. If we can get legislation through next year, that will allow North Highline, where both Burien and the City of Seattle have indicated a willingness to annex that area, that would save us a lot of money. That would be a 2009 endeavor though, but we still want to see that legislation passed. So, you know, there's a way out, but it's going to require Olympia to cooperate and- but ours is an issue of trying to be both a regional government and a local government and that's a challenge when we've told people that we cannot do both. But we are one of the last counties standing, quite frankly, and all the other counties are having similar problems, and some of the other counties are broke, so they're getting state grants to fund their services. So somehow or other the legislature, which convened a group to look at county funding- everybody has a different problem, because everybody has a different source of revenue that works for them- and we're simply saying that somehow or other somebody's gonna have to put those revenues in play in order to sustain what we call county government generally, on its operations side. But that's not waste water and Metro because those are other fund sources that we can't tap those fund sources to operate what we call the general services of the government.
King County Library System Links (external links)
- Skyway
Library Construction Project
Sample quote: "Estimated Start of Project: 2011, pending potential annexation to the City of Renton" - Strategic Planning Guidelines for Library Improvement
Modifications
Sample quote (p.13):
"Skyway Library - Original Plan:- Due to the age and condition of the current 5,100 sq. ft. library: a new 8,000 sq. ft. replacement library on the current site
- More books, materials, computers and wireless access
- Essential upkeep and maintenance of the library over the next ten years
- Automated materials-handling system to speed delivery and reduce theft*
- Proposed start date: 2009
- Director's Report- October 2008
Sample quote: "One group that is very interested in the outcome of Renton’s library deliberations is the Skyway Library area.... KCLS told the West Hill Council that we were on a temporary hold before planning any library capital projects in the area. KCLS expressed that we hoped the issue would be clearer in the next few years and that if the area continued to be a part of KCLS, we could begin planning for a replacement library in the timeframe of the Capital Bond Plan or in 2011." - Director's Report- July 2008
Sample quote: "The City of Renton is still investigating its options for library service." - Director's Report- October 2007
Sample quote: "On the other side of Renton, there is not any news about possible annexations of the Skway area to Seattle or Renton."
Sample quote: "Due to increases in escalating disruptive patron behavior, KCLS has hired off-duty police officers to be present at the Skyway Library after schools let students out for the day."
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