West Hill Governance Task Force Report A Path for the Future

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West Hill Governance Task Force ReportA Path for
the Future

• Lakeridge, Skyway, Panorama,
• Skycrest, Earlington, Hilltop,
• Bryn Mawr, Campbell Hill

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Why are we considering our future?

• 1995 Regional Policy
• Incorporate or annex all unincorporated areas
  within the urban growth boundary by 2012
• 2002 - Budget Advisory Task Force
• Recommendation Reduce and/or eliminate the
  services
• provided to unincorporated areas
• 2004 King County Commission on Governance
• Recommendation Implement 1995 Regional Policy
  and Growth Management Act
• 2004 King County created an annexation
  initiative fund to encourage communities and
  cities to move toward implementing this policy

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Remaining Urban Unincorporated Areas
January 2004
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King County Provides Servicesto 353,000
Residents outside of cities

• Superior Court
• Regional Jail
• Public Health
• Prosecutor
• Public Defender
• Public Records
• Property Assessment
• Elections

• Licensing
• Juvenile Detention
• Local Roads
• Sheriff
• Building Permits/Inspections
• Fire Protection
• Surface Water Management

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West Hill Governance Task Force formed March 2004

• West Hill Community Council
• Celeste DaVault
• Elayne Mandra
• Kathleen Royer
• Kirsten Wilhelm
• Benita Thomas
• South Lake Improvement Committee
• Brian Skaggs
• Ed Torkelson

• The Greater Skyway Business Association
• Annie Dukes
• Sandy Oelien
• Dave Pardey
• West Hill Community At Large
• Paul Berry
• Sylvia Bushnell
• Dian Ferguson

The Task Force met monthly to Research and
Evaluate Facts and Data
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How we started

• Identified 75 Issues including
• Taxes, schools, roads
• Fees, Code Enforcement
• Fire Protection
• Determined need for consultant to do research
• Educated ourselves
• listening to expert speakers
• studying the various options and procedures

The Task Force identified Four Options
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Our Governance Options

• Incorporate on our own
• Stay unincorporated
• Annex to an existing City
• Seattle
• Renton
• Tukwila

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Our Process

• Collect Data
• Analyze Incorporation Feasibility
• Analyze Annexation Alternatives
• Analyze the Status Quo
• Assess Community Opinion

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Project Consultant Berk Associates

• Collected Data
• Population Demographic information
• Tax information (5-10 year projection), property,
  sales, utility, cable etc.
• Identify support we receive from King County
• Operating Expense Projection
• Identify method for measuring services (level of
  service indicators)
• E.g.. Police per 1,000 residents OR dollars for
  road maintenance per mile

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Our Methodology

• Analyzed Incorporation Feasibility
• Updated a 1999 study
• Discussions with recently incorporated cities to
  understand financial challenges in early years
• E.g. Newcastle SeaTac
• Analyzed Annexation Alternatives
• Tax implications Service levels
• Library, Parks, address, area code
• Impact to business (incl. home based) and
  employment
• Land use, Code Enforcement
• Discussions with recently annexed areas

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Methodology, cont.

• Analyzed Status Quo (Remaining Unincorporated)
• Projection of future service levels
• Identified methods to address service reduction
  (incl. special levies, special taxing districts,
  etc.)
• Assessed Community Opinion
• Measure our preferences
• Surveyed residents at community meetings
• Solicited input through community forum

We conducted neighborhood meetings to determine
preferences
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Community Meetings March 2005
Over 140 residents attended one of the meetings

• Hilltop/Skyway
• Campbell Hill/Skycrest

• Bryn/Mawr/Lakeridge
• Earlington/Hilltop

What did we ask residents? Where do you shop or
go for . . . . Routine Goods Services Entertai
nment/recreation What Public Services do you
care about
The List of Services was Long
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Services We Care About Most

• Police - Response time
• Roads - Cost per capita and resurfacing schedule
• Fire - Response time, staff, stations
• Parks - Space per capita, recreation services,
  Fees
• Library - Locations, collections, operating costs
  per capita
• Utilities - Capital investments, operating costs
  per capita, organization
• Schools - Which District

Early On We Narrowed Our Options
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Two Options Were Eliminated

• Tukwila declined to consider annexation
• They had no interest
• Incorporating indicated 26 budget shortfall
• Low sales tax revenue
• Lack of funding to stimulate economic development

We established a comparison matrix for the
remaining options
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Our Remaining Options

• Annex to Seattle
• Annex to Renton
• Stay Unincorporated

Lets examine the most critical services
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Special Districts
Stay Unincorporated Annex to Seattle Annex to Renton
Fire No Change King County Seattle Fire Department Renton Fire Department
Library No Change King County Seattle Public Library Renton Public Library
School No Change Renton Schools No Change No Change
Utilities No Change Skyway Water/Sewer Seattle Public Utilities No Change
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Other Services
Stay Unincorporated Annex to Seattle Annex to Renton
Police No Change King County Seattle Police Department Renton Police Department
Roads No Change King County City of Seattle City of Renton
Parks No Change King County City of Seattle City of Renton
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Annual Taxes Paid by Typical Homeowner
Stay Unincorporated Annex to Seattle Annex to Renton
Property Tax 2,860 2,710 2,680
Utility Tax 60 288 236
Cable Franchise Fee 24 12 24
Monorail Tax 0 238 0
Total 2,944 3,248 2,940
Difference vs. Unincorporated 304 (4)
House assessed at 225,000 and vehicle value of
17,000
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Service Costs
Stay Unincorporated Annex to Seattle Annex to Renton
Surface Water Fee 91 122 A65
Water Sewer 901 923 901
Solid Waste Collection 324 248 161
Total 1,316 1,293 1,127
Difference vs. Unincorporated (23) (189)
Grand Total 4,260 4,541 4,067
Total Difference 281 (193)
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What did people tell us?

• They shopped (by order of preference)
• Renton
• West Hill
• Tukwila
• They played (by order of preference)
• Renton
• Seattle
• West Hill

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Task Force Recommendation

• Based Upon Factors
• Community Input
• Projected Level of Services
• Tax Implications
• We make the Recommendation
• To pursue annexation discussions with the
• City of Renton

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How does Annexation Happen?

• May be initiated by citizen petition signatures
  equal to 10 of votes cast in last general
  election, requesting annexation election
• City council determines whether to accept
  petition
• Alternatively, city may pass a resolution
  expressing its intent to annex calling election
• Subject to State Boundary Review Board approval
• Election held simple majority needed
• City can choose to reject even if election vote
  is favorable
• Voters vote for/against annexation and bonded
  indebtedness

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Next Steps on our Path

• West Hill must first be included in Rentons
  Proposed Annexation Area (PAA)
• In January convene Task Force for action
• Begin negotiations with King County and Renton
• Design plan to educate community residents
• Launch education campaign
• Prepare residents for a vote

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To Learn More

• Check out the West Hill Community Web Site
• www.westhillcommunity.com
• Go to the link for Governance
• See the section of Governance Profiles
• Provide feedback through our website
• Volunteer to work with the Task Force on the next
  steps
• Get involved in the direction of your community!