HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1948

                       As Passed House

                       March 18, 1997

Title:  An act relating to annexations by cities and towns.

Brief Description:  Concerning annexations by cities and towns.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by  Representatives D. Schmidt, Thompson, Scott and Koster).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  2/25/97, 3/4/97 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/18/97, 54‑44.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Murray; Reams; Smith; Wensman and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Dunshee and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background: Two hundred and seventy-five cities and towns exist in the state.  Each of these cities and towns is located in only a single county, except for Milton and Pacific, both of which include territory in King and Pierce Counties; Bothell, which includes territory located in both King and Snohomish Counties; Woodland, which contains territory located in both Cowlitz and Clark Counties; and Coulee Dam, which contains territory located in Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties.

Cities and towns annex contiguous territory under a variety of different procedures, including the direct property owner petition method, resolution/election method, and petition/election method.  Cities and towns may annex non-contiguous territory for municipal purposes under special annexation provisions.

A city or town may not annex territory in a county that plans under all Growth Management Act requirements if the territory is located outside of an urban growth boundary.

Summary of Bill:  For a two-year period ending July 1, 1999, a city or town may not annex territory unless the territory is located in the same county as the city or town.

A city or town may annex territory for municipal purposes only if the city or town owns the property.  A city or town may annex territory for municipal purposes outside of an urban growth boundary.  It is clarified that first-class cities may annex territory for municipal purposes.

An emergency clause is included.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately. 

Testimony For:  Problems arise from annexations across county boundaries.  Grace and Maltby are industrial areas in Snohomish County across from the King County boundary.  If they are annexed the tax base will be taken from this area.

Testimony Against:  We have problems with this bill.  Cities should annex contiguous areas that are located in their spheres of influence even if located in another county.  County boundaries are arbitrary.

Testified:  Representative Dave Schmidt, prime sponsor; and Ray Sturtz, city of Woodinville (con).