HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 5219

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Local Government

Title:  An act relating to annexations by less than county‑wide port districts in areas having no registered voters.

Brief Description:  Allowing port district annexations.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Zarelli, T. Sheldon and Snyder).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Local Government:  3/29/99 [DPA].

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

            (As Amended by House Committee)

$Allows port districts that are less than county-wide to annex areas contiguous to the district for industrial development if the area is void of registered voters.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Mulliken, Republican Co-Chair; Scott, Democratic Co-Chair; Mielke, Republican Vice Chair; Ericksen; Fisher and Fortunato.

Staff:  Scott MacColl (786-7106).

Background:

Port districts that are less than county-wide may annex territory within the county using two different methods:

(1) By petition of the commissioners of the port district, issue a resolution for annexation and submit the petition to the county legislative authority.  The county legislative authority then holds an annexation vote for the voters in the proposed port district area.

(2) By petition of residents of an area representing 10 percent of registered voters in the last general election.  The commission must issue a resolution for annexation and submit the petition to the county legislative authority.  The county legislative authority then holds an annexation vote for the voters in the proposed port district area.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Two new methods of annexation for port districts that are less than county-wide and is located in a county with a population of less than 90,000 and located in the I-5 corridor are authorized.  The two methods are:

(1) A port district may annex an area contiguous to port boundaries that is not within another port district's boundaries, and contains no registered voters.  The petition for annexation must be signed by registered owners of 75 percent of the property value of the area. 

The commission must hold public hearings, and then has the option of annexing all or part of the proposed areas.  Following the hearing, the commission must either approve or disapprove the annexation by resolution of the commission.  The annexation is final when the commission files the resolution with the board of county commissioners for that district.

(2) A port district may annex an area contiguous to port boundaries that is not served by another port district and for industrial development or other port purposes through a majority vote of the commission, and with written consent of all the owners of the property to be annexed.  The commission may approve the annexation by resolution, and without public hearings.  The annexation is final when the commission files the resolution with the board of county commissioners for that district.

The annexed property may not be taxed or assessed for payment of outstanding indebtedness of the port district for either method.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The sunset measure in the Senate version is removed, and the definition of which ports this legislation would authorize is narrowed to a port district that is less than county-wide, and that is located in a county with a population of less than 90,000 and located in the I-5 corridor.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill is at the request of the Port of Chehalis.  A 350 acre industrial site on a rail line that the port already owns is available for sale by Weyerhaeuser, but the port cannot purchase without this legislation.  This is good for the Chehalis community.  A concern is raised that the ports would like this legislation available to all ports that are less than county-wide, not just the Port of Chehalis, as the house bill was amended.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Scott Taylor, Washington Public Ports Association.