BILL REQ. #:  H-4455.1 

Read first time 01/27/2004.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to annexation; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The state's growth management act recognizes counties are the logical provider of regional services and cities are the preferred provider of local services within the urban growth area. This delineation of service roles is meant to ensure that government services are provided in an efficient and effective manner and is reflective of the fact that cities have more revenue tools available to them to provide urban services than do counties. Pursuant to the growth management act planning requirements set forth in RCW 36.70A.110, counties are required to establish urban growth areas in collaboration with cities.
     In order for urban growth areas to become part of an existing city, counties, cities, and residents are highly reliant on one tool: Annexation. Though state law provides for various methods of annexation, there are many factors which prevent or delay annexation from occurring.
     The transition of urban growth areas to incorporated status is fundamental to achieving the land use and service vision contemplated by the growth management act, and enabling counties to focus on their long-term role as regional service provider and rural service provider. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the state, counties, cities, and their residents to study the progress of annexation in the key urban counties of the state and to identify both barriers and incentives to achieving full annexation or incorporation of the urban areas in these counties.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Subject to legislative funding, the department of community, trade, and economic development shall conduct a study to:
     (1) Detail the progress in each of the buildable land counties to date in achieving annexation or incorporation of its urban growth area since adoption of the county's county-wide planning policies to the present time by documenting:
     (a) The number of acres annexed;
     (b) The number of acres incorporated;
     (c) The number of residents annexed, incorporated, and remaining in urban unincorporated areas; and
     (d) The characteristic of urban land remaining unincorporated in terms of assessed value, infrastructure deficits, service needs, land use, commercial development, and residential development;
     (2) Determine the characteristics of remaining urban unincorporated areas and current statutes, and estimate when all urban unincorporated areas in each county will be annexed or incorporated, based on the rate of progress to date;
     (3) Survey the counties to identify those obstacles which, in their experience, slow or prohibit annexation;
     (4) Survey the cities in each of the subject counties to identify obstacles, which in their experience, slow or prohibit annexation;
     (5) Survey residents of urban unincorporated areas in each of the subject counties to identify their attitudes towards annexation or incorporation;
     (6) Propose possible changes to city and county taxing authority which will serve to aid the transfer of annexation of remaining urban growth areas in a timely manner;
     (7) Identify and discuss the need for funding of capital improvement projects needed to provide urban levels of service;
     (8) Assess the role and statutory authority of the boundary review board and how altering their role and authority might facilitate annexation;
     (9) Propose possible changes to growth management or annexation processes which will facilitate annexation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The study in section 2 of this act is not intended to replicate the requirements to review and evaluate growth as set forth in RCW 36.70A.215.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The department of community, trade, and economic development shall report the findings and results of its study to the Washington state senate and house of representatives committees on economic development by November 30, 2004. The department of community, trade, and economic development may report electronically, and shall post its report on its web site.