BILL REQ. #:  H-1487.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/23/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to annexation of territory of certain cities by water-sewer districts; and adding new sections to chapter 57.24 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 57.24 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If a district acquires either water facilities or sewer facilities, or both from a city, and the district and the city within which the facilities are located enter into an agreement stating that the district will seek annexation of territory within that city, the district commissioners may initiate a process for the annexation of such territory.
     (2) The annexation process shall commence upon the adoption of a resolution by the commissioners calling for the question of annexation to be submitted to the voters of the territory proposed for annexation and setting forth the boundaries thereof. The resolution must be filed with the county legislative authority of each county in which the territory proposed for annexation is located.
     (3) Upon receipt of the resolution, the county legislative authority shall cause a hearing to be held as provided in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 57.24 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) If a resolution calling for an annexation election as provided in section 1 of this act is presented for hearing, the legislative authority of each county in which the territory proposed for annexation is located shall hear the resolution or may adjourn and reconvene the hearing as deemed necessary for its purposes. The hearing, however, may not exceed four weeks in duration. Any person, firm, or corporation may appear before the legislative authority or authorities and make objections to the proposed boundary lines or to annexation of the territory described in the resolution.
     (2) Upon a final hearing, each county legislative authority may make changes to the proposed boundary lines within the county as it deems proper and shall formally establish and define the boundaries. Each legislative authority also shall find whether the proposed annexation will be conducive to the public health, welfare, and convenience and whether it will be of special benefit to the land included within the boundaries of the proposed annexation. No lands that will not, in the judgment of the legislative authority, benefit by inclusion therein, may be included within the boundaries of the territory as established and defined. The legislative authority may not include within the territory proposed for annexation any territory outside of the boundary lines described in the resolution adopted by the district under section 1(2) of this act.
     (3) Upon the entry of the findings of the final hearing, each county legislative authority, if it finds the proposed annexation satisfies the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, shall give notice of a special election to be held within the boundaries of the territory proposed for annexation for the purpose of determining whether the same shall be annexed to the district. The notice shall:
     (a) Describe the boundaries established by the legislative authority;
     (b) State the name of the district to which the territory is proposed to be annexed;
     (c) Be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the territory proposed for annexation at least once a week for a minimum of two successive weeks prior to the election;
     (d) Be posted for the same period in at least four public places within the boundaries of the territory proposed for annexation; and
     (e) Designate the places within the territory proposed for annexation where the election shall be held.
     (4) The proposition to the voters shall be expressed on ballots containing the words:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 57.24 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The annexation election shall be held on the date designated in the notice and shall be conducted in accordance with the general election laws of the state. Qualified voters residing within the territory proposed for annexation shall be permitted to vote at the election.
     (2) If the majority of the votes cast upon the question of such election are for annexation, the territory concerned shall immediately be deemed annexed to the district and the same shall then forthwith be a part of the district, the same as though originally included in that district.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 57.24 RCW to read as follows:
     The method of annexation provided for in sections 1 through 3 of this act is an alternative method and is additional to other methods provided for in this chapter.