Written by Last night we decided to accept the ten-percent annexation petitions from Fairwood and West Hill. We will study the potential costs of both annexations more closely, and possibly allow one or both to go to ballot. There are A LOT of factors to still consider, and it is not clear to me what the voters in each of these areas will ultimately want. But at this time, both potential annexations are possibilities.
Other than the possibility of determining that we won’t take these on because of cost, the City of Renton will officially stay neutral on the annexations. This official city position does not extend to our employees however, who (like all citizens) are free to support any political positions they choose on their own time with their own resources. (For instance, our fire fighters local has endorsed the Fairwood annexation drive.)
Here are more details about last night’s vote on this topic (from today’s Renton Reporter).
Go annexation!
Would the west hill annexation include the area on Rainier just past he airport (heading north)?
My understanding of the boundaries of the West Hill Annexation include everything in Unincorporated King County between the Cities of Renton, Seattle, Tukwila. To answer your question, yes to the Seattle city line.
Dave
Will we give up services we (Renton citizens) get or end up paying more for them?
The answer to the above I believe is no. While Renton would enlarge it is still smaller then King County and as such still easier to talk to the city government with thoughts and opinions.
Plus the city would have bettor control of their neighbors and people who already use some services would now be paying the city for them.
Dave
City employees support annexation
Randy,
All of Renton’s employee unions support the Fairwood annexation. Choose Renton, the group that sponsored the current annexation effort, has recived generous financial support from Renton Firefighters IAFF Local 864, the Renton Police Guild and AFSCME Local 2170. As you know, these unions represent nearly all of the non-management staff at the City. When not at work, several members of each of the City’s unions also volunteer time to plan and support Choose Renton activities.
I was not present when the Firefighters or the Police discussed support for annexation, but at the Local 2170 meeting when support for Fairwood was decided, strong support for both the West Hill and Fairwood annexations was expressed. It was suggested that a larger city would mean more members for each union, but more importantly, a larger city would have a more diversified tax base that would provide a more financially stable city and a better place to live, work, learn and play.
Speaking just for myself, I would ask you and the other members of the Council to look beyond the short term balance sheet when considering annexations. The projected budget, by its nature, cannot be a visionary document. In its current form, West Hill will probably fail a purely financial feasibility test. Fairwood will come closer, but the numbers by themselves, especially in a recessionary period, will likely indicate that Renton should take a pass on annexation.
In a city, especially a dynamic community like Renton, the whole is far more than the sum of the parts, or of the individual neighborhoods. I am confident that five or twenty-five years from now a Renton that includes all of the current potential annexation areas will not only be financially sound, but will be safer and happier as well. A Larger Center of Opportunity.
A Renton Citizen, employee and enthuastic supporter.