Annexation allowed to continue by Port Orchard

The Port Orchard City Council accepted a notice of intent to annex from the McCormick Woods committee Tuesday evening.

Councilman Jerry Childs was enthusiastic about annexation and said the council would help continue the process, comparing the work to running for office.

He also called for clear transparency in the process.

The proposed annexation would bring 871 parcels and more than 1,000 acres into city limits, including McCormick Woods and The Ridge At McCormick Woods being developed by Quadrant Homes.

The annexation committee must now collect signatures from property owners representing 75 percent of the assessed value of the land.

To start the process, the committee collected signatures representing 11 percent of the assessed value, but only needed 10 percent.

Dick Davis, who has represented residents at council meetings, encouraged the council to continue its involvement in the process and to think of it as an “we” process instead of a “they” process.

He said that if the signature-collection process was left to the annexation committee alone, “I think we’re shoving you-know-what against the tiles.”

He requested that the city talk about this process “couched in terms that include all of us in the effort and not just us alone.”

Childs said City Council members could assist by doorbelling the area to talk with residents about the process.

City Development Director James Weaver explained that the process only allows the process to continue, and the city is not committed to accept the annexation later on.

If the process is finalized, the city will not receive any property tax revenue until 2010.

The city will pay out for certain expenses, though.

Because of an agreement with Kitsap County, the city will give 75 percent of the tax revenue to the county in the first year, 50 percent in the second year and 25 percent in the third year before collecting those funds.

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