HomeMy WebLinkAboutKeith Annexations Issue
Charter Review Committee
Annexations
Date: November 26, 2004
Sub Committee Members: John Enders, Keith Massie
Issue Statement:
Voter annexation is the process of requiring voter approval of new annexations to a city.
Pros and Cons:
PROS
1.Gives citizens direct control of new annexations
2.May lead to more citizen involvement
3.
CONS
1.Citizens may not be as qualified to evaluate new annexations
2.Used as a growth control mechanism, and this may be a misuse
3.Additional cost of elections for each annexation
4.
Budget Implications:
Additional cost of elections for each annexation.
Background:
Voter approval of annexations is put into place via city charter amendments. Corvallis passed
the first one in 1976. Since then, 29 other Oregon cities, including Salem, have followed suit.
Nearly all were passed by initiative and by large margins.
Voting on annexations is inappropriate if it is used primarily as a tool to block urban population
growth, because it can be used as a means of creating economically and socially segregated
communities and will force population growth onto other communities which may be less able to
accommodate the growth. However, a coordinated regional approach to the allocation of
population growth may be developed which allows communities to reallocate growth among
themselves in a way which is better for those communities and the region, while fulfilling state
policies on housing affordability transportation, economic opportunity and the protection of farm
and forest lands and natural resources.
When local governments have failed to provide adequate opportunities for citizens to engage in a
wide-ranging discussion about the character and cost of growth in their communities, annexation
votes can be useful in providing citizens with a valuable opportunity to discuss fundamental
issues relating to the allocation of the cost of services and the nature of urban development.
1000 Friends of Oregon – July 8, 1996
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Summary:
1.Would voter approved annexations solve or cause more problems?
2.Do the residents of Ashland want to approve each potential annexation?
3.
Attachments:
Cities with Charter amendments which require voters to approve all annexations.
City 2003 Population
Albany 43,600
Banks 1,430
Canby 13,910
Corvallis 52,950
Culver 840
Dundee 2,860
Estacada 2,440
Gates 490
Grants Pass 24,470
Happy Valley 6,370
Jefferson 19,900
King City 2,100
Lake Oswego 35,860
McMinnville 28,890
Metolius 780
Monmouth 8,080
Newberg 19,530
North Plains 1,640
Oregon City 28,100
Philomath 4,310
Phoenix 4,510
Rivergrove 320
Rogue River 1,900
Salem 141,660
Sandy 6,200
Scappoose 5,480
Sherwood 14,050
Sisters 1,430
St. Helens 11,250
St. Paul 390
Tangent 920
Turner 1,480
West Linn 23,820
Yachats 670
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