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This ballot
measure passed by 78.29% -- See the Election
Results
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Informational
Bulletin Relating to the November 2, 2004,
Special Election Ballot Measure on the Annexation
of the City of Normandy Park Service Area
into the Southwest Suburban Sewer District |
On November 2, 2004, qualified voters who resid within an area of the City of
Normandy Park that is currently served by the Southwest Suburban Sewer District
had an opportunity to vote on whether this area should be annexed into and
become a part of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District. The purpose of this
bulletin is to provide a brief summary of the history of this matter and to
discuss the effects of the proposed annexation.
On October 9, 2002, the City of Normandy Park and Southwest Suburban Sewer
District entered into a contract pursuant to which the City sold its sewer
system and service area to the District effective January 1, 2003. Since January
1, 2003, the District has been providing sewer service to an area consisting of
approximately 1,285 acres located within the City. This area of Normandy Park is
generally described as the entirety of Normandy Park, excluding the areas known
as Manhattan and Bonniewood that were previously annexed into the District and
further excluding the area that is currently served by Midway Sewer District.
The described area is referred to herein as the “proposed annexation area”.
A map showing the
proposed annexation area is available for review on the District’s
website (www.swssd.com).
If you reside in Normandy Park within the areas known as Manhattan or Bonniewood
previously annexed by the District, or if you receive sewer service from Midway
Sewer District, you will not be voting on this ballot measure.
In 2003, a petition calling for the annexation of the proposed annexation area
into the Southwest Suburban Sewer District was prepared and circulated for
signature by qualified voters in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Chapter 57.24 RCW. The petition was signed by more than ten percent (10%) of
qualified voters residing within the proposed annexation area and was presented
to the District for action. On October 7, 2003, the Southwest Suburban Sewer
District adopted Resolution No. 2003-20 confirming receipt of the petition,
concurring with the requested action and directing that the petition be filed
with King County for review and certification as required by Chapter 57.24 RCW.
On October 13, 2003, King County Records, Election and Licensing Service
Division certified that the petition for annexation was sufficient under the
provisions of Chapter 57.24 RCW.
On March 2, 2004, the Southwest Suburban Sewer District adopted Resolution No.
2004-11 which authorized the issuance of a Notice of Intention for Annexation of
the Normandy Park Sewer Service Area. The Notice of Intention for Annexation was
then filed with the King County Boundary Review Board for its review and
consideration in accordance with Chapter 57.24 RCW. The King County Boundary
Review Board has also approved of the proposed annexation, subject to the
approval of King County and qualified voters at a special election as required
by Chapter 57.24 RCW.
On April 26, 2004, the King County Council approved of the proposed annexation,
subject to the approval by qualified voters at a special election as required by
Chapter 57.24 RCW. On August 16, 2004, the King County Council adopted Ordinance
No. 2004-0337 which established November 2, 2004 as the date of the special
election on the proposed annexation.
If the annexation is approved by a majority vote of qualified voters at the
special election on November 2, 2004, the proposed annexation area will, upon
King County Records, Election and Licensing Service Division’s certification
of the election results, immediately be annexed into the corporate boundaries of
the Southwest Suburban Sewer District. If the annexation is approved, those
persons residing within the annexation area will then have the right to vote for
commissioners to serve on the Southwest Suburban Sewer District Board of
Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners is the governing body responsible for
establishing policies and procedures relating to sewer service, including the
establishment of rates and charges. Currently, residents within the proposed
annexation area do not have the right to vote for District commissioners. In
addition, if the annexation is approved then those persons residing in the
annexation area will have the right to run for election to the office of
commissioner, provided other eligibility requirements are satisfied.
If the annexation is approved at the special election those persons within the
annexation area who are already connected to the District’s sewer system will
continue to receive the same service that is currently provided by the District.
Further, pursuant to the contract for sale of the sewer system between the City
of Normandy Park and the Southwest Suburban Sewer District, any customers
located within the annexation area will be treated in the same manner that the
District treats its other customers of the same class (e.g., residential,
multi-family, commercial), and they will not be treated as a separate and
distinct class of customer for purposes of setting rates or charges. Any future
ratemaking decisions by the Southwest Suburban Sewer District will be based on a
current Capital Improvement Plan and revenue requirements which will be applied
equitably across the board to the various classes of customers within the
District, including the annexation area.
There are approximately 400 residences within the proposed annexation area that
are currently served by on-site disposal systems (septic tanks). Approval of the
annexation will have no impact on the continued use of existing on-site disposal
systems which are operating in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Further, the District does not currently have any plan or intention of requiring
property owners within the proposed annexation area that are currently served by
on-site disposal systems to connect to the District’s sewer system if the
annexation is approved at the special election.
Approval or disapproval of the annexation will have no impact on the District’s
ability to condemn real property or property interests. The District’s powers
of eminent domain (condemnation) are set forth in RCW 57.08.005(1) which already
gives the District the power to condemn real property and property interests
both within and outside of the District which are necessary for District
purposes.
If the annexation is not approved at the special election, the Southwest
Suburban Sewer District will continue to provide sewer service to this area
pursuant to the terms of the contract for sale of sewer system between the City
and the District and applicable District policies as may be amended from time to
time. However, residents within this area will not have the right to vote for
commissioners to serve on the Southwest Suburban District Board of
Commissioners, nor will they have the right to run for election to the office of
commissioner for the District. |
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