Centralia council authorizes manager to negotiate phased annexations covering multiple UGA neighborhoods

The Centralia City Council on Tuesday authorized the city manager to begin negotiations with Lewis County to pursue phased annexations of multiple neighborhoods inside the city’s urban growth area.

Councilors voted, by separate motions, to include a series of subareas in an initial negotiation package and then gave a single authorization for staff to open talks with the county. Councilors approved the package and the final authorization 7–0.

What the council approved: During a lengthy review of a staff-prepared table, councilors approved the manager’s recommendation to initiate negotiations on multiple subareas including (summary): - Fords Prairie (Russell Road / Salishan area) — included in the motion for phase‑1 consideration. - Nick Road area. - South Street subareas. - South Sumner area. - North Skookumchuck / Roanoke corridor (trail-connected parcels). - North Davis Hill subarea A. - An option to include additional Fords Prairie parcels was also adopted as staff suggested.

A later, separate motion reconsidered and added a primarily industrial/port‑area parcel along North Harrison (described in staff materials as Area 11 option b). After discussion the council voted to include that specific North Harrison parcel in the negotiation package. The council then passed a motion authorizing the…