Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Annexation Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Yelm council adopts ordinance to align annexation code with state law
Summary
Council approved Ordinance 1134 to replace the city’s annexation chapter with language adopting Washington’s RCW 35A.14 procedures, broadening annexation methods available to the city.
The Yelm City Council on June 24 approved Ordinance 1134, which deletes the city’s existing annexation chapter and replaces it with a single sentence adopting the annexation procedures in Washington state law, RCW 35A.14.
"This ordinance would amend chapter 2.66 of our municipal code," Gary Cooper, the city’s planning and building manager, told the council, saying the current code provides only one annexation procedure while state law outlines multiple processes.
Cooper said the change is effectively a repeal-and-replace: the city code would adopt the state statute’s procedures to give the city more flexibility for future annexations. Public Services Committee Chair Council Member Crossman said the change "makes life easier" and favors relying on the state code rather than maintaining a restrictive city-only procedure.
Council Member Hess moved to approve Ordinance 1134 adopting the annexation procedures in RCW 35A.14; Council Member Richardson seconded. The council approved the ordinance by voice vote.
The ordinance does not itself approve any specific annexation; it modifies the municipal code to allow the city to use any of the annexation procedures set out in state law going forward.
