Sequim council votes to pursue annexation of Flores Acres after staff presentation on failing septic systems

The Sequim City Council on Tuesday voted 6–0 to approve a resolution expressing the city’s intent to annex the Flores Acres area and to direct staff to file a notice of intent with the Clallam County Boundary Review Board.

Senior Planner Scott Radin told the council the proposed annexation is being processed under the 60% direct petition method and is tied to “failing infrastructure and public health concerns” in the neighborhood. He said the annexation area covers approximately 20.5 acres, includes 55 residential lots and two tracts, and would allow the city to replace failed private septic systems and connect the neighborhood to public water and sewer.

“Generally speaking, the total assessed area was $17,721,840 and they collected enough petitions for $16,212,028, which is about 91.5% of the total assessed value,” Radin said, summarizing the assessor’s certification of sufficiency.

A resident from the area, Lisa Ann Oliver, told the council the neighborhood’s onsite system is not merely deteriorating but has already failed and imperils drinking water. “It has failed,” Oliver said, urging the council to move forward. She also said she expected grant funding would cover infrastructure costs and that she saw no direct financial burden to the city.

The resolution approved by council accepts the geographic boundaries shown in the staff report, directs staff to assume future land-use and zoning designations on annexation, and to require assumption of a proportionate share of any bonded indebtedness. Radin and staff said the next steps, should the council’s resolution stand, are notice to the Boundary Review Board (which has 45 days to invoke jurisdiction) and, if the board declines jurisdiction, preparation of a final annexation ordinance for council consideration in late July or August.

What happens next Staff will submit the required notice to the Clallam County Boundary Review Board. If the board invokes jurisdiction within the 45-day window the annexation will go through its review process; if the board does not act within that timeframe, the annexation is deemed approved and council could then consider a final ordinance. Staff also noted required certification to the Washington State Office of Financial Management must be filed within statutory timelines.

Council members thanked staff and affirmed the timeline and the need to address failing systems as the primary public-health rationale for pursuing annexation.