Chapter 17.408
ANNEXATIONS
Sections:
17.408.010 Authority to annex.
17.408.020 General procedures.
17.408.040 Submission of annexation reports.
17.408.050 Effective date of annexation.
17.408.060 Zoning designation of annexed property.
17.408.010 Authority to annex.
The boundary of the city may be expanded by annexation of territory when the territory is located within the city’s urban growth boundary and contiguous to the city limits, or separated from the city limits by a stream or right-of-way. [Ord. 521-2013 § 3 (Exh. A)].
17.408.020 General procedures.
A. Annexations are either a Type IV application, where the annexation is initiated by the property owner and affects either a single property or a group of five properties or less and affects five or fewer acres of land, or a Type V application, where the annexation is initiated by the city and/or affects more than five acres of land. Annexations where the city is the property owner will be processed as a Type IV application unless the area affected is greater than five acres in size.
B. The city recorder shall set a date for an initial public hearing before the planning commission following submission of an annexation application or initiation of an annexation proposal. Notice shall be pursuant to the proposed method of annexation.
C. The planning commission shall hear testimony and shall recommend approval or denial of the proposed annexation and submit such recommendation to the council within 10 days of the hearing. The planning commission’s decision shall state the rationale used in justifying the decision, and that the decision is in conformance with the city’s comprehensive plan. All annexation decisions shall state how the proposal will:
1. Affect the community’s air resources;
2. Promote an orderly, timely and economical transition of rural and agricultural lands into urbanized lands;
3. Relate to areas with natural hazards;
4. Affect the fish and wildlife in the proposed annexation area;
5. Utilize energy resources and conserve energy use;
6. Protect open spaces and scenic views and areas;
7. Provide for transportation needs in a safe, orderly and economic manner;
8. Provide for an orderly and efficient arrangement of public services;
9. Provide for the recreation needs of the citizens;
10. Affect identified historical sites and structures and provide for the preservation of such sites and structures;
11. Improve and enhance the economy of the city; and
12. Provide quality, safe housing through a variety of housing types and price ranges.
D. The city recorder shall set a date for a public hearing with the council upon receipt of the planning commission’s recommendation. Notice shall be pursuant to the proposed method of annexation. After considering all testimony the council shall sustain or reverse the planning commission’s recommendation. The council shall state the rationale used in justifying the decision, and that the decision is in conformance with the city’s comprehensive plan. The decision shall state how the proposed annexation will address the criteria stated in subsection (C) of this section. [Ord. 521-2013 § 3 (Exh. A)].
17.408.030 Annexation types.
A. Annexation by Election.
1. The council, upon approval of the annexation proposal, has the authority to submit, except when not required under ORS 222.850 to 222.915, to dispense with submitting the proposal for annexation to the registered voters of the city.
2. The proposal for annexation may be voted upon at a general election or at a special election to be held for that purpose. The proposal for annexation may be voted upon by the voters of the city and of the territory simultaneously or at different times not more that 12 months apart.
3. Two or more proposals for annexation may be voted upon simultaneously; however, in the city each proposal shall be stated separately on the ballot and voted on separately, and in the territory proposed for annexation no proposal for annexing other territory shall appear on the ballot.
4. The council shall give notice of each annexation election by publication prior to such election once each week for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. Whenever simultaneous elections are held, the same notice and publication shall fulfill the requirements of publication for the city election and the election held in the territory. Notice shall also be given by posting notices of the election in four public places within the city if votes are to be cast therein and four public places in each territory proposed to be annexed for a like period as provided in this section for publication of notice. The notice shall distinctly state the proposition to be submitted, shall contain a legal description of, and a map indicating the boundaries of, each territory proposed to be annexed, and the registered voters shall be invited thereby to vote upon such annexation. The council shall also designate and the notice shall state the hours during which the polls will be open within the city and each territory proposed to be annexed. If the election is to be held at the usual precinct polling places designated for a general election held at that time, or if the election is not held at the same time as a general election, but is held at the same polling places used for the last preceding general election, the notice shall so state; if any polling place is to be different than the regular polling places, the notice shall describe the location of the polling places to be used in the area or precincts in which the polling places are different.
B. Annexation without Election.
1. By ordinance, the council may elect to dispense with submitting the annexation proposal to the registered voters of the city and set a date for public hearing, at which time the registered voters of the city can be heard on the annexation proposal.
2. Notice of the public hearing shall be published once a week for two successive weeks prior to the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, and posted in four public places in the city for a like period.
3. Written notice shall be given to all property owners within the boundaries of the proposed annexation and within 500 feet of the external boundaries of the proposed annexation.
4. After the public hearing the council, by ordinance subject to referendum and containing a legal description of the proposed annexation, shall:
a. Declare that the territory is annexed to the city upon the condition that the majority of the votes cast in the territory are in favor of annexation;
b. Declare that the territory is annexed to the city where persons with land ownership in the proposed territory consent in writing to such annexation.
C. Annexation with Election in Proposed Territory. The council need not call or hold an election in any contiguous territory proposed to be annexed, or post notice in the contiguous territory, if more than half the owners of land in the territory, who also own more than half of the land in the contiguous territory, and of real property therein representing more than half of the assessed value of all real property in the contiguous territory consent in writing to the annexation of their land in the territory and file the annexation proposal on or before the day:
1. The public hearing procedure shall be pursuant to DMC 17.408.020(B) and (C); and subsections (B) and (C) of this section, if the council dispenses with submitting the question to the registered voters of the city; or
2. The council takes the necessary action to call the annexation election in the city under subsection (A) of this section, if the council submits the question to the registered voters of the city.
D. Island Annexation.
1. It is within the power and authority of the city, by ordinance subject to referendum, to annex land, provided it is not an incorporated city, that is surrounded by the corporate limits or boundaries of the city, with or without consent of any property owner or resident in the territory.
2. Notice and procedure for public hearing shall be provided pursuant to the provisions of DMC 17.408.020.
3. If the council elects to submit the questions to the registered voters of the city, procedure shall be pursuant to DMC 17.408.030. [Ord. 521-2013 § 3 (Exh. A)].
17.408.040 Submission of annexation reports.
A. The city shall report all changes in the boundaries or limits of the city to the county clerk and county assessor. The report shall contain a legal description of the new boundaries and shall be filed within 10 days from the effective date of the change of any boundary lines.
B. With the exception of “island annexation” the city recorder shall submit to the Secretary of State:
1. A copy of the annexation ordinance;
2. An abstract of the vote within the city if votes were cast therein, which shall show the whole number of registered voters voting therein on the annexation and the number of votes cast against annexation;
3. A copy of the statement of consent of landowners in the territory annexed;
4. A copy of the ordinance of the city declaring that no election is required in the city; and
5. An abstract of the vote upon the referendum if a referendum petition was filed with respect to the deferred ordinance. [Ord. 521-2013 § 3 (Exh. A)].
17.408.050 Effective date of annexation.
The annexation shall be complete from the date of filing with the Secretary of State as provided in ORS 222.150, 222.160, 222.170 and 111.900, and DMC 17.408.040(B). Thereafter, the annexed territory shall be and remain part of the city. The date of such filing shall be the effective date of annexation, provided such filing is not made later than 90 days prior to any general or primary election; otherwise, the effective date of such annexation shall be the day after the primary or general election next following the date of filing. [Ord. 521-2013 § 3 (Exh. A)].
17.408.060 Zoning designation of annexed property.
The city council shall establish the appropriate comprehensive plan and zoning designation upon annexation of territory to the city. Zoning designations shall be compatible with the comprehensive plan designation for the territory if the territory was previously located within the city’s urban growth boundary. [Ord. 521-2013 § 3 (Exh. A)].