Wasilla gets earful on annexation

WASILLA — The city of Wasilla has meet strong opposition to its future annexation plans at a series of informational sessions hosted over the past two weeks.

The city council has directed the administration to gather information on a number of areas for potential annexation. The areas include sections north of the city to Seldon Road, east past the Seward Meridian Parkway, south to include much of the Fairview Loop area and west past Jacobsen Lake.

After determining the public’s opinion, and the costs and benefits of annexing each area, the administration is to report its findings and recommendations back to the council. The council will then vote on whether or not to go forward, and if so, what areas should be included.

Of the many routes to finalize the process, the city is leaning toward having the state Legislature render the ultimate decision. If a plan is approved by the city council, it will go onto the state’s Local Boundary Commission. The LBC can confirm, reject or modify the plans before sending them to the Legislature.

At the third public forum Thursday night at Knik Elementary School, Wasilla Deputy Administrator Marvin Yoder gave a recap of what the city has heard from the residents so far and what the city’s reaction has been.

“Why are we doing this?” Yoder said was a question that frequently comes up. “The city has been getting inquiries from people wanting to be annexed.”

Yoder said the city has annexed land in the past by petitions signed by 100 percent of the affected homeowners. The city is simply pursing another option for inclusion for the areas that are less than unanimous, say 80 percent in favor, Yoder said.

“Is the city going to force its sewer and water on us?” Yoder rhetorically asked. “Absolutely no. The city moves in only when there is a need, only when the citizens ask or there is a mandate from the state.”

Zoning is another topic often raised, Yoder said. In the rural-residential areas of the Mat-Su Borough, almost anything is allowed. Wasilla’s R1 zone is limited to single family residencies.

“Do you want a gravel pit as a neighbor? Do you want a junkyard as a neighbor?” Yoder asked. “Or do you want other residences as neighbors?”

The questions from the audience after Yoder’s summation had a hostile tone.

Many focused on why annexation can’t be put to a vote of the people in the affected areas. Yoder responded voter turnout was below 20 percent in the last election, even with a borough-wide sales tax on the ballot. What’s more, he said, the people who physically live in the area would be eligible to vote, not necessary the property owners or business owners.

One woman was worried she would have to get a permit from the city’s planning commission to do anything on her property. She would be required to give notice to her neighbors living within 1,200 feet, and they could then stop her if they wanted to.

Yoder reassured the audience that the planning commission is not swayed by popularity contests.

Yoder admitted residents of the city do pay sales tax on their utilities, but they pay less property tax because they are not in a road service area. Also, insurance rates have been known to go down inside city limits because the Wasilla Police Department makes active patrols and community policing as opposed to reactive responses from Alaska State Troopers.

This offended some audience members who were doubtful of the Wasilla police’s efficacy. Another objected to the idea of saving money by not paying road service taxes. Instead, he said, the city makes people pay special assessments for the work that affects their property.

In an impromptu vote, only three people in attendance of Thursday’s meeting said they supported annexation. The other hundred of so said they did not.

Asked if there was anything that could stop this process, Yoder said it will come to a vote of the council before any further action, for or against annexation, is made. He encouraged people to make their opinions herd.

“At this time, my recommendation will be that we need to find another way to find out more information,” Yoder said. “I don’t think it is ready for the council to move forward.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.