The Council approved a resolution this afternoon, with the Mayor concurring, to allow the residents in unincorporated area along the Duwamish Waterway to vote to join the City of Seattle. The City’s proposal will now go before the Boundary Review Board for King County, which must consider whether to advance it to the approximately 103 registered voters in this area, commonly referred to as the South Park Sliver by the River and the Duwamish Industrial Triangle.
When you look at the map and the cultural boundaries of the South Park neighborhood, it just makes sense to give these residents a chance to be a part of the City of Seattle and to receive City services. A ‘yes’ vote would solve a longstanding anomaly in our City limits.
We heard testimony at the Full Council today about South Park residents who are just outside of the City limits and therefore don't receive emergency assistance from the Seattle fire company stationed just a few blocks away. If this annexation goes through, the emergency response times for these residents will dramatically improve.
The State Growth Management Act and County planning policies both encourage the transition of unincorporated urbanized areas to cities. According to an analysis by the City Budget Office, revenues from the area are expected to be sufficient to fund the area’s annual service needs. The City will continue discussions with King County officials and local service providers regarding the future of the adjacent unincorporated North Highline neighborhood.
The last annexation by the City of Seattle occurred in 1986, when City limits expanded to include a nearby area known as Central Heights along Myers Way South.