The City of Yakima has provided updated information about a potential annexation near the Pacific University of Health Sciences (PNWU) campus in advance of the issue being discussed at next Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The updated information includes a new map showing a much smaller annexation area than previous versions.
“The new map does not include the Sun Country Estates mobile home park or most of the area south of Sportsman Park,” said Community & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler. “The new map, which focuses on the PNWU campus and commercial areas, was created based on concerns raised by community members.”
The updated information is posted on the City website front page (University District Annexation | Points of Interest (yakimawa.gov)).
At its meeting next Tuesday (September 17th), the City Council will decide whether to allow the potential annexation proposed by some property owners in the area to move on to the next step in the process. If the Council decides the process should continue, it would have to determine how big the potential annexation area would be. The Council would do that by selecting a map outlining the potential annexation area. City staff has prepared five maps for the Council to consider.
“The new map is responsive to the issues raised by some people in the potential annexation area,” said City Manager Vicki Baker. “The City is working to strike a balance between the property owners who have asked to be considered for annexation and the feedback we’ve received.”
If the Council decides on Tuesday that the process should continue, several more steps would need to be taken. Owners of 60% of the assessed value of property within the potential annexation area would need to sign petitions asking to be annexed by the City. If the 60% petition threshold wasn’t met, the process would end. If the threshold is met, public hearings would be held by the Council. If the Council ultimately approved the potential annexation, it would be considered by the Yakima County Boundary Review Board.