Council rejects annexing property into city limits

Filing an appeal for a hearing examiner just got a little cheaper for Sedro-Woolley residents.

The City Council voted to change the hearing examiner fees from a user pay system to a flat fee of $200 during the Sept. 24 council meeting.

The current user pay system requires citizens to pay $200 for filing the appeal, plus 100 percent of the hearing examiner fees — typically starting at a minimum of $800.

The new fee will cost citizens $200 to file the appeal and only $200 for hearing examiner costs. The remaining expenses will be taken from the city’s general fund — money collected from tax payers.

The council adopted a hearing examiner ordinance in February to help improve the city’s code. In March, the council adopted a user pay system to cover the hearing examiner costs to prevent tax payers from bearing the burden of the expenses.

City officials said they have received comments from citizens disappointed with the new system because it reduces their access to the appeal process.

City Supervisor and Attorney Eron Berg told the Courier-Times last week he recommended the council adopt the user pay system earlier this year to avoid taking funds away from other needs.

In other business, the council voted to reject a proposed annexation of four parcels owned by Deluxe Recycling and Disposal’s landlord, Fire Ridge LLC. Councilmen Dennis London and Louie Requa voted in favor of the annexation.

The company requested annexing about 10 acres of urban growth area to the city. Fire Ridge already has 16 of its 41 acres annexed into the city.

The proposed property is located near Jameson, South Third and Morris streets.

The property is also adjacent to 25 acres Fire Ridge already owns within city limits. That land includes about 13 acres of property leased to Deluxe where it plans to build its solid waste transfer and recycling facility.

State law requires proposed annexations be brought before the City Council to vote on whether to accept, reject or geographically modify the proposed annexation.

Prior to the vote, Sedro-Woolley resident Al Doorn spoke against the annexation. He said he was concerned who is behind the annexation and that he thinks it would allow Deluxe to “anchor its presence in town.”

“Until we have a chance, let’s find out who is promoting this, who stands to lose or gain from it,” Doorn said.

Sedro-Woolley residents Kevin Osborne and Robert Carlson also spoke against the proposed annexation. Osborne said he thinks the city should slow down before approving the annexation.

Fire Ridge Managing Member Steve Seeger spoke before the council and said he wanted to clarify he has “absolutely nothing to do with Deluxe.” He said he purchased the property solely as a business investment and Deluxe is only a tenant.

Seeger said the reasoning for proposing the annexation was because it was a large piece of property that is easier to handle permits or mitigation work if it is under one jurisdiction. His property currently lies within County boundaries and city boundaries.

“I’m not here to fight,” Seeger said. “I’m here as a landowner to close an annexation.”

Councilman Hugh Galbraith said he felt uneasy and concerned about the proposed annexation. Councilman Pat Colgan then made a motion to reject the annexation.

Before the final vote, Councilman Requa said he was concerned the council and city residents were jumping to conclusions regarding the connection between Fire Ridge and Deluxe.

He said Fire Ridge has every right to propose the annexation and that he was concerned the city would continue to be branded with the reputation that businesses are not welcome in the community.

Requa said he also wanted to point out that if the city doesn’t have a good mix of industry, commercial and residential zones then the city is not providing the services it needs.

City Planning Director and Building Official Jack Moore said Fire Ridge could bring the proposal back before the council at a later date.