Methods of Annexation & Meetings

Annexation Methods

There are several ways that annexation of your property can occur:

The method of annexation, which City of Wasilla officials have said they wish to pursue in the Annexation Neighborhood Meetings, is to have the City of Wasilla City Council approve annexation plans. Then, the City officials will forward this onto the State of Alaska Local Boundary Commission. The boundary commission then votes to approve or disapprove of it and then they forward it onto the State Legislature.

If we cannot get the Wasilla City Council to stop this thing, then the best place to stop it will be the State of Alaska Local Boundary Commission. Representative Bill Stoltze, spoke at the Knik Goose Bay Elementary school meeting, and stated that under state law, the Local Boundary Commission is required to provide equal attention to anyone who contacts it to speak up against or in favor of annexation. It is going to take a strong effort.

Once the Local Boundary Commission votes, if they vote to approve it, then they send it onto the Legislature. Representative Stoltze indicated that, THE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT VOTE ON ANNEXATION. IF THEY TAKE NO ACTION, IT IS APPROVED. IF A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE SAYS THEY WANT TO REVIEW IT IN THEIR COMMITTEE, AND THEN THEY DO NOTHING ON IT, IT IS APPROVED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT AT THE LEGISLATURE, IS FOR THEM TO TAKE A VOTE ON IT, AND THEN TO VOTE NO. OTHERWISE IT IS SIMPLY APPROVED.

This can all happen without any vote of the people who are affected. How democratic is that? Your voice needs to be heard, the city administration doesn't appear to be listening. And, even though the Wasilla City Council recently took annexation off the table (thank God), you should expect that the politicians are going to try and bring it up again, they've tried it in the past, and you can be sure they're going to try it again.

The other way involves a vote of the residents in the potential annexation area, along with a vote of the residents of the City of Wasilla. In that method, only 50%+1 voter, of the people voting (both current residents of the City of Wasilla, plus annexation area residents) need to approve it. What that means, is that if 3,000 registered City of Wasilla residents vote for the annexation of your land, then we will need 3,001 residents of the annexation areas to vote no to defeat it.

One of the big questions I have, is why would City of Wasilla officials want to railroad this annexation plan through the legislative process instead of through a vote of the people? This is perplexing to me.

Annexation Neighborhood Meeting Results

There have been three Annexation Neighborhood Meetings held by City of Wasilla officials. One was held on November 11 at Cottonwood Creek Elementary, another on November 12 at Tanaina Elmentary, and a third one on November 19 at Knik Goose Bay Elementary.

Attendance was low, due to little public notice. However, the results and mood of the attendees was notable. In the Cottonwood Creek Elementary meeting, approximately 60 people attended. An informal hand vote was taken, and EVERYONE voted against annexation. At the Tanaina Elementary meeting, approximately 100 people attended, and a similar hand vote was taken. Of the attendees, 98 voted against it, and 2 for it.

At the Knik Goose Bay Elementary meeting of November 19, city officials brought along an armed Wasilla policeman. Of the approximately 100 people that attended, 97 voted against annexation, and 3 voted for it.

When city officials were asked what recommendations they would make to the City Council, based on what appeared to be overwhelming public opposition to the annexation plans, their answer was simple. We think that more study needs to be done.

When asked why the City of Wasilla started annexation plans in the first place, they stated that "Lot's of property owners want to be annexed into the city. Some signed some petitions, and some just came in and told us that they and all their neighbors wanted to be annexed into the city" People at the meetings asked where they were, the city officials didn't know.

When asked why they didn't notify all potentially affected property owners, their response was "We followed City guidelines and published it in the Frontiersman and the Anchorage Daily News."

Okay, so let me get this straight. The City of Wasilla administration, was requested by "many" people to annex their lands into the city". So to follow city law, they publish public notices of hearings in the Frontiersman and Anchorage Daily News, figuring they'll get the public cross section of attendees they want. Seems good so far, doesn't it? Then, in all of the Wasilla Annexation Neighborhood meetings held, there is overwhelming public opposition, and City officials question the validity of the results?

Annexation Information for Renters

While you think that annexation in the city is harmless to you, don't be fooled. If approved, any utilities you pay for (electric, gas, telephone, cable TV) will be taxed by the City. The groceries you buy at Three Bears will be taxed. If water and sewer are brought into your neighborhood, and your landlord has a well and septic, he will be forced to pay an assessment for those utilities whether he connects to them or not. If the property taxes go up on the property, your rent is going to increase. You know he's going to have to raise the rent to recover those costs.