County Exec Hails Kirkland's Pending Annexation

Calling it a “great deal for the residents,” King County Executive Dow Constantine Friday applauded the pending annexation by the City of Kirkland of three neighborhoods to the north.

The annexation of Finn Hill, north Juanita and Kingsgate becomes official on June 1 and will boost the ctiy’s population from 49,000 to 80,000.

“This brings local services closer to local residents – from police to permits to roads,” Constantine said in a press release, which called the move the largest shift of unincorporated county territory in recent memory.

“It’s a great deal for the residents of these neighborhoods and will make Kirkland a stronger player on the Eastside. I congratulate Mayor (Joan) McBride and the Kirkland City Council for acting in the best interest of area residents.”

McBride joined Constantine in welcoming the annexation -- which remains unpopular among some annexation area residents and residents of the city proper.

“We welcome our new residents and look forward to providing our services that reflect our commitment to quality of life,” she said. “It’s taken a lot of focused effort between the city and the county to make this annexation become a reality. We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from King County to make this transition possible. We are excited to join as one city, one Kirkland.”

All city residents are invited to a City Hall Open house on June 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. and a community celebration on June 3, 6 p.m., Juanita Beach Park, near the Forbes House. Businesses are invited to attend a networking breakfast on June 2nd, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Event details are available at www.kirklandwa.gov/annexation.

“It has been gratifying to see a decade of discussion result in a seamless transition to a unified Kirkland,” County Council Vice Chair Jane Hague said in the release. “Residents and business will receive an enhanced level of service, which is simply not possible under a large regional government like King County.”

The Kirkland City Council and the King County Council recently adopted an inter-local agreement that provides for the transition of services and transfer of property and assets from the county to the city. The city produced a services guide that was recently mailed to annexation homes and businesses. The Guide, which includes a “How Do I?” section, is posted on its annexation web page.

In November 2009, the question of annexation, zoning regulations, and assumption of indebtedness was placed on the ballot for voters in the annexation area. A majority of more than 59 percent approved annexation to Kirkland, but a companion measure regarding the assumption of indebtedness did not receive the required 60 percent voter approval. The Kirkland City Council accepted the annexation in December 2009 without imposing the assumption of the city’s previous voter-approved indebtedness.