While many questions are still left to be answered about the annexation transition on June 1, 2011, the Kirkland City Council is making plans to get people living in those areas involved in the city sooner rather than later.

During its Feb. 16 meeting, the council requested that staff draft an ordinance to change current city law to allow citizens living in the annexation area to join Kirkland’s boards and commissions this year. The resolution, which will be drafted for the March 2 council meeting, is also likely to expand most boards and commissions by two seats and then later contract by attrition.

“We can use input and additional applications,” said Councilmember Bob Sternoff. “We can definitely use the additional assets we have out there.”

City staff is already recruiting residents from the annexation area to apply for various positions. The terms for many of the boards and commissions are up on March 31 and new appointments will have to be made.

The move is not a new idea. The city temporarily changed the law after the 1988 annexation of Rose Hill and lower Juanita.

Some of the groups, including the Salary Comission and Disability Board, will not be expanded as they are not as critical as other boards such as the Planning Commission.

“They (the Planning Commission) have annexation issues in their plan this year and the importance is to include them in the planning,” Kirkland’s Assistant City Manager Marilynne Beard told the council.

Another place the city is looking for help is on the Kirkland Library Board, which will also cover the Kingsgate Library following annexation.

“Right now we have problems getting volunteers for the library board so we can use all the help we can get,” said Beard.

Annexation funding

Despite indications that it may not happen, the council passed two resolutions to request the state’s sales tax credit early during the meeting.

“The word that we are getting from Olympia is that the budget is so tight that, while this kind of request may be reasonable and they understand our desire, they just can’t make it work in the current budget situation,” City Manager Dave Ramsay told the council. “… We recommend that the council pass these just in case something miraculous were to occur in the last part of the session. But I would lower your expectations.”

Both resolutions make Kirkland eligible for the funds should they become available. The resolutions passed by a 6-1 margin with Councilmember Dave Asher being the only dissenting vote.

If the city does not receive the funds early, the city may have to dip into other city coffers to fund the annexation transition.