Under pressure as a key deadline approaches, The Kirkland City Council announced annexation is back on the agenda next week and added a special April 6 meeting to consider absorbing several neighborhoods presently north of city limits.

The Council will first discuss new financial numbers concerning scenarios that may arise if the city annexes the Finn Hill, Kingsgate and Upper Juanita neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are part of the city’s so-called Potential Annexation Area (PAA) – a King County designation that assigns Kirkland to someday provide local urban services thereby absorbing the communities.

No formal decision will be made at the meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the lower level of Kirkland City Hall (Peter Kirk Room), 123 Fifth Avenue. On April 7, a second Special Meeting will be held on annexation where the Council will hear public testimony and consider adopting a resolution that, if approved, would initiate the next step in the annexation process.

An April 7 Special Meeting, held to deliberate whether to begin the required evaluation by the Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County to annex the PAA will begin at 6 p.m., with a public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Following the public hearing, the City Council may vote to approve or reject the resolution of intent to annex.

The Boundary Review Board reviews proposals for boundary changes by cities, fire districts, and water/sewer districts within King County, including annexations, incorporations and district mergers.

City Council must act soon to preserve state funding that currently expires in 2010, although there is legislation in Olympia under consideration that seeks to extend the deadline until 2021. A “Notice of Intention” to annex, however, must be submitted to the board by no later than mid-April to guarantee the measure will appear before PAA voters in November.

Kirkland’s recent moves come amidst pressure from financially-strapped King County as it desperately tries to cut costs. County officials recently asked The City of Bothell to investigate the possibility of annexing the same area. After a detailed financial analysis, Bothell City Manager Bob Stowe concluded it was “financially feaseble,” but added that Kirkland City Council had “effectively required us to back off.”

To receive an email notice when the Council agenda is posted to the web and/or to receive email updates about the Annexation Study, subscribe to Kirkland Email Alerts.