City of Tigard > News > Council Adopts Resolution to Schedule Public Hearing on Bull Mountain Annexation Plan

Council Adopts Resolution to Schedule Public Hearing on Bull Mountain Annexation Plan

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	City of Tigard 13125 SW Hall Blvd. Tigard, Oregon 97223	Press Release December 22, 2003
For Immediate Release
Contact:	Jim Hendryx Director of Community Development City of Tigard 503-639-4171 BullMountain@tigard-or.gov

Council Adopts Resolution to Schedule Public Hearing on Bull Mountain Annexation Plan
At its December 16th meeting, the Tigard Council considered and unanimously adopted a resolution directing staff to schedule a public hearing in July 2004 on the Bull Mountain Annexation Plan and to consider placing the ballot measure before the electorate in November 2004. Council previously had taken steps to hold a March 2004 election on the Annexation Plan.

After receiving public testimony and submittals on the Annexation Plan at the December 2, 2003 public hearing, Council determined that additional time is needed to work with Washington County and the public to communicate the issues and potential benefits of the Bull Mountain Annexation Plan before placing the Annexation Plan before the voters.

To carry out its intent, the Council resolution directs staff to form subcommittees, consisting of Washington County representatives, Tigard residents, and unincorporated Bull Mountain residents. Each subcommittee will study a specific issue or city service. The issue areas tentatively include parks, Police, library, planning, capital improvements and street maintenance. In its discussion, Council emphasized that this is an evolving process and that the number and make-up of the subcommittees could change. Council will discuss this issue and the formation and the make-up of the subcommittees further in January 2004.

Within the same resolution, Council took the step of formally stating that it has considered the alternatives and determined that an annexation plan procedure is the most efficient and effective means to provide unincorporated Bull Mountain and Tigard residents the opportunity to decide on the issue of annexation and of addressing the City of Tigard and Washington County goals of annexing the unincorporated Bull Mountain area. As defined by state statute, an annexation plan identifies the timing and sequence of annexation. Most importantly, the resolution states Council determination that the Annexation Plan meets the approval criteria as identified in Oregon Revised statutes, Metro Code, and Tigard Community Code.

Council's December 16th Resolution also addresses the park System Development Charge (SDC) issue. For several years, the City has asked the County to impose an Urban Services Area park SDC on new development with the adjacent unincorporated area. Recently, the County adopted an ordinance provision that for the first time would allow the collection of park SDCs within this area. Under the County ordinance, the City is allowed to collect a park SDC for the period between the approval date of the Annexation Plan and the effective date of the annexation. The County's implementation of the SDC is subject to the City proceeding with action on the annexation vote. The Tigard Council Resolution requests that the Washington County Board of Commissioners will accept their Resolution as a commitment from the Tigard City Council and begin imposing parks SDCs in the unincorporated area and set the funds aside until the effective annexation date.