Title
Oregon Legislature - Senate Bill 1573: Voter Approval of Annexation Requests
Body
RECOMMENDED ACTION (Motion):
Staff is bringing this forward for discussion.
BACKGROUND:
The Legislature is currently considering Senate Bill 1573 that would require a city to annex territory without a vote of the citizens upon receipt of a petition for annexation that is submitted by all of the owners of the land to be annexed, provided the land is located within an urban growth boundary and is, or will be, subject to an acknowledged comprehensive plan of the City.
The Oregon City Charter requires that all annexations be sent to the voters:
Section 3 - Boundaries.
Unless mandated by law, the city shall include all territory encompassed by its boundaries as they now exist or hereafter are modified by the voters. The recorder shall keep in his office at City Hall at least two copies of this charter, in each of which he shall maintain an accurate, up-to-date description of the boundaries. The copies and description shall be available for public inspection at any time during regular office hours of the recorder.
(Amended by voters at the City election held May 18, 1999.)
The City has historically opposed any efforts by the Legislature to amend or remove the citizen vote requirement for annexations as it is not consistent with the requirements of the Oregon City Charter. It is staff's recommendation to oppose the proposed legislation.