SNOHOMISH COUNTY Over 100 residents from the Esperance and Edmonds communities attended a community briefing at Chase Lake Elementary School on Wednesday to explore the implications of potential annexation into the city of Edmonds.
Back in August, the Edmonds City Council instructed staff to collaborate with Snohomish County on drafting a formal annexation plan for a 464-acre tract of unincorporated land entirely encircled by city limits. This area, historically known as Esperance, has long resisted incorporation, with voters rejecting annexation proposals five times since the 1960s, most recently in 2005.
A grassroots movement renewed annexation discussions last year after county-level zoning changes sparked concerns among residents about preserving local character and limiting development pressure. “It became really clear to us that the best way for us to protect our neighborhood and keep the character of Esperance as close to what we want would be to discuss annexation into the city of Edmonds,” noted Colleen MacDonald, representing the Esperance Neighborhood Alliance.
State legislation enacted in the 2000s now allows cities to annex contiguous unincorporated enclaves, those meeting an 80% boundary adjacency threshold, through interlocal agreements rather than resident referendums. This legal shift means Edmonds could bring Esperance into the city without triggering another ballot measure, even though past attempts have been met with repeated opposition.
Some attendees expressed unease about this procedural approach. “They’ve tried to annex us five times already, what part of no don’t they get?” said Francisco Rodriguez, a longtime Esperance resident since 2000. “Doing it a sixth time, and not asking for a referendum, they’re taking us out of the equation. I think we’re just numbers for the city.”
Mayor Mike Rosen emphasized that no final commitment has been made. “The city is here without any assumption of a conclusion,” he said. “That’s why this is important. We really want all questions and opinions to take place.”
The proposed annexation would unfold in two stages. The initial phase would include the eastern and southern sections, home to roughly 2,100 people, and encompass Esperance Park. A second phase would add the northwestern and north-central zones, accommodating approximately 2,400 residents.
One key focus of the timeline is a pending assessment of the 84th Avenue bridge, which spans Chase Lake and was constructed in 1968. Snohomish County currently classifies the structure as being in fair condition, meaning it does not meet thresholds for immediate state or county repair or replacement funding. While the city has not finalized the scope or cost of the bridge evaluation, preliminary council documents indicate the study remains pending.
Sales Tax Credit Considered for Annexation
Pursuing annexation through an interlocal agreement could allow the city to receive a sales tax credit from the state. If operational costs, including additional staffing and future capital projects like upgrades to the 84th Avenue bridge and Esperance Park, exceed revenues, the city would receive a 0.1% sales tax credit to fund services for Esperance. This provision applies to annexation areas with populations between 2,000 and 10,000. However, the city cannot impose this tax after July 1, 2028. If an application is submitted to the state before that date, the credit can be received for up to 10 years, or as long as costs exceed revenues.
By annexing in two phases, the city could potentially receive the tax credit twice if both annexations are completed by July 2028. The city is currently investigating whether the credit can be applied toward the repair of the 84th Avenue bridge.
Community Concerns on Funding and Taxes
"They speak a lot about the reimbursement, but they're not asking Esperance residents how they would want that money to go back into the community," Esperance resident Eliane Rodriguez said.
Taxes were another major concern among attendees. Under annexation, total taxes could rise by up to $480 annually for a median property owner with a home valued at $821,700. This increase would stem largely from water, sewer, and stormwater costs.
Staffing and Revenue Projections
On Wednesday, Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins stated that the department would add five positions if annexation occurs: four officers and one civilian support staff member. Other proposed staffing increases include 1.75 positions in the parks, recreation, and human services department and one position in the public works department.
According to an August presentation from a consulting firm, accounting for these staffing increases, the city would generate approximately $2 million in general fund revenue in the first year and $25.4 million in years six through 15.
Zoning and Character of the Neighborhood
Members of the Esperance Neighborhood Alliance stated that Edmonds zoning, building codes, design standards, and tree codes better align with Esperance's character.
"When we got the notice about the area-wide rezone, immediately I was staring down a future for my neighborhood that I didn't know," Esperance resident Sonja Tangen said. "We can continue with the county, and all those rezones will go forward, and the character of the Esperance neighborhood will change, or, even though there is no perfect solution in my mind, we can engage with the city of Edmonds."
Esperance resident Kellie Lewis expressed a desire to welcome affordable housing into the neighborhood, a development that the county zoning change would have permitted by facilitating the construction of multifamily housing.
"If that's a motivation for people to be annexed into Edmonds, that feels really concerning for me," Lewis said. "That would be something that's essentially keeping poor people out of our neighborhood, or who we deem to be poor people."
Some attendees indicated they felt they were hearing more about the downsides of remaining with the county rather than the benefits of joining the city. In response, Rosen noted that advantages include faster police response times and more direct city services.
The county is seeking to exit the real estate market and has expressed a preference for the city to take over the area, citing its own strategic advantage in proximity, according to Rosen. "We show up," he stated, arguing that the city is better positioned to manage the land than the county.
Several participants in the discussion expressed a desire for a more cooperative approach to the potential boundary change. Courtney Wooten, a resident of Esperance, noted that while there may be significant advantages to becoming part of Edmonds, the current presentation focuses more on a narrative of county abandonment than on highlighting those benefits.
"We are not necessarily being sold those perks, we are being sold a story about how the county's abandoning us," Wooten said. She argued that the aggressive nature of the pitch lacks an inviting or collaborative tone. Wooten questioned whether the current setup of the process is likely to yield a positive outcome.