Sammamish Mayor Tom Odell said he was not surprised that the King County Boundary Review Board unanimously voted to prepare a resolution to approve the annexation of the Klahanie PAA to Issaquah.

“It was not unanticipated,” Odell said.

The BRB deliberated in public Thursday Oct. 10 at the Holiday Inn in Issaquah after reviewing mounds of testimony, letters and exhibits presented over two nights, Sept. 18 and 19. BRB chair, Mary Lynne Evans of Seattle was the first to bring up the issue of the PAA being considered as a possible annexation area for Sammamish.

“We are not authorized to make this kind of change,” she said.

That would be a decision of the Growth Management Planning Council. Robert Cook concurred stating that the board was not in the business of moving potential annexation areas.

Claudia Hirschey said the boundaries were disturbing to her. An area to the west of the PAA, referred to as “the boot,” is part of the city of Sammamish. Hirschey made the comment that it might be worthwhile to look at the boot going to Issaquah. Evangeline Anderson said the boundaries that created the boot were drawn that way because Klahanie didn’t want to be part of Sammamish when the city first incorporated in 1999.

“The boot is already in Sammamish and not appropriate in this discussion,” said Laura Kisielius.

Evans said one letter she received asked about annexing roads to the midpoint, which she said in previous annexations has been “hell on wheels.” She said that would not be happening with this annexation. However Evans was concerned about testimony regarding the various public service districts.

“I have arrived at the decision that the issue is with the well heads in Issaquah, but it doesn’t have bearing on the annexation,” Evans said.

As far as Issaquah assuming water and sewer services in the city currently provided by Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District, Evans said that is what the growth management plan calls for. She said she also hated to see Eastside Fire and Rescue’s Station 83 become a “pawn” in the annexation.

Station 83 is the closest station to Klahanie. The station is owned by Sammamish, which is considering leaving the inter-local agreement when it expires at the end of 2014, and forming its own fire department. The city is unhappy with the business arrangement with EFR because it’s based on assessed property valuation rather than service calls. Issaquah and EFR District 10 have expressed interest in purchasing station 83, but Sammamish city councilman Ramiro Valderrama noted “there’s no for sale sign on it.”

“None of this is easy,” Cook said. “The wonderful thing is we have two cities that want this area. The mayor’s (Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger) presentation was spot-on. There really isn’t any loser on this because the citizens will vote on this and ultimately decide.”

Cook said Issaquah made a compelling case because although the boundaries are “weird” they’re not any more unusual than previous annexations. Evans concurred, adding that it’s still up to the citizens of Klahanie when it goes to a vote in Feb. 2014.

The city of Sammamish sent a letter — signed by the mayor and five of the city council members —  to Frisinger and all of the Issaquah City council members Oct. 8 suggesting it would be the fair thing to do to give Klahanie the opportunity to choose “rather than channel them into an election that limits their choices to Yes Issaquah or No Issaquah.”

“Wouldn’t it make sense to broaden the question and let them consider Sammamish as well?” the letter asks.

“We’re on a course to allow them to vote,” said Issaquah councilman Fred Butler. “I don’t know why we would do that. We’ve been very open and above board on what we’ve been doing.”

The BRB’s resolution will be presented for final action Nov. 6, at which point there is a 30-day appeal period. Appeals must be made to the King County Superior Court.

“We are hopeful that the BRB’s decision will not be appealed,” Frisinger said. “It was clear from the BRB deliberations that the annexation is both legal and consistent with the Growth Management Act. An appeal would simply delay or potentially derail the Klahanie PAA voters from making a decision on their future.”