The effort to bring the Klahanie potential annexation area (PAA) into the city of Issaquah inched forward Tuesday night as the Land and Shore Committee voted to present the agenda bill to the full council at the Monday, July 15, regular meeting.

The committee consists of chair and city council member Stacy Goodman and council members Tola Marts and Fred Butler. Diane Marcotte, the city’s finance director presented the highlights of the study done by consultants Tom Nesbitt and Cynthia Stewart while pointing out that the Issaquah business community supports annexation of the PAA.

After the initial start-up costs of annexation are paid off — $1.2 million — the net revenue to the city will be about $600,000 annually according to the study. Cost to the city to service the new areas would be about $5.85 million. Five police officers and one records specialist will be added to the Issaquah Police Department.

The city administration will have to apply for the state sales tax credit, which will offset start-up costs. The sales tax credit is good for 10 years.

If the full council approves the plan, the issue will go to voters in February 2014 at the same time the Issaquah School District presents its local levy to voters.

Beyond the money, city administrator Bob Harrison presented several key points as to why the annexation is a good fit for Issaquah.

Once the city hits a population of 50,000, it becomes an entitlement city for federal community development block grants. With 11,000 coming into the fold from the PAA, the city will likely reach 50,000 in population by the 2020 census.

Also with annexation, the housing mix will be more versatile. The vast majority of the PAA is single family homes, and the bulk of new development for Issaquah is multi-family housing. Harrison said this will help maintain a balance in housing. Also, the addition of homes will add to the city’s overall property tax base.

The social aspect cannot be ignored. Many of Klahanie’s residents are already active and involved in city boards and commissions.

“We consider ourselves to be Issaquah,” said long-time Brookshire resident Dick L’Heureux, who was on the nine-member task force appointed by Mayor Ava Frisinger. “What does it take to pull the trigger?”

Mike Foss, the vice-president of the Brookshire Homeowner’s Association, said he didn’t realize for three years that he did not live in Issaquah.

“I was here the last time around; it’s the right thing to do,” Foss said referring to the 2005 effort for annexation.

But Tom Harman of Klahanie thought things were moving too fast. One of his concerns, which was discussed, is Issaquah-Fall City Road which needs to be expanded due to heavy traffic, which is estimated to cost about $40 million. However, it’s a county road, so it is not just a problem for Issaquah.

Harrison said the city administration will be meeting with county executive Dow Constantine in the next couple of weeks and Issaquah-Fall City Road will be a part of that discussion.

“It’s a regional road, so it needs a regional solution,” Harrison said.