"Our recommendation, at this point in time, is, I don't think (annexation) is ready for the council to move forward," said deputy city director Marvin Yoder at a public meeting about annexation held Thursday at Knik Elementary School.
Yoder said it's up to the City Council to say whether annexation plans proceed, however. He plans to develop a list of options for the City Council to consider. Among those options could be developing a five- to 10-year plan for annexing property outside the city, he said.
The news came after four public meetings this month at which property owners who live outside the city vehemently said they don't like the city's plan to expand Wasilla's boundaries to envelop their land.
Several residents said they were frustrated the city didn't mail notices to every property owner in areas north, south, east and west of the city who might be annexed.
Many said they want to have a chance to vote on whether to join the city or not.
"This is nothing better than eminent domain if you don't give a vote to the people who live here," said Fairview Loop resident Kris Abshire at the Knik Elementary School meeting last week.
PEOPLE, TAXES, SERVICES
Wasilla is analyzing plans to annex property on all sides of the city. According to city estimates, the new boundaries would more than double Wasilla's population, to more than 16,000 residents.
It would also expand city boundaries from what's now about 13 square miles to more than 31.
For the city, the areas proposed for annexation include business corridors that would generate sales taxes for the city treasury -- Knik-Goose Bay Road and Seward-Meridian Parkway, for example.
A bigger population might also increase the city's ability to get state and federal funding, said Marvin Yoder, deputy city administrator.
The city has tried to sell the plan to new potential residents by saying they would see their taxes fall and they would get city police protection, access to city sewer and water and city road maintenance and plowing, along with other benefits.
Wasilla doesn't tax property owners and its residents don't have to pay road-service fees or the Mat-Su Borough's areawide taxes, which pay for things like animal control and libraries.
According to the city, most areas being considered for annexation would see drops in taxes of 2 to 3.6 mills, or $400 to $720 each year for a home with a borough-assessed tax value of $200,000.
PROS, CONS OF ZONING
Residents Thursday who supported the annexation plan said residents might benefit from the city's ability to plan future development.
"If we continue allowing things to go helter-skelter without guidance and planning ahead, we're going to end up with people taking their 50 acres and dividing them up into half-acre lots," said Nancy Amundsen, a Donovan Estates resident.
She said she worries runoff from new subdivisions could pollute subdivisions already in place.
Planning could help prevent that, she said.
But most who attended the meetings don't want to be included in the city.
Several said city zoning laws are too strict for their taste and they don't want or need the other services the city is offering.
"We already pay sales tax. Why don't you leave us alone, because that's what we want," said Bill Knudsen, a Fairview Loop resident.
In an impromptu show of hands Thursday, only three people raised their hands in support of annexation, while more than 100 people raised hands to oppose the plan.
Property owners who attended other public meetings said similar polls were taken there, with similar results.
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