City begins outreach on island annexations

The Argus

The City of Hillsboro wants to get the facts out about its proposed annexation of island properties.

In advance of a Dec. 16 public hearing before the City Council, city staff have scheduled three community meetings in neighborhoods most likely to be affected by the proposed policy change.

In advance of those sessions, Alwyn Turiel, of the Planning Department, appeared at the Monday meeting of Citizen Participation Organization No. 9 to explain the proposal's background and its effect upon owners whose unincorporated properties are surrounded by others already under Hillsboro's jurisdiction.

Turiel said the city has grown by about 7,400 acres since 1984 through about 600 voluntary annexations. The islands remaining total about 288 acres among 194 property owners. Problems arise due to conflicts between city and county resources that provide public services to these properties and also in code enforcement issues.

As examples, she said Washington County, unlike the city, allows up to four abandoned vehicles on a property and the two jurisdictions have different restrictions on backyard burning.

She also cited reports of a resident of one of the unincorporated properties who "enjoys shooting gophers off his back porch."

David Hepp, Washington County undersheriff, who was present at the meeting, countered that charge. He said shooting in a backyard is illegal anywhere within the urban growth boundary.

John Vangrunsven, who owns unincorporated property in the Old Orenco area, asked whether the annexations might be delayed beyond the three year minimum permitted by Oregon statute for affected residential properties. (Commercial islands can be annexed immediately.)

Turiel's advice was, "I would think this is something people would want to testify to council about."

The three informational meetings on the island annexations scheduled for prior to that council hearing will be held at:

Glencoe High School Library, 2700 NW Glencoe Road, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17;

Imlay Elementary School Cafeteria, 5900 SE Lois St., 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19; and

Orenco Elementary School Cafeteria, 22550 NE Birch St., 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20.

Staff from Hillsboro's Planning, Police and Fire departments will be present to share information and answer questions.