Approximately 35 residents of the Klahanie Potential Annexation Area attended the first of three scheduled informational open houses regarding the annexation, Monday night at Faith Church in Klahanie.

The city of Sammamish has already done a study on how annexation will affect Klahanie residents, and Sammamish at large, so now the city is doing public outreach, answering questions and providing information.

Per the city’s calculations, a homeowner with an assessed valuation of $500,000 will save $422 in property taxes with the annexation. The city states that residents of Klahanie will also receive better services.

A fiscal analysis, done by Butkus Consulting, Inc., shows that the city, after including additional operating expenses against additional operating revenue, would likely net $1.24 million annually after annexation.

The analysis did not include an approximate $3 million to improve Issaquah-Fall City Road, which the city has committed to do.

Laura Philpot, the director of public works for the city said if annexation occurs, Sammamish also plans to take responsibility for the portion of Issaquah-Pine Lake Road that borders Issaquah. The city hopes to widen it to five lanes between Issaquah-Fall City Road to Southeast Klahanie Boulevard.

Philpot said a detailed analysis will be done on Issaquah-Fall City Road beginning in 2016. These major road improvements are a high-priority for the city. Also, over time, other roads in Klahanie will be brought up to Sammamish standards. The King County Road levy, currently paid by Klahanie area residents, will disappear.

However, one Klahanie resident, who did not want to be named, is very concerned about 212th Avenue Northeast, which she said is very dangerous, so much so that bicyclists are not allowed on it anymore. The road is off Northeast Inglewood Hill Road, which is a main access road into Sammamish.

Zoning in Klahanie will very similar to what it is now as part of unincorporated King County. Councilmember Tom Odell said there will be increased protections regarding wetlands and sensitive areas.

From a citizen’s prospective, nothing will change with fire protection and response said Deputy Chief Bud Backer with Eastside Fire and Rescue. In fact, Sammamish will pick up more of the cost of running Station 83, also known as the “Klahanie Station.”

Speaking with Backer, was another Klahanie resident who did not want to be named, but she said she’s lived in Klahanie since 1988. She said living in King County has been very difficult, and it’s about time it was annexed into a city.

Sammamish police are actually with the King County Sheriff’s office, and it will add six officers if annexation is approved by voters.

As far as parks go, Klahanie Park will be maintained by the city if the annexation is approved. Jessi Bon, director of Parks and Recreation said the city has no major changes planned for the park, only to keep it up to the city’s standards which include litter and garbage removed daily, restrooms cleaned daily, lawn work, trail maintenance, brush control, annual tree inspections and more.

Sammamish has a population of 48,060 and Klahanie has an estimated population of 10,939. The PAA is 1.98 square miles, compared to Sammamish’s 21.55 square miles. There are 3,929 housing units in Klahanie and only 32 undeveloped lots.

Sammamish does not have a utility tax or a business and occupation tax, which are other benefits to Klahanie residents.

The Sammamish City Council hopes to review the annexation in October or November. Then the issue will have be presented to the King County Boundary Review Board, hopefully early in 2015, before an election can take place. April 2015 is the target for the election. After an election is official, the city will pass an ordinance establishing the official date of annexation, which they would like to be in August of 2015 or earlier, so Klahanie residents can see a reduction in their property taxes in 2016, otherwise that wouldn’t happen until 2017.

This was the first of three informational open houses on the annexation. Councilmember Ramiro Valderrama was pleased that the people who came to this one were upbeat, saying the information and openness of the city staff was well received.