Fairwood Incorporation & Annexation Groups Pitch Renton City Council

While the City of Renton typically focuses on business directly related to the city, a recent Council Meeting was dominated by Incorporation and Annexation proponents from Fairwood during the citizen comment time at the August 11 Renton City Council meeting.

Heavy representation by supporters of Fairwood's Incorporation requested that Renton officials and employees remain neutral, even refraining from providing public information to inquiries related to incorporation and annexation impacts.

Fairwood Municipal Initiative Requests Council Action
Joe Giberson, head of the Fairwood Municipal Initiative, requested that the City of Renton remain neutral and that they pass a policy that would require public employees to refrain from interference.

"I urge you to avoid even the appearance of impropriety by passing a resolution adopting a non-interference policy with regard to the process for the incorporation of the proposed City of Fairwood," said Giberson.

Giberson also noted that the vote on this initiative is currently targeted for August 2010, a delay in one year from the previously announced date.

Nick Bujanovich was next to speak at the meeting, asking all to "take a deep breath and wait till the study (the King County Feasibility Study)that is moving forward and has been completed and all the other activities regarding the possible incorporation have taken place prior to any action from your council." His message again was to encourage council members to remain neutral and uninvolved in the process.

Tom Edwards reiterated the same message, noting Fairwood-area residents as passionate about this issue. "This is such a touchy issue and such a very sensitive issue for this community that has such a strong identity. We just ask you make every effort to make sure there is no sign of impropriety, no sign of influence, no support either way," said Edwards.

The 15-year resident and local, small-business owner asked that the "City of Renton back off and let the citizens decide."

Choose Renton Seeks Information from City
Bryce Nelson, spokesperson for the newly formed "Choose Renton" group, was the only pro-annexation speaker, and his focus was to introduce the group and request that the City provide information when requested.

"We're here tonight basically to tell you we exist. We're a group of Fairwood residents that believe that the City of Renton is the best option for the Fairwood area," said Nelson.

Nelson responded that the group's interest is not to obtain City support for annexation. However, he said the group was asking for assistance in providing information.

"We're not asking for the City of Renton to advocate on our behalf or endorse us. What we're asking for is for the City of Renton to provide information to the citizens of the Fairwood area. We're not asking you to do anything else. It wouldn't be appropriate and we wouldn't do it anyway. And whatever assistance you can provide us in terms of getting information to the citizens of the area, we would like you to do it," said Nelson.

At this point, Council Member Randy Corman noted his position as a Renton City Council Member was to remain neutral. "I do intend to stay neutral with the Fairwood Annexation versus Incorporation. I think this decision belongs to the citizens of Fairwood to make," said Corman.

Paula Henderson, a Fairwood-area resident and the sixth citizen to speak on this issue requested neutrality from the City and a process that would ensure better accuracy if information is provided.

"Please refrain yourselves and let us review the financial feasibility study; allow us to do that. I would also caution you with providing informational items. I did review during the last process what went through your planning department, and the information was not quite correct. At least it could go through a sort of review process," said Henderson.

Greg Parnell, a former homeowners association president in the Fairwood area, expressed concern over a previous questionable action and was present to express this concern as the process moves forward. He referenced an instance where Renton Mayor Denis Law sent a public letter to the Renton Reporter, responding to information published in a homeowners association newsletter (probably referring to HOA minutes). He felt it would have been more appropriate to respond directly to the homeowners association first rather than to the Reporter.

"I would like to make sure that it does remain neutral and we get to decide for ourselves what we're going to be," said Parnell.

City to provide information regardless of position
Mayor Denis Law wrapped up the discussion, emphasizing that the City would maintain a policy of providing public information to whomever. "We're going to provide information to both sides. We'll be as cooperative to both sides of the issue that have questions about our service levels, our taxation or anything else pertinent to their cause. Until you see us doing something wrong, assume we're going to operate within the law and we're going to provide information to both sides of the group," said Law.

Next Meetings
Choose Renton will meet Tuesday, September 30 at the Fairwood Library for an Annexation Informational Open House from 6:45-8:45 p.m. Upcoming meetings for the Fairwood Municipal Initiative have not yet
been announced.

Responses to "Fairwood Groups
Pitch Renton City Council"

Fairwood Incorporation & Annexation Groups Pitch Renton City Council

Fairwood Municipal Initiative Requests Council Action Joe Giberson, head of the Fairwood Municipal Initiative, requested that the City of Renton remain neutral and that they pass a policy that would require public employees to refrain from interference.

Choose Renton Seeks Information from City Bryce Nelson, spokesperson for the newly formed "Choose Renton" group, was the only pro-annexation speaker, and his focus was to introduce the group and request that the City provide information when requested.