Oak Harbor council adopts annexation ordinance amid objections from environmental group

Oak Harbor — The City Council voted unanimously April 7 to adopt Ordinance 2040, annexing an 80‑acre South Annexation Area into the city to implement a previously negotiated interlocal agreement with Island County.

City planners presented the ordinance as the implementation step of a joint city–county agreement discussed in a March 19 joint meeting. Principal Planner Rajesh Kack K'mack summarized the technical steps required to transfer the property into Oak Harbor’s jurisdiction and recommended council approval.

In public hearing testimony, Marnie Jackson, executive director of the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, urged the council to delay adoption until the city commits to annexing nearby “donut hole” neighborhoods that are surrounded by city limits but lack urban services. Jackson cited state growth‑management sequencing (RCW 36.78.1103) and urged the council to use RCW 82.14.415 to spread infrastructure costs before approving greenfield annexations. “Please do not adopt ordinance 2040 until you are prepared to annex the donut holes as well,” Jackson told the council.

Council members pressed staff and legal counsel about sequencing, funding, and the practical challenges of annexing already‑developed pocket neighborhoods. Mayor Ronnie Wright and other council members said the administration is pursuing parallel tracks: they are advancing the South Annexation Area now to meet planning and housing obligations while continuing to negotiate an interlocal agreement and an infrastructure plan to address the donut‑hole pockets. City legal counsel said she had seen no legal documentation proving the city had violated state law in proceeding with the South Annexation Area.

Councilmember Romero moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Arms seconded; after a friendly amendment to include the ordinance number, the motion passed unanimously.

What happens next: staff said technical steps with the state will follow to register the property in the city. Council and staff also said they will continue working with Island County and the Department of Commerce on a separate interlocal plan to address the surrounded neighborhoods, funding options and timelines.

Authorities and next steps cited at the hearing included RCW 36.78.1103 (growth sequencing), RCW 35A.14.295 (annexation of surrounded territories), and the one‑time funding option in RCW 82.14.415; Whidbey Environmental Action Network said it reserves the right to seek review before the Boundary Review Board or the Growth Management Hearings Board.

Council members and staff emphasized that annexation does not require immediate hookup to city utilities for existing homes: connections will be addressed case‑by‑case, typically when septic or well systems fail or as properties request connection and infrastructure is extended.