Yes. You will be able to vote in City elections. Through elections, Walla Walla citizens may serve on the City Council. By appointment, Walla Walla citizens may also serve on City boards and commissions such as:

• Planning Commission
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Advisory Board
• Civil Service Commission
• Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• Sustainability Committee
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
• Hotel and Motel Commission
• Infrastructure Improvement Committee
• Public Library Board of Trustees
• Transportation Improvement Committee
• Walla Walla Housing Authority

It should also be noted that annexations increase a city's size and population, and in some instances raises its level of political influence, prestige, ability to attract desirable commercial and industrial development as well as employment opportunities; and annexations may increase the City's ability to attract grant funding.

Once a property is annexed into the City of Walla Walla, development questions such as zoning or obtaining building permits may be directed to the Development Services Department at 509.524.4710 or permits@wallawallawa.gov. Development Services is located within the Service Center at 55 East Moore Street.

The City development standards already apply in the unincorporated areas of the UGA, to subdivisions and short plats receiving City utility service. Following annexation, City standards will apply to all new development.

No. Both jurisdictions operate under the standardized International Building Code. The City has two fully certified building inspectors on staff.

Yes. All legal existing uses within the annexation area will be allowed to continue.   

Commonly property in the Urban Growth Area and which can be annexed to the city has already been assigned a pre-zone designation. The pre-zone designation is the city zone code designation assigned to a parcel of land prior to annexation to the city. If a rezone request is submitted with the annexation petition, it may be considered concurrently.

Annexed areas fall under the City police and fire jurisdiction. Both departments provide public education programs to enhance citizens’ ability to protect property and improve life safety.

• Community Policing: The mission of the Walla Walla Police Department is to work cooperatively with all citizens to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, and promote individual responsibility and community commitment. The City has one police officer for each 695 citizens. The City’s crime prevention program has established over one-hundred Block Watch groups.
• Walla Walla Fire Department: The City of Walla Walla Fire Department is committed to minimizing the loss of life and property, and the pain and suffering of people in the City and the surrounding area due to man-made or natural accidents or disasters. The WWFD is a full service department providing fire protection, advanced life support emergency medical services and fire and life safety education. The department also provides high/low angle rope rescue, swift water rescue, confined space rescue and hazardous materials response.

• Code Enforcement: The City has an active code enforcement program to protect the public health and safety; to help ensure neighborhoods are well kept; and to maintain the City’s quality of life.
• Animal Control: The City of Walla Walla has an animal control program with full-time staff. In the City limits dogs and miniature pigs are required to be in the owner’s yard or on a leash and must be licensed annually.
• Leaf Collection: Each fall, the City offers free curbside leaf pick up to all garbage collection customers at no additional cost. 

If there is a Pacific Power and Light (PP&L) utility pole at the requested location and the City determines that the request for installation of a street light is warranted, the property owner(s) would pay for installation of the light. Once the light is installed to City standards, the City will then pay all future electric and maintenance costs. If there is no existing utility pole available at the requested location, the property owners would need to purchase the light, pole, and electrical connection equipment, and pay for installation of the pole and light. As with the light fixture, the pole installation must be approved by the City. The City would pay for the cost of electricity and future maintenance of the light.

The City provides street maintenance such as pothole patching, overlaying, snow plowing, street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, and sign replacement. The City conducts an annual overlay program for street preservation funded by limited gas tax receipts. For significant street improvement projects, the City uses funding from state and federal grants (for arterial streets), LIDs, or a voter approved bond issue when possible.

Garbage collection within the newly annexed areas will continue to be provided by the county’s contract service provider, Basin Disposal of Walla Walla (BDI). This service will be taken over by the City in 11 years from the date of annexation. If you do not currently have garbage service through BDI, you are not required to start a contract with them. The City’s recycling contract pickup is currently available in all newly annexed areas and assessment of the recycling charge by the City against the newly annexed residences is mandatory. When the City begins providing garbage service to an area, those residences within the area will be required to have the service.

No. The same advanced life support (ALS) services that you currently receive will not change and overall neither will the property taxes that support those services.

Water and sewer mains are installed by developers of vacant land. When water or sewer service is needed in an area that is already developed, it is most commonly financed by property owners in the area through a Local Improvement District (LID). An LID is an assessment on the properties to fund the cost of construction of the sewer. The cost is paid back in annual installments over 10 or more years by the property owners receiving the benefit of the improvements. A single property owner or owners may finance a water and/or sewer connection with a “late comer” arrangement that provides for partial cost reimbursement from other property owners that hook up on that line at a later date. Contact the City Public Works Department for details.

Auto insurance rates are determined by your zip code and your personal driver and vehicle situation. Your zip code, of course, will not change. The Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau assigns a classification to cities and fire districts to rate their overall protection capabilities. Insurance companies use the classifications to establish insurance rates. The classifications range from 2 to 10, with 2 being the best. The City of Walla Walla is currently rated Class 4; Fire District 4 is currently rated Class 6. Your fire insurance costs may slightly decrease upon annexation. A call to your insurance agent or company will let you know.

There may be changes for stormwater related fees. Both the City of Walla Walla and Walla Walla County charge stormwater drainage fees and there are differences in the fees and the method of calculation. Both the City and County charge stormwater collection fees based on the amount of impervious surface on a property or by Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) which is based on the amount of impervious area on the average single family residential lot. Walla Walla County calculates ERUs based on 5,000 square feet per unit and charges $3.00 per each ERU per month. The City of Walla Walla calculates ERUs based on 3,000 square feet per unit and charges $10.70 per ERU. Charges for other types of development in the city differ; duplexes, triplexes and four plexes are charged $5.35 per month per residential unit or per ERU and commercial and industrial properties are analyzed individually to determine the area of impervious surface and the corresponding number of ERUs.

Yes. Upon annexation the City’s utility tax rate (currently at 6% to 7%) will apply for electricity, natural gas, cable TV and telephone utilities.

Yes. Utility customers outside the City limits pay 1.5 times the rate charged City residents for sewer service, sewer bond, water service and water bond.  If you currently have either utility, the cost will go down following annexation.

Yes. The senior and disabled citizen property tax programs are available state-wide and will continue to apply to your property following annexation.  Other property tax programs such as forestry, open space and agriculture will also continue to apply under the same guidelines following annexation.

For most property owners taxes will go down. Total property taxes in the City of Walla Walla are lower than taxes you pay in Walla Walla County Levy Code 101 or 105. Regular 2012 Levy for Tax Districts 1 and 5 (in City limits) is $12.798354 per $1,000 of assessed value. Regular Levy for Tax Districts 101 and 105 (Walla Walla County) is $13.413979 per $1,000 of assessed value. Even with the recently passed Police Station Bond Issue at a rate of $.43 per $1,000 assessed valuation, there can still be an expected net decrease in property tax after annexation.

Yes, all animals in your possession at the time of annexation can be retained; however, all animals acquired after annexation must comply with the City code:

• Cows, Horses, Mules, Donkeys, Burros: 10,000 square feet open fenced area each.
• Fowls and Rabbits: no more than 50 per family provided they are cooped or sheltered and fenced.
• Dogs and Cats: no more than three dogs or three cats or combination of three total such animals per dwelling unit; County allows four on ½ acre and up to six on one acre.
• Miniature Horses, Sheep, Goats: 5,000 square feet open fenced area per animal.
• Swine: only miniature pigs allowed and no more than two at any one location; County allows pigs on one acre.
• Offspring of above animals may be kept for up to four months.
• Bee keeping is allowed everywhere on one-half or more fenced acreage, provided state statutes are met. 

No. The City does not require property owners with properly functioning septic tanks to hook up to the municipal water system or sanitary sewer system. However, if a septic system fails and the property is within 300 feet of a sewer main, owners may be required by the County Health Department to connect to the sewer system, regardless of whether they live inside or outside City limits.

Annexation does not change outdoor burning limitations in the Urban Growth area. Only recreational outdoor burning such as barbeques, cooking fires or ceremonial fires is allowed in the City of Walla Walla and the Urban Growth Area. (See WAC 173-425-040(2).)