With Centralia city staff entering the final year of the city's comprehensive plan update process, the Centralia City Council met prior to its Tuesday, Feb. 11, meeting for a work session to discuss possible future annexation options in various Centralia neighborhoods as the city continues to grow.
The nearly hour-long work session was meant to clarify how the city can annex land, to ensure annexations into the city meet growth needs, and make sure residents in annexed areas have access to city services. The city is working with Lewis County officials to ensure a smooth transition of jurisdictions.
“The biggest question we need to be looking at tonight, especially for the council, is does the city have the physical and financial capability to provide the required services in the areas to be annexed?” Centralia Community Development Director Emil Pierson said at the work session.
A city’s comprehensive plan is a 20-year vision establishing goals, policies and implementation strategies surrounding its forecasted growth. It focuses on land use, population and employment growth.
Since beginning the comprehensive plan update process in 2023, city staff have held multiple open houses and conducted surveys to gather public input as to the direction Centralia residents want to see the city go as it grows.
The Washington State Growth Management Act requires that all cities and counties update their comprehensive plans periodically, and Centralia’s is due for an update by Dec. 31, 2025. Originally, it was due by June 30, but the state Legislature extended the deadline.
Centralia’s comprehensive plan was last updated in 2018.
Analysis of potential annexation areas around Centralia found 14 different areas, which were marked on a map shown during a presentation.
Certain potential annexation areas were removed due to lacking development potential, easy access and proximity to utility services, high service costs and other failed annexation requirements.
The recommended annexation areas include three areas in Fords Prairie and areas on Nick, Blair, Cooks Hill and South Scheuber roads, Reynolds Avenue, Taylor, South Summa and South streets and near the Skookumchuck River.
An interlocal agreement with the county and state law allows for the City of Centralia and Lewis County to enter separate interlocal agreements regarding annexing unincorporated sections of urban growth areas into Centralia city limits.
Other annexation methods include petition methods and a ballot initiative method.
One of the biggest issues discussed was the level of Centralia Police Department service the city would be able to provide throughout the city as annexation progresses.
“This is probably one of the biggest areas in part of our analysis we looked at,” Pierson said.
The department’s current level of service is 1.57 officers per 1,000 residents. As of Tuesday’s work session, the department had 29 officers.
Additionally, the department currently has two cadets at the state Basic Law Enforcement Academy and another officer in field training, Centralia Police Chief Andy Caldwell told The Chronicle after last Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Depending how much of the land proposed to be annexed in the comprehensive plan’s first phase actually is annexed, the department could need anywhere between one and four new officers.
Pierson added that, per Centralia’s 2018 comprehensive plan, police staffing levels should currently be at 1.78 officers per 1,000 residents. He asked the council for direction as to what to do with service levels.
“So you’re already down four officers from what your level of service is, so one of the things we want to make sure you direct staff to do, is do you want to adjust that level of service you’re gonna be providing in the comp plan?” Pierson said. “As I draft up your comprehensive plan for you, and bring it back to you for your approval, I have to know what you want me to do.”
On top of policing levels, discussion was also held on how annexation would affect utility rates, property taxes and conditions of streets.
While the council did hold discussion with city staff, Councilor Adrianna Garibay was not in attendance at the work session, and Mayor Kelly Smith Johnston asked Pierson to make sure to touch base with Garibay and review the work session information.
Pierson also told the council he intended to post the information discussed at the work session on the city’s website.
He invited residents who have questions or concerns to contact him.
Residents can email Pierson at epierson@cityofcentralia.com or call him at 360-330-7662.
He also plans on holding another work session with the council to further discuss annexation prior to either of the upcoming Centralia City Council meetings on Feb. 25 or March 11.
For more information on the Centralia’s 2025 comprehensive plan update, visit the city’s website at https://tinyurl.com/578mxvr8.
To watch the Feb. 11 Centralia City Council work session, visit https://tinyurl.com/bdx7dxay. A copy of the presentation given during the work session can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yv7rujzr.
