About one square mile of North Bend’s Urban Growth Area is on its way to becoming part of the city.

The North Bend City Council agreed Tuesday, Jan. 6 to continue the petition process for the annexation of the Tanner and Wood River areas into the city.

City staff is preparing petitions, which annexation supporters will start circulating in coming weeks.

City Administrator Duncan Wilson said that if the petitions are gathered by late March, the annexation could be complete by the end of this summer.

Before the unanimous city council vote supporting the continuation of the annexation process, Councilman Jonathan Rosen said the change would lead to lower taxes, better services, and better representation for residents of the area.

The city’s geographic area would grow by one-third, and the council would expand from five to seven members if the annexation goes through.

Public Works Director Ron Garrow said that if the properties become part of the city, the cost of the Utility Local Improvement District No. 6, connecting parts of the Urban Growth Area to North Bend’s sewer system, could potentially decrease by $1 million to $2 million. That’s because the city’s regulations for pavement restoration of roads following the installation of sewer lines are less stringent — and less expensive — than King County’s requirements.

Property owners representing 60 percent or more of the assessed value of the proposed annexation area must sign petitions of support for the process to continue. If that happens, the city council would submit a resolution of intent to Washington state’s Boundary Review Board for King County, which would decide whether to hold public hearings on the matter or let the city process the annexation.

Frank Cranney, a Wood River resident who led petition efforts to bring sewer into his neighborhood, was one of two annexation supporters who spoke before the city council.

“Wood River would bring a lot to the city, and vice versa,” Cranney said.

Wilson said he was planning a meeting to help inform property owners about the pros and cons of annexation. He expected to schedule the meeting for late this month.