Annex the Islands

There sits Midway City, a handful of streets stretching east from Beach Boulevard around Bolsa Avenue, surrounded by a real city, Westminster. Despite its name, Midway is not really a city; it is unincorporated land, the responsibility of Orange County government.

Several such “islands” float in various parts of the county, left orphans by the neighboring cities when they incorporated. Some residents like it that way, preferring more lenient county zoning regulations and a feeling that no matter what their brick and concrete surroundings tell them, they are not yet urbanized.

But those islands can cost money for a county government recently emerged from bankruptcy with a mountain of debts that will take decades to pay. County officials are right to reexamine the islands and see if everyone would be better off if they were annexed to the cities next door.

Cities are jumping on the annexation bandwagon as well, realizing in some cases that it makes no sense to provide fire, police, sanitation and other services for residents surrounding an island while leaving those in the hole of the doughnut to the county. Having a street sweeper lift the broom for a few blocks before resuming sweeping when the city’s boundaries resume does not save much money.

So Costa Mesa is looking at taking over much of Santa Ana Heights, the area near John Wayne Airport. Newport Beach is studying the economics of annexing Newport Coast. Tustin is discussing the possibility of absorbing North Tustin.

One of the problems in deciding which islands go and which stay is money. The county and the cities must work out fair agreements that do not beggar one or the other.

The county suffered the loss of tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue a decade ago when communities like Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo became cities. The blow can be especially heavy when a city takes over a shopping mall, because the sales taxes are diverted from the county and into the vaults of the newly incorporated city. The county loses more in forgone taxes than it gains by not providing services; the situation is reversed for new cities.

That generally is not the case with the annexations of the remaining islands. Most are relatively small and do not generate out-sized revenue.

As Orange County becomes increasingly urban, annexations appear more likely. Where possible, zoning regulations that allow operation of stables, for instance, should be maintained. The process of annexation usually is long, and properly involves extensive public hearings and a vote. Any annexation should take account of residents’ wishes.