The Port Orchard city government presented its case for the annexation of the McCormick Woods subdivision on Wednesday night, addressing a room full of residents in support of the measure.

“The city of Port Orchard is welcoming you,” said City Councilman Jerry Childs. “We are not going to gain any money from this. But you will bring us economic vitality, energy and talents. What you will bring us as people will be awesome, and will be something we can all be proud of.”

A group of McCormick Woods residents approached the city about annexation nearly a year ago, feeling that it would improve services for the residents and increase the size and clout of the city.

Most recently, advocates have begun a petition drive in support of the action, with support by those holding 75 percent of assessed value required to move the process forward.

The current assessed value of McCormick Woods adds up to about $328 million, so property owners representing $246 million will need to sign the petition in order for the city to take the next step toward annexation.

Before the meeting, the approximate total was 124 signed petitions reflecting $52.6 million. Other signatures collected since that time (and at the meeting) has brought the total to almost 200.

All petitions must be collected with a six-month period, which began Oct. 1.

Annexation Committee President Dick Davis said Wednesday night he would like to complete the petition process by Dec. 1, since that would position McCormick Woods residents to run in the 2009 Port Orchard City Council election.

The meeting, which was attended by an estimated 120 people, was moderated by Port Orchard Mayor Lary Coppola and addressed by all but one member of the city council.

Coppola began the meeting reading from a grid of questions submitted by residents, and the prepared answers. The prevailing message is that the annexation will benefit the subdivision with increased services and safety, while not requiring residents to sacrifice anything they already have.

For example, the private park land in the area will stay private, while any new parks will be open to the public.

Among these statements:

• The Port Orchard Police Department will provide better service and faster response times to McCormick Woods than currently provided by the county, arriving for calls more than 50 percent faster in all cases. The increase of officers per 1,000 residents would also increase after annexation, from 1.4 to 4.4.

• The city’s Public Works facility, located on Old Clifton Road, is closer to McCormick Woods than the county headquarters. This will increase the quality and speed of services from snow plowing to basic road maintenance.

• Annexation itself will not itself change assessed property values, but the increase of services will make the subdivision more attractive to new residents.

• Annexation will increase the efficacy of response to the Growth Management Act. “If you remain with the county you could be hit with growing taxes and eroding services,” Coppola said. “Why not control your future now, while you still have a choice and a vote?”

When asked what the city gets out of annexation, Coppola said it will make the city larger, making it eligible for grants and make it more attractive for a variety of funding opportunities.

Coppola acknowledged a mistake in the original letter he wrote for annexation, when he suggested that Bremerton could annex McCormick Woods without its permission.

“I misunderstood this when it was explained to me,” Coppola said. “In fact, if Bremerton wants to annex you, you will get to vote on it. I apologize for this, and cannot blame anyone but myself.

“However, Bremerton’s comprehensive plan lists McCormick Woods as an annexation target,” he said. “That is a fact.”

Responding to the assertion that many residents may have signed the petition out of fear about forced annexation, Coppola said that anyone who had done so would have the opportunity to withdraw their support if they felt they had been deceived (in fact, any signer can rescind their signature for any reason during the petition process).

After the meeting, Davis said he did not expect anyone who had so far signed the petition to change their minds due to Coppola’s misstatement.

Port Orchard Development Director James Weaver called the meeting a success, noting that many of the questions had already been asked and answered. Still, he said, “We will answer these questions as many times we need to in order to let people know what’s going on.”

City Councilman John Clausen said the city would not take any further action toward annexation it the matter fails.

“If you tell us you do not want to be part of Port Orchard, we will not force you,” he said. “If you turn this down, we will just shake your hands and move on. We will still be your neighbors.”

Attorney Greg Wall, a McCormick Woods resident, said he did not support annexation but would not oppose it either.

“I’m happy with the way things are,” he said. “I won’t sign a petition, but I won’t get upset if we are incorporated. I’m glad that the mayor cleared up the situation about Bremerton, because I didn’t want people to be signing the petitions out of fear.”

Davis said there are no current plans for additional meetings, but the committee plans to start a phone advocacy campaign.

“For the time being, we’re just going to continue gathering petitions,” he said.