Surprise City Council Work Session on Whitman Incorporation and Annexation – November 2, 2026

On Monday, November 2, 2026, the Surprise City Council held an afternoon work session on the proposed incorporation of the Whitman area and Whitman's request for annexation. Mayor Sarder presided; Councilmember Haney was excused and the remaining councilmembers were present, establishing a quorum. The session was informational, and the council took no formal action on annexation or incorporation.

Discussion Items

• Staff explained that under state statute, the city could either approve a resolution supporting incorporation or follow the annexation provision in A.R.S. § 9-101.01. Because no resolution had been adopted, the city is proceeding with the annexation path. A valid annexation petition would start a 120-day city review; if the city does not act, Whitman proponents could go to the county for incorporation.
• The annexation overview included the statutory requirements: a petition signed by more than 50% of property owners and representing 50% or more of assessed property value, contiguity and boundary-shape requirements, public notice, and a 10-year service plan if annexation is approved. Staff noted the city does not proactively seek annexation; annexation requests come from property owners or developers.
• Staff described the Whitman proposal as roughly 31.5 square miles. The 2040 General Plan created a rural residential overlay and Desert Rural ("desert role" in the transcript) zoning designation to preserve the area's rural lifestyle, and the overlay also gives the city the ability to comment on incompatible county rezoning in the planning area.
• Staff's preliminary concerns included financial sustainability, reliance on state shared revenue, below-market salary figures, a single sheriff for 31.5 square miles, at least three small and one large county island in the proposed boundary, and inclusion of state trust land and BNSF property without the written owner consent required by statute.
• Councilmember Judd asked whether any councilmember had requested annexation of Whitman; staff answered no. Judd said Whitman residents he knows do not want annexation, and he believes incorporation would endanger the rural lifestyle, pointing to Surprise's own incorporation in 1960 as an example. He stated the city should make clear it is not trying to annex Whitman.
• Councilmember Duffy asked whether BNSF must consent to being included in the proposed boundary. Staff confirmed that large vacant parcels require written property-owner approval and that staff does not know BNSF's position. Duffy concluded the process could not move forward without that consent.
• Councilmember Hastings questioned the financial plan, noting it appeared to depend mainly on state shared revenue, budgeted only one sheriff, and listed salaries below current market rates. He asked whether taxes would likely increase and whether failed incorporation could burden Surprise. He said he has no intention of annexing Whitman and supports the Desert Rural overlay as the best protection for the rural lifestyle.
• Councilmember Melton said he had difficulty seeing an upside to supporting annexation or incorporation.
• Staff cited Santan as the last Arizona city to incorporate. Santan received financial support from Queen Creek, initially $250,000 per month and later $450,000 per month, and had just received its first state shared revenue payment. City staff said Surprise would not be in a position to make that kind of monthly loan because of its capital improvement needs.
• Staff also noted the proposed Whitman boundary sits in the middle of Surprise's future planning area, which could affect the city's master plans, roadway connections, development agreements, and long-term strategic growth.
• Mayor Sarder explained that because Whitman lies within 3 to 6 miles of existing incorporated city limits, it is considered urbanized, so the statute requires either support resolutions from nearby cities or the annexation process now under review.

Key Outcomes

• No motion or vote was held on annexation or incorporation; the work session was informational.
• Councilmembers expressed consensus that the city is not pursuing annexation of Whitman and that the rural lifestyle should be protected through the Desert Rural overlay and county-comment authority.
• Staff will send Whitman's representatives a summary of city and state annexation requirements. If a proper annexation petition is submitted later, the city's 120-day review period would begin.
• The council adjourned by unanimous voice vote after a motion and second.