It’s a lengthy detailed process with no guarantees but the City of Miami Beach has taken the first official step to annex North Bay Village and the westernmost Venetian Islands. In each case, residents have approached the City asking to become part of Miami Beach for various reasons. Letters were sent this week to the Mayors of North Bay Village and the City of Miami which currently has jurisdiction over the two westernmost Venetian Islands, San Marco and Biscayne Islands, notifying them of the City’s interest.In November, the Miami Beach Commission passed a resolution directing the City attorney to prepare the letters advising the jurisdictions that the City is exploring annexation. In the letter to North Bay Village Mayor Brent Latham, Raul Aguila, writes “The City respectfully requests the Village’s comments including whether the Village would consent to the proposed annexation, within 60 days of the date of this letter (i.e. by March 11, 2019).” The same letter was sent to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.Annexations are governed by Miami-Dade County and require a resolution adopted after a public hearing, properly noticed to property owners in the area and within 600 feet of a proposed boundary change. Prior to drafting any resolution, the governing body that wishes to annex another area must present a land use plan for the area to be annexed, an analysis of services to be provided, a timetable for supplying the services, and a property tax and budget analysis.Photo: Westernmost Venetian Islands, part of the City of Miami; Shutterstock.com