Anger. Disappointment. A tad resentful. Whatever the people involved in the Tibbits and Gaines annexation issues are feeling right now, it’s justified.

The Poulsbo City Council on Wednesday night had the perfect opportunity to show its concern for some future residents. And it failed to do so. On the night in question, the council was met with an unusual standing room only crowd of spectators who were all attracted by one of two agenda items. Slated for discussion — and a public hearing — were the annexations of two patches of Urban Growth Area into the city of Poulsbo.

These stretches of land lie in an area that the city has designated to be eventually annexed into its boundaries.

The proposed Tibbits annexation is 19.91 acres south of Finn Hill Road. Last year it was assessed at $685,440. The second bit of land, the Gaines annexation, is a 30.82-acre lot between Liberty Road and Marelaine Road. It would add $3.2 million to the city’s tax rolls.

Rather than let the people have their say, Mayor Kathryn Quade suggested the council cancel the public hearing and reject the proposals. Her intent was to buy the city more time for information-gathering purposes. She’d like the city to create a more comprehensive growth plan so the city isn’t piece-mealing annexations as it rolls merrily along.

“This will allow you all to have time to come up with an action plan. … I don’t see this as a denial tonight. I see this as a pause, What I see this as is an opportunity to do it better and to do it right,” she told council members.

Well, she might not see it as a denial, but those whose lives have been consumed by this process for almost three years probably have a different viewpoint. The bottom line is the council voted “no,” hence denied, both proposals by a 6-1 vote. And this without listening to a word from those affected.

Granted, as she said in her own defense, this isn’t the only issue the city is dealing with. On the flip side, it seems like they’d be better prepared, as they knew the annexations were bound to show up on their agenda some day. And that day was Wednesday.

It wasn’t like the issue magically appeared. There was a process involved. A long, drawn-out, expensive and time-consuming process for those on both sides of the issue.

As for canceling the public hearing, to paraphrase Quade’s comments, it was her rationale that it’s best to hold the comments until the city is ready to make a decision.

That being said, this is the second time in less than a month the city has canceled a public hearing about an annexation — without prior warning.

We can’t emphasize enough that this decision has been coming down the pike for months. To flat-out deny the entire process — and possibly make these folks go through it all over again — is just plain, flat-out wrong.

For a city that wants to expand its borders and tax base, the Poulsbo City Council isn’t being very responsive.

All people wanted was a say in the process, one way or the other. And in this case, they came up empty.

That’s no way to treat future citizens.