Prior to the official vote, officials said the motion allows the flexibility for the public to provide input toward acquisition of property that could house a City Hall facility, a recreation center or some other city use.
Officials said the approval does not obligate the city to purchase the property, but it does give the public a voice at the ballot box during a possible Nov. 2 bond election and provides flexibility and transparency toward the land acquisition.
According to city staff, because the city can withdraw from the agreement until November 17, 2021, the action allows council to lock in terms for the land, but also gives flexibility on funding options and the opportunity to gather resident input on that decision process.
The approval of the agreement also allows City Manager Sereniah Breland to negotiate final deal points and to allow for fine tuning of the contract.
City staff could not say at this time when officials will specify where the land is, its acreage, with whom the deal is being brokered, how much it will cost or when public outreach will begin.
The motion passed 4-3, with council members Mike Heath, Omar Pena and Doug Weiss voting no.
Community Impact Newspaper will update this story as details are made available.
