HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-15-00 Minutes WS
MINUTES OF CITY COMMISSION WORK SHOP
HELD FEBRUARY 15, 2000
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Vandergrift called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift and Commissioner Anderson. Also present were City
Manager Shapiro, City Attorney Rosenthal, and Acting City Clerk Green.
ABSENT: Commissioners Howell, Johnson and Parker.
Mayor Vandergrift explained that he had called the workshop in order to discuss
property near the municipal complex which is now available for sale. He suggested that
the Gettings Building, located on Starke Lake at 275 N. Lakeshore Drive, might be
incorporated in the municipal campus. He said he wanted to determine if Commission
would be interested in pursuing acquisition of the property. He said the owner wishes to
sell the property because he needs more space. The seller will also have television
recording equipment available for sale and thought that the City might be interested in
purchasing it. In a recent conversation with the Mayor, the owner said that he wants
$5,000,000.00 for the building. Mayor Vandergrift said he did not think the property
was worth that much, and opened the floor for discussion.
In the discussion which ensued there was agreement that the first step would be to
determine the appraised value of the property, what it might be used for, and how the City
could afford it.
City Manager Shapiro said he would like to see it on a regular agenda and would like
input from staff. He said a motion approved by three members of the Commission was
needed for staff to pursue it. He said purchase of the contents would be a separate issue,
and recommended settling the issue regarding the building and the land first. Mr.
Shapiro recommended that the matter be placed on the next agenda unless the Mayor
feels there is an emergency, then it could be considered as an emergency item in the
meeting tonight. He said a normal appraisal would require six to eight weeks minimum,
and noted the cost would double for a rushed appraisal. He said he could ask
Commission in a regular meeting if they want to approve having an appraisal and paying
for it out of contingency.
Mayor Vandergrift asked City Attorney Rosenthal if the City can make an offer based
upon an appraised price after the fact as opposed to making an appraisal first.
City Attorney Rosenthal said the City can enter into a contract which would be subject
to the receipt of an appraisal by the City supporting it, assuming having some basis to
believe that the appraisal would be supportive of our offering price.
In discussion about possible ways to fund the purchase, Mr. Rosenthal pointed out that
Commission Work Session
February 15, 2000
expenditures from a bond issue must be consistent with the representations in the bond
issue and that there would have to be a source of funding when a contract is approved.
Commissioner Anderson asked if the Mayor was- going to bring the issue up at the
meeting tonight. Mayor Vandergrift said that he would consider it and that he was
disappointed that more Commissioners could not have attended the work session. Mr.
Shapiro said Commissioners Johnson and Howell were delayed at work. Mr. Shapiro
suggested that it might be included on the next agenda and that Finance Director Horton
could ask bond counsel to determine whether bond funds can be used.
Mayor Vandergrift said it might be possible to discuss it in tonight's meeting to get
some direction from Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Attest:
APPROVED:
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Marian Green, Acting City Clerk
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