HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.09.2002• •
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
December 9, 2002
4:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Berry, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Hurley that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Three.
Motion carried.
The following policy for sale and conveyance of city -owned property was reviewed.
Buildable Parcels of Land
1. Use the assessed value of the land. If none is assigned, use the price per square foot of
abutting property (land value only).
2. If the buyer does not agree with the price, have the land appraised.
3. If an easement would need to be retained on the property, the price per square foot of
easement could be lowered without an appraisal.
4. The offer amount would be lowered for development purpose by figuring the taxes to be paid
on the land for a proposed development. The goal would be to repay the difference within
five years.
Unbuildable Parcels of Land
1. Use the assessed value of the land. If none is assigned, use the price per square foot of
abutting property (land value only).
2. If the buyer does not agree with the price, staff will discuss the parcel with the applicant to
see why they believe the parcel is worth less than the abutting property. Staff will also point
out to the applicant and eventually the council the restrictions on the parcel that deem it as an
unbuildable parcel. The council will take into account the intended use of the parcel,
proposed buyer (whether or not abutting property owner) and the community overall benefits
or problems with sale of the parcel.
3. If an easement would need to be retained on the property, the price per square foot of
easement could be lowered without an appraisal.
4. The offer amount would be lowered for development purpose by figuring the taxes to be paid
on the land for a proposed development. The goal would be to repay the difference within
five years.
The offer amount would be lowered for development purpose in either case by figuring the
amount of investment and/or taxes to be paid on the land for the proposed development.
The buildable vs. unbuildable status of land will take into account the size and orientation of the
lot as well as the location and proximity to roads, infrastructure, etc.
Don Temeyer, City Planner, distributed copies of an article from the November 18, 2002
Nation's Cities Weekly entitled "Studies Provide Strategies for Cities With Vacant Property".
Noel Anderson, Assistant City Planner, stated that each request would be looked at on a case -by -
case basis as a wide variety of circumstances and magnitudes of development deserve different
evaluations. The Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission decided to not consider sale
price in their recommendations but only to review each case or land use analysis.
Mr. Anderson stated that if the parcel is a valuable piece of land, the city would generally obtain
an appraisal of the property and then ask for bids. The city has not required the purchaser to pay
for the appraisal.
Councilperson Jordan stated that he feels the council gets stuck on appraised value. Towns
around us are giving incentives, and he feels the city needs to be proactive.
Council Work Session
December 9, 2002
Page 2
Mayor Rooff stated he believes we need an appraised value, but we also need to look at the taxes
the city would receive on the property.
Councilperson Hurley stated if we say we will look at these request to purchase property on a
case -by -case basis, then it is no longer a policy but guidelines. Councilperson Hurley stated he
likes separating the policy by buildable and unbuildable.
Mr. Temeyer stated the policy could have language if the property was purchased by federal
highway funds, the city must reimburse them and follow federal policy.
Planning staff will give the council a copy of a list of buildable lots owned by the city.
Councilperson Welper stated when the applicant wants to buy a small parcel of land, the city
uses the price per square foot of abutting property, the buyer offers less and the council turns the
buyer down.
Councilperson Clark stated that when somebody wants to purchase property and the city
publishes notice it is for sale and there is no response, the city should sell the land to whomever
wants to buy it. Councilperson Clark stated he feels the city needs to get rid of the property for
whatever people are willing to pay. Councilperson Clark stated we should divide the city by
quadrants and actively do an advertising campaign to sell the land.
Councilperson Welper stated the city would be selling a lot of property for $1 because why
would anyone offer more when they know they can get the property for less than the appraised
value.
Mayor Rooff asked Planning staff to put together a list of city -owned property and bring this
item back to the council.
Councilperson Jordan inquired about the bid the city received from Mr. Koch for Parcels A and
B on Pleasant Valley Drive. Mayor Rooff responded he can make an offer to the council.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Clark, seconded by Jordan that the
meeting be adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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