Councilmembers debated a resolution to declare and make surplus several city parcels, including Lots 34–39 in Block B of McLean Avenue, after a former mayor requested to purchase them. Several members objected to moving directly to a sale process without an appraisal, prior due‑diligence steps, and a full council review.

Why it matters: Disposition of city land can affect future municipal projects, access rights, neighborhood patterns, and long‑term value. Council members emphasized process consistency, transparency, and protection of city interests.

Councilman Herring said the four contiguous lots are “a buildable lot” and questioned why the administration would propose selling them without a market appraisal and broader review; he warned that a private buyer could later resell to a neighboring church and alter long‑term public access. Councilwoman Jones said past work had produced a detailed checklist and cost items (surveys, assessments, variance work) that the prospective buyer had been told to fund previously; she said she would share that packet with the administration.

City Manager Simpson and Assistant City Manager Wood said the resolution was intended to open a transparent process for consideration and that the administration did not intend to favor a single individual or to sell below market value. Wood said the resolution language required sales to be “not less than market value” and that council could require any assessments, zoning work, or variances be completed by the prospective purchaser.

Council members reached a consensus to direct administration to obtain formal appraisals and to convene a work session to review the prior research Councilwoman Jones referred to before advancing any sale. They also asked staff to include information about how a sale would affect future municipal needs, including the police‑station feasibility study and whether particular parcels should be preserved for municipal purposes. The city manager agreed to return with appraisal costs, an updated history of prior steps, and recommendations for next steps.