Homewood council approves ordinance conveying surplus property; committee split on recommendation

The Homewood City Council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 29-35 authorizing the mayor and city clerk to convey a parcel described in the ordinance by quitclaim deed to a private party upon receipt of $15,319.20, as set out in the attached deed language read into the record by a city staff member.

The finance committee had reported a divided recommendation. Councilor Smith reported the committee voted 3–2 to recommend declaring the property at "183220 Fifth Court South" surplus pending an accurate sale-cost calculation; the motion was made by Mr. Brandt and seconded by Councilor Harden, with Councilor Smith and Mr. Guatney recorded as opposing that committee recommendation. Council discussion at the full meeting included a note that the prospective buyer had been contacted: a staff speaker said he had spoken with "Mr. Ugarte" and that the owner was "on board with the price." Later, the ordinance language read by staff referenced a quitclaim deed conveying the property to "Fernando Huguert" upon receipt of the listed amount; the transcript contains both names and does not reconcile the difference in spelling or identity.

Councilors moved for unanimous consent to consider the ordinance at that meeting and then adopted the ordinance by roll call; the clerk recorded the ordinance as adopted with a passing tally reported in the meeting as 10–0. The full-motion and roll-call sequence was handled under unanimous-consent procedures described on the record.

Why it matters: The ordinance authorizes the transfer of municipal land to a private party; councilors noted that approving this sale could set a precedent for future disposition of city property. The committee split underscores differing views on surplus property disposition and the need for clear cost accounting and owner-consent documentation before sale.

Clarifying details and numeric items from the record: a staff speaker said the assessed value used and survey fees produced figures leading to the sale price, and the ordinance text set the conveyance amount at $15,319.20. The finance committee recommendation was 3–2 in favor of declaring the property surplus; at the full council the ordinance was adopted by roll call following unanimous-consent procedures. The transcript includes inconsistent name spellings for the property purchaser/owner ("Mr. Ugarte" and "Fernando Huguert"); that inconsistency is reported here rather than reconciled or corrected by this article.

Outcomes and follow-up: The ordinance directs the mayor and city clerk to execute the deed and any documents necessary to complete the transfer once the purchase amount is received. The council did not attach additional conditions or require further committee work in the adopted ordinance text recorded at the meeting.