Committee authorizes staff to work with Pifers Auction & Realty Service to market unsold excess parcels

The Diversion Authority Technical Committee authorized staff to work with Pifers Auction & Realty Service to market and, if appropriate, auction a set of excess parcels that have not sold through earlier public‑sale steps.

Staff explained the authority’s multi‑step excess‑land policy: declare a parcel excess, offer it to member entities, offer it to former owners and adjacent owners, then proceed to a public sale. Dodds and other staff told the committee that about 10 parcels have reached the public‑sale step; roughly half previously found buyers without a formal auction.

“Pifers also has an auction realty service and so years ago when we hired Pifers it was intentional that we included auction and realty services in their master services agreement,” staff said, describing a proposal that would engage Pifers to market the parcels, manage marketing costs and lead an eventual auction where appropriate.

The item was presented as informational with a staff request to authorize technical staff to work with Pifers on properties still in the excess‑land sale pipeline. A committee member moved to adopt the recommendation and the motion passed on a roll‑call vote; the chair declared the motion carried.

Staff said they do not anticipate needing a separate contract amendment because the firm’s engagement for auction services aligns with the existing master services agreement. The committee asked no substantive changes and approved the authorization to proceed.

If marketed via auction, staff said specific retainer and marketing costs will be described to the committee in subsequent materials before any auction is scheduled.