Council to revisit tenant agreement; mayor (or lead negotiator) to resume talks

Council members discussed a stalled tenant agreement during Wednesday’s work session and said they will resume negotiations so the city can finalize terms and protect the general fund.

The discussion matters because council members said the city expects revenue from the agreement and warned the general fund could be in deficit for fiscal year 2026 if the matter is not resolved.

One council speaker said prior communications with the tenant had halted and that the council would vote on the agreement once final language is ready. That speaker said: “I'm taking this negotiation back. Y'all had it for a year. Nothing has happened. We haven't moved forward. We don't have an agreement. We need that money in the general fund. The general fund is gonna be out of deficit '26. So we need to get something done.”

Council members confirmed the version the council plans to consider is the original agreement the city first sent; they said the tenant had asked for additional credits and changes but the council intends to move forward on the original terms unless further negotiation produces acceptable edits. One council member noted certain name changes and minor revisions (for instance, the company name) would be required before a vote.

Council members said they would not vote on the agreement at that meeting because a required form was not available; several speakers said they had not received recent communications from the tenant. One official said they would contact the tenant and work the issue day to day until a final agreement could be brought back for a vote.

No formal motion or vote on the agreement was recorded during the session. Council members said they expect a vote at a future meeting after staff finalize the agreement language and any requested corrections from either side are addressed.