Sunnyside officials told council that a pending sale of the Monson property is on hold while staff and the city attorney clear several title issues and a court filing affecting the parcel. Meanwhile, a separate prospective buyer has proposed purchasing 30 acres for a solar project.

Why it matters: The Monson property is one of the city’s principal economic-development parcels. A productive sale could generate revenue, spur development near the freeway and relieve pressure on annual bond payments that currently affect the budget.

Facts from the meeting: City staff reported a past judgment that had appeared on title but was paid and will be cleared. Two additional filings — described in the meeting as a notice of lien for roughly $10 million and a related court document — require legal review to determine whether the filings are properly served and valid. The city attorney is working to resolve the matters so the buyer can proceed.

Parallel interest: Separately, councilors said they received an inquiry from a group interested in buying 30 acres to develop a solar farm; the verbal offer was described as below the city’s listed price (council referenced a current asking figure of about $60,000 per acre). Councilors asked the attorney to coordinate title clearance and return with options for negotiating price and other deal terms.

LTAC and related development discussion: Councilors also discussed tourism and convention strategies tied to LTAC funds and long-term marketing; they emphasized the need to use existing studies (such as the Roger Brooks material) for economic development and to avoid re-spending on duplicate studies.

What was not decided: No sale, contract or price amendment was approved. Staff and the city attorney will continue title work and report back to council with recommendations.

Ending: Council asked staff to prioritize clearing title encumbrances and to include recommended negotiation approaches and potential economic-development incentives in a report tied to the budget calendar.