Council pauses surplus‑property resolution after staff and council questions

A resolution that would have designated certain city‑owned parcels as surplus and available for affordable‑housing use was withdrawn from the agenda during the meeting after council members asked for more information about existing contracts and potential uses of sale proceeds.

Deputy City Manager Joan Jankala Brown explained the item was an administrative step under Florida Statute Section 166 to confirm a list of parcels considered surplus; eight of those parcels had previously been designated by council resolutions as intended for affordable housing and two more were missing formal resolution language although staff had discussed their use. Brown also said the city had acquired at least one parcel through foreclosure that staff proposed adding to the list.

Council members expressed concern about whether proceeds must be restricted to affordable‑housing uses under state rules and whether some lots already had pending agreements or feasibility concerns. Councilman Hammer and others asked that staff pause and return with a clear recommendation about which parcels should remain designated for affordable housing and which could be marketed for other city priorities such as road maintenance. The city attorney recommended withdrawing the item for further review; staff pulled the resolution for revision and follow‑up.

What happens next: staff will review contracts and current agreements tied to the listed parcels, evaluate whether parcels should remain designated for affordable housing or be offered for general surplus sale, and return to council with a revised resolution.