Peoria approves ground lease to pursue WestMEC career-technical campus on 14-acre site

Peoria — The City Council voted Tuesday to authorize a ground lease and intergovernmental agreement with Western Maricopa Education Center (WestMEC) to pursue a career-technical campus on a 14-acre city-owned site just west of Loop 101 at 90 Fifth Avenue.

Deputy City Manager Mike Faust told the council that WestMEC operates five campuses and more than 35 technical programs across the west valley and serves roughly 45,000 students across on-campus and school-based programs; about 20% of that enrollment are Peoria residents, Faust said. He said WestMEC and the city have negotiated terms since late 2024 and that WestMEC would seek November 2025 bond funding to fully finance the campus and related facilities.

Key terms presented to the council include a $300,000 annual ground lease for a 10-year term; the first three years remain flat at $300,000 and starting in year four the lease increases by 2.5% annually. WestMEC may exercise a right to purchase the property at fair market value during the term by conducting appraisals and entering a purchase-and-sale transaction. Faust said that if the November 2025 bond election fails, the lease and related agreements would terminate and the property would revert to the city for other uses.

Faust said the parties expect WestMEC to secure funding and permits and to complete construction by July 2028 with the goal of opening for the 2028–29 academic year. Council discussion included questions about why the structure was a lease rather than an immediate sale (Faust said a lease secures the site while WestMEC pursues bond funding) and whether the city could publicly advocate for the bond (city staff suggested the city must consult the city attorney and likely remain at arm’s length on election advocacy).

Council approved the intergovernmental agreement and ground lease on a 7-0 vote. Staff said the city would waive non-mandatory fees to support the project; mandatory charges would still apply. Faust recommended the council approve the agreements subject to ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute them.

Outcome and significance: councilmembers described the proposal as an opportunity to expand career-technical education in Peoria, address workforce gaps, and prepare students for local employers. The agreement secures a site for WestMEC while the district pursues funding and permitting and preserves the city’s option to receive the property back if funding does not materialize.