Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lease Agreements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee OKs moving updated lease with Northwest Landscape Services to council after 157% rent increase
Summary
The Parks and Public Works Committee voted to forward to council an updated lease with Northwest Landscape Services (NLS) that would raise rent from $1,917 to $4,932 per month following a real-estate appraisal; committee members requested confirmation about past increases and renter concurrence before final council action.
The Parks and Public Works Committee voted to forward to the full council an updated lease with Northwest Landscape Services LLC that would raise monthly rent for the company’s yard next to the city wastewater treatment plant from $1,917 to $4,932, a 157% increase based on a recent appraisal.
Phil Bennett, Deputy Director of Parks and Public Works, told the committee the original lease took effect in 2016 and an appraisal shows the property’s rental value “has gone up significantly, 157% from $1,917 a month to $4,932.” He said the lessee currently operates a small fenced yard with a mobile unit and trucks on city property adjacent to the treatment plant.
Committee members pressed staff for clarifications. One committee member said, “It seems like a big increase,” and asked whether the lessee had previously had rent increases; Bennett replied he was not aware of any rent increases since 2016. A different staff speaker explained the appraisal originally used a larger leased area in its calculations and the city adjusted the appraised amount to the smaller area the tenant occupies.
Bennett told the committee the NLS manager had indicated orally that the company wanted to continue the lease. “He didn’t give us anything in writing other than indicate that, you know, they’re interested in retaining the lease,” Bennett said.
Committee members asked staff to confirm whether the lessee had previously received annual escalators or other rent adjustments before the packet goes to council. One member said they would like the committee to have that confirmation when the item reaches full council.
The committee labeled the item non-consent and voted to move it forward to council for final approval. No formal roll-call vote count was recorded in the committee transcript.
Next steps: staff will provide the full packet, including any additional documentation about past rent adjustments and any written statement from NLS, when the lease returns to council for final action.
