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Public commenter urges council to defer P&H Properties park lease; committee approves 50-year leases with amendments
Summary
A resident urged deferral of Bill 20 25 10 11, citing land-value concerns and a 30-year no-rent term for P&H Properties; the council approved the two long-term leases with an amendment adding insurance adjustments and a public-access provision for the park.
A member of the public urged the Budget & Finance Committee to defer consideration of Bill 20 25 10 11, a proposed lease with P&H Properties LLC that would use Metro-owned property at 120 Third Avenue North and 211 Commerce Street and create a privately operated event area adjacent to public parkland.
Steve Ritter, who signed up to speak, said Colliers International’s appraisal scope evaluated improvements to a fire station rather than land value and argued the park parcel is “one of the most valuable pieces in the park portfolio.” He said the negotiated terms allow P&H Properties “no rent… for a term of 30 years with two 10-year renewables,” and urged the council to defer the bill to allow further questions about land value and park protection.
Councilmembers debated the bill (Item 28). Councilmember Evan Siegel offered and the committee approved an amendment that (1) requires periodic updates to insurance minimums (every five years) so coverage does not lag an extended lease term, and (2) explicitly requires the public park to remain open except when closed for approved private events; the amendment left the private-event definition and scheduling rules that are already in the lease.
Counsel and the assessor’s office advised that taxes may apply to event spaces that create a private revenue-generating use even when adjacent parkland remains tax-exempt. After the amendment passed, the committee approved the bill as amended. The transcript records voice votes with the chair announcing the motion carries.
The public comment and committee debate focused on land valuation, preservation of park access and transparency about financial terms. The sponsor and staff noted that lease terms and event scheduling are defined in the contract; the amendment was intended to ensure ongoing insurance adequacy and protect public access.
