Ione council approves purchase contracts for two downtown lots, directs staff to prioritize traffic funds

The Island City Council voted Jan. 21 to authorize a purchase contract for two vacant downtown lots located at addresses listed in the staff report and to prioritize traffic-mitigation funds or other legally available funds for improvements.

City staff told the council the broker initially estimated $50,000–$60,000 per lot; the staff memo and remarks in the meeting described a negotiated figure as "$82.05 for both lots" in the spoken remarks (the packet text did not itemize the numeric formatting). Staff said the parcels are in city limits and could be used for short-term solutions such as parking or for other downtown improvements that might support retail.

Council discussion focused on the policy and funding source. One council member pressed to use traffic-mitigation funds because the preferred short-term use is for parking, and staff and the city attorney confirmed that using traffic funds is feasible if the expense is an eligible use under the traffic-mitigation program. The final motion authorized the city manager to sign the purchase contract and included direction that staff first determine whether traffic-mitigation funds or other restricted capital funds are eligible; if not eligible, the motion authorized using other legally appropriate funds.

Public commenters, including several downtown business owners and residents, urged the council to develop the lots into low-cost parking to support local businesses and events; others said the city could resell improved property to realize a gain. Councilors noted the purchase price is a starting point and that the city would face additional improvement costs if the lots are converted to parking.

The council approved the motion to authorize the purchase and include the funding-priority condition; the motion carried without a roll-call tally in the public record (transcript records voice vote: "Ayes have it").