Canyon Lake — The City Council voted unanimously to authorize negotiation and execution of a purchase-and-sale agreement for approximately 34.99 acres known locally as Goat Hill or Getz Hill.

City Manager Aaron Brown told the council the Martin Family Trust has offered the property in a bargain sale: the city would pay $1,500,000 in cash and accept about $1,400,000 in donated value for a parcel appraised at roughly $3,000,000. "So we would be, taking on a property that is worth approximately $3,000,000 and it would cost the city $1,500,000," Brown said.

The city manager said there are no immediate plans for development. "There are no immediate plans whatsoever. This is something that could be held in the city's portfolio," Brown said, listing possible future uses that include open space, sale to an entity such as the Riverside Conservation Authority (RCA), or later development if council chooses.

During public comment, Darcy Burke urged the council to proceed, saying the parcel should be protected and handled with public input. "I would much rather see this property in the hands of the city in a transparent manner that there would be public input into whatever this might or might not be," Burke said, calling the property "contentious" and praising the council for moving forward.

Council members asked about financing and tax effects. Brown said the city will use a short-term line of credit tied to an HSI project that is expected to be reimbursed by the state in February or early March; the line would be paid off after reimbursement and would not increase resident taxes or operating costs. "It does not increase the taxes," Brown said.

An unidentified council member noted the parcel’s regulatory history and asked whether an existing Ridgeline ordinance would make purchase redundant; the city attorney suggested that public comment questions about ordinance changes be handled as a separate, non-interactive matter with the attorney and staff.

The motion to authorize negotiation and execution passed on a roll-call vote: Mayor Pro Tem Castillo, Council member Smith, Council member Stever, Council member Welty and Mayor Terry voted "Aye." The council did not approve any immediate development plan as part of the action; the authorization is limited to negotiating and executing the purchase-and-sale agreement.

Next steps: staff will complete negotiating the purchase-and-sale agreement and return to council with any required implementation steps or proposed uses for public review.