Assistant City Manager Ruben presented an unsolicited letter of intent (LOI) from TNXL Academy to purchase roughly 10.2 acres comprising Sorensen Fields and a portion of the Ison Center property.

Ruben said TNXL has leased and operated on the Sorensen Fields since at least July 2019, invested in capital improvements (artificial turf on both fields and fence work) and constructed a building on site. Staff cited prior appraisals placed in the meeting packet: the Sorensen Fields and Sorensen Lane parcel at $675,000, and the Ison Center parcel with improvements at $2,300,000. The LOI submitted by TNXL included an offer price of $2,200,000 and a commitment to replace and turf fields at Vignetti Park at an estimated $900,000 to preserve junior and senior field capacity for the city.

"That allows us to go forward with the attorney…and start working on your behalf," Ruben said, describing the LOI as the starting point for negotiations and further survey work.

Several commissioners questioned the math and the fairness of selling city‑owned land that had benefited from prior rent reductions and $640,000 in improvements. Commissioner Firstner said the packet provided "not enough beef" to justify the sale price and expressed concern the appraisal included the buyer’s benefit and a disclaimer; Firstner said she was not comfortable accepting the $2.2 million price without further review. Commissioner Oliver argued the city should consider long‑term stake (a joint‑venture approach) rather than a simple sale, warning that once land is sold it is gone.

Staff said the city would retain Sorensen’s name and would aim to preserve field access: under the LOI TNXL would continue to provide field time to the city (5 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and reserveable weekends) while replacement fields are built at Vignetti Park. Staff also said timing of the temporary fire station’s relocation affects the master‑planning timetable for Vignetti Park; staff expects to provide an update in January and said construction at the new fire station should break ground in May.

Commissioner Kennedy made a motion to authorize staff to obtain an independent city appraisal as part of the evaluation and to proceed with negotiations; Commissioner Oliver seconded. Commissioners indicated support to "look at both processes" — appraisal and alternative ownership approaches — and staff will return with a purchase and sale agreement and additional details if negotiations advance. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally for that motion.

No sale was finalized at the meeting; the commission authorized staff to develop additional valuation information and negotiation options.