City staff outline next steps on Taylor Canyon Elementary surplus property; council to decide whether to express purchase interest

Jeremy (identified in the meeting as the presenter) briefed the council on the Taylor Canyon Elementary School site at approximately 2100 Taylor Avenue, noting the structure was demolished in 2022 and the parcel is roughly 2.4 acres. He said the school district mailed formal notice to the city and that the city had to respond by Dec. 2 to register an intent to pursue acquisition. "This is just the first step ... it is not the real estate purchase contract that locks into the terms of the deal," Jeremy said, explaining appraisals and purchase negotiations would come later.

Council members asked why there was not yet an appraisal; Jeremy said appraisals are not required before delivering the notice of intent and that the city would obtain its own appraisal if it chose to move forward. Members also asked whether a funding source had been identified. Staff indicated that no specific departmental funding was confirmed and that prior council budget set-asides (about $2 million in previous sessions) had been partially used and might be relevant but details would need to be checked.

Council discussion raised proximity and redundancy of nearby park space (several parks within roughly 0.7 miles), concerns that neighbors might already expect a park based on social-media posts, and whether the city would consolidate or reallocate existing park uses if it acquired the parcel. Jeremy said administration was considering park uses but had not finalized a plan and that future decisions on purchase price, funding source and use would return to council.

At the work session the city decided to pull the school-surplus item from the consent agenda so council members could comment and vote individually at the regular meeting; the staff presentation and the council's questions will inform the follow-up materials the council receives before a formal decision.