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Deputy Mayor Gibson to step down; urges caution over $42 million hotel project and CRA role
Summary
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson announced she will not seek reelection, cited renovation-related financial strains, and urged the commission to carefully manage CRA involvement and public funds on a proposed downtown hotel redevelopment estimated at about $42,000,000; she suggested temporarily adding two citizen seats to the CRA and offered to serve.
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson announced to the commission that she will not run for reelection, saying renovation costs and associated financial pressures prompted her decision. "I will not be running for reelection," Gibson said, adding that she will downsize her home and remain supportive of the city’s leadership.
Gibson urged caution about the Central Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) role in an anticipated downtown hotel renovation she described as likely to cost in the neighborhood of $42,000,000. She said the CRA will play a substantial role in the project and warned of legal and audit risks, noting auditors have disciplined those who stray beyond statutory boundaries. "We have to be careful as to what we do... It's not our money," Gibson said.
Gibson reported that Donovan of Place Economics visited from Washington, D.C., and that the consultant — which has about 93 projects — indicated it would meet a previously discussed Feb. 15 deadline. To preserve continuity, Gibson recommended temporarily appointing two citizen members to the CRA (increasing membership from five to seven under a statute she cited) and offered to volunteer for one of the seats during the interim period.
What happens next: Gibson asked the commission to place CRA governance and the citizen-seat option on a future work session agenda so the commission can discuss details and potential legal or administrative safeguards.
