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Milton council picks Joan South to enter negotiations for marina redevelopment, presses staff to avoid donating city land
Summary
On Dec. 9, 2025, the Milton City Council unanimously voted to select Joan Souths proposal for further negotiation on a marina redevelopment RFP, amending the motion to require staff return with a negotiated agreement by March and expressing concern about a bidders request that the city donate four properties valued at more than $750,000.
The Milton City Council unanimously voted Dec. 9 to select Joan Souths proposal as the citys negotiating partner for a marina redevelopment request for proposals.
The decision followed staffs recap that council had heard presentations at an earlier special meeting and had time to review proposals. Councilman Cusack made the motion to approve Joan South for purposes of negotiation and Councilman Hawthorne seconded; the council then amended the motion to require staff to return with an answer by March.
Why it matters: The marina has been discussed for years as a major waterfront project for Milton. Several council members raised concerns about the financial terms proposed by one bidder, specifically a request that the city donate four parcels of land as part of a package. A council member (speaker S9) told the council, "The properties total over $750,000 in value," pressing for alternatives such as a lease, phased purchase, or other protections so the city receives benefit from the project.
Staff advice and timeline: City staff (Mr. Spears) told the council that winning an RFP grants the opportunity to negotiate but does not lock the city into a final transfer of ownership. "The only thing anyone ever wins in a request for proposals is the opportunity to negotiate," Mr. Spears said, and he recommended the council set a March deadline for returning with a negotiated agreement or a report that negotiations failed.
Council direction: Members asked staff to avoid donating city property as part of an initial deal and to explore lease-to-own or phased approaches that would preserve value for the city. The motion the council approved was limited to selecting Joan South for negotiation; the council did not approve any deed transfers or final contract terms at the meeting.
Next step: City staff will begin negotiations with Joan South and return to council by March with either a draft agreement or a report that negotiations cannot be completed under acceptable terms. The councils action was recorded as a unanimous approval by those present; the meeting record did not include a roll-call tally of individual votes.
