Council weighs ballot measures, landfill reopening and golf-course sale to plug Riverview's budget gap

Riverview leaders spent a sizable portion of the session reviewing options to address forecasted revenue shortfalls, including potential ballot measures and development projects.

Staff presented three categories of options: (1) a public-safety mill to place before voters (staff discussed whether two mills or a larger rate would be needed), (2) a resurfacing/local-streets funding measure similar to a prior multi-year initiative, and (3) land-development approaches including selling or redeveloping the municipal golf course and reopening/recultivating the landfill. Staff said reopening and recultivating the landfill could, under one scenario from a consultant, produce about $3 million net per year over 15 years (roughly $45 million over that period); the consultant gave a developer's rough price for the golf-course land around $5 million gross.

Staff noted developer sketches showing three residential-density scenarios: high-density ~383 units, medium ~300 units and low ~250 units; a consultant's early calculation suggested medium-density could generate about $1.5 million in annual property-tax revenue once fully built and phased in, though staff cautioned that development receipts take multiple years to materialize and typically require TIFs or other infrastructure agreements.

Council also reviewed election timing: staff said local ballot wording for November must be submitted by Tuesday, Aug. 11, and recommended coordinating potential questions to avoid separate special-election costs. Staff said some elements (e.g., sale of the golf course or landfill expansion) would still require voter approval after council and planning actions.

No final determinations were made; staff will bring detailed financial projections, draft ballot language and developer materials back to council for further deliberation.