Council authorizes sale process for 218 West Commerce Street; staff recommends reserve auction

Council considered Resolution 26‑12 to authorize the sale of city‑owned property at 218 West Commerce Street (the commercial building referenced as the C I D / T Cap Building). Hutto, speaking for city staff, told the council the resolution would declare the building surplus, authorize advertisement and sale and direct the city manager to obtain an appraisal and prepare the advertisement.

Hutto said one change was needed in the advertising language: remove the phrase 'minimum bid amount' and replace it with a reserve format. "So in section 5, we just need to cross out the words minimum bid amount... and change that to a reserve. Reserve auction," Hutto said. Council members moved to amend the resolution as discussed and then proceeded to vote on the motion as amended. The transcript records the amendment motion and the subsequent roll call process but does not include an explicit final vote tally in the provided excerpt.

Hutto advised that after the auction and receipt of bids, council could either approve the sale or reject the bids; the resolution, as amended in discussion, allows the city to proceed with the advertisement and appraisal but does not bind the council to complete a sale without subsequent approval.

Next steps: staff to update the final resolution language to reflect a reserve auction, obtain an appraisal, publish the advertisement and report back to council with bids and recommendations for disposition.