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Council urged to publish riverfront RFP but legal title issues with INM must be cleared
Summary
Council directed staff to prepare an RFP for a riverfront landing while continuing legal work after staff reported that a 10-foot strip along the river lacks a recorded quitclaim from INM; legal counsel said a quitclaim for three parcels west of Red Bird would clear near-term issues but quiet-title actions could be lengthy.
Council discussed the status of a planned request for proposals (RFP) to develop a riverfront landing and riverwalk. Staff reported a legal question about a narrow riverbank strip that GIS shows as town property but for which title records are unclear; INM (the utility/entity referenced in the transcript) and the town generally agree the strip was deeded to the town historically, but no deed of record has been found.
Legal counsel Alex Bowman said staff prepared a quitclaim deed for three parcels west of Red Bird and have asked INM to execute it so the RFP can proceed. He said INM has been reluctant to finalize documentation and prefers resolving all title issues at once. Bowman advised that a quiet-title action is an option but can take months and may require joining adjacent private-property owners as adverse parties, which would slow the process: "You're probably winter before you're in the merits of the case," he said in describing a typical timetable.
Council members expressed a preference to publish the RFP so prospective developers can comment on design and feasibility while staff continues title negotiations. They directed staff to note the title uncertainties in procurement materials, continue negotiation with INM, and pursue a quitclaim for the parcels if INM will execute it. Staff said they would report back after upcoming meetings with INM’s counsel and with updated title work.
No formal acquisition or litigation decision was made at the meeting; the council asked staff to keep the RFP preparation moving in parallel with legal work.
