Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Improvement Corporation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Avon Council weighs Community Improvement Corporation to control sale of City Hall site
Summary
Council members debated creating a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to give the city more control over the potential sale of the current City Hall property — estimated at about $3 million — with supporters citing strategic flexibility and opponents urging caution until a decision to sell is made.
Council President Brian Fischer opened the Feb. 16 work session by adding a discussion about creating a Community Improvement Corporation, a quasi-governmental nonprofit structure the city could use to control how public property is transferred or developed.
Attorney Blake Beachler, who described CICs to the Council, said they can ease negotiations with developers while keeping public oversight: "CICs do not need to advertise property sales or accept competitive bids, allowing cities more strategic control over selecting buyers and determining intended uses for properties." He added that CIC boards typically must include public officials (40 percent) and can pursue 501(c)(3) status to accept donations and apply for grants.
Supporters on the Council, including Mayor Bryan Jensen and Council Member Scott Radcliffe, said the City's existing City Hall parcel could generate roughly $3 million toward a new facility and argued a CIC would let the City shape future uses rather than simply selling to the highest bidder. Opponents urged caution: Council Member Tony Moore said forming a CIC before deciding whether to sell would be "putting the cart before the horse," and Council President Fischer suggested the City might retain the parcel and revisit a CIC later as the site's value grows.
City Law Director John Gasior said the ordinance to establish a CIC will be placed on the next Council agenda for first reading and is expected to go through the full three readings, with further discussion scheduled at the March 2 work session. Beachler estimated a typical formation process, including bylaws and agreements between the City and the CIC, could take roughly six months.
Next steps: the ordinance will appear for first reading at the next Council meeting, and Council members were asked to gather constituent feedback before further votes.
