RFN for downtown county properties draws interest; proposals due Sept. 16, county staff to shortlist

Assistant County Administrator Blaine Williams updated the board on the county's RFN (request for negotiations) for downtown properties. Williams said more than 50 development entities have downloaded RFN materials and that the deadline for receipt of proposals is September 16. He described a process in which staff and CBRE will shortlist proposals, issue a common set of terms to shortlisted firms and request best-and-final offers before bringing shortlisted responses to the commission following due diligence and negotiation.

"The deadline for the receipt of the proposals is September 16," Williams told commissioners, adding that the county has been actively reaching out to potential developers and providing addenda and links to city materials where the city has complementary parcels. Commissioners asked whether city parcels were part of the county evaluation; staff clarified city parcels are not part of the county's RFN evaluation but may be complementary and are listed as an informational addendum on the city's website.

Staff said the evaluation will focus on county-owned parcels and that the commission, as the property owner, makes the final decision. Commissioners asked about timing and whether developers could assemble packages including city or private parcels; staff said developers could pursue assemblages independently but the county evaluation will be based on county property alone. Staff projected that shortlisted proposals and further negotiations would bring a decision point to the board in the spring following due diligence.