Staff recommends keeping Legends short-term, to seek long-term equity partner through RFP

Staff told the Committee that extending the current management agreement for a limited period would help stabilize operations and bookings while the county pursues an RFP to attract a development partner for later-phase campus build-out.

Debbie and other staff recommended extending Legends’ role for the next three years to maintain operations and to use their market knowledge in prioritizing Phase 1 work. “Let’s keep legends for the next 3 years. We already have an extension in their agreement. Let’s move forward with the phase 1,” a staff presenter said while asking for board direction.

Commissioners discussed how a development partner with equity could change procurement structure and potentially allow private dollars to reduce the county’s direct outlay, but staff warned that introducing private equity could affect the tax status of borrowing (tax-exempt bond eligibility). The meeting included references that ASM had indicated up to a $10,000,000 contribution contingent on management renewal and future commitments; commissioners asked for documented commitments and clarified that no guarantees are in place without executed agreements.

Staff did not bring a finalized contract extension or a board motion; instead they asked the board to confirm direction so staff could proceed with additional procurement steps and to refine cost validation work.