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Regular meeting October 10, 2005 Mr. Wagner seconded the motion to table. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM #10 - Several Councilmembers have requested authorization to negotiate the purchase of the vacant lot east of the Sutter Meyer House, the Historic Landmark, at 6826 Chamberlain. Mr. Ollendorff asked the Council to hold off for a short period of time as he would like to see two things take place first. The first would be an official determination if the value if this property by having an appraisal done. Staff has given Council, laymen's estimate of the property's worth on a Confidential Basis. The Council will need to decide if they want to use the staff's estimate of value or authorize an appraisal. Secondly an official purpose of the acquisition would need to be adopted by City Council and placed on a five year capital improvement plan. One way this could be accomplished would be to amend the boundary of the Historic Landmark to include this lot. The Councilmembers were concerned that because City would have to go through the many processes, that someone could buy it up. Mr. Ollendorff said he would certainly carry out any direction the Council gives them, the question was, does the Council want to authorize the staff to negotiate the purchase of 6826 Chamberlain. Ms. Welsch motioned to authorize staff to negotiate to purchase this lot and was seconded by Mr. Sharpe Jr. Mr. Ollendorff said he would advise staff to negotiate price around the Confidential value. Ms. Welsch stressed the importance of obtaining the lot along side of the home that was purchased by the City for historical preservation. Putting a new building or anything out of context would greatly take away from the Sutter-Meyer's house Historical value and preservation. Mr. Wagner asked Ms. Welsch if her motion was to proceed, post haste, buy it now? Ms. Welsch agreed. Mr. Wagner asked Ms. Welsch is she would want to put a cap on her motion. Mayor Adams said that you could not do that as it was done when price is negotiated. Ms. Welsch said she believed that you don't do that publicly because it could give the seller an unfair advantage. Mr. Wagner asked for clarification of motion. Ms. Welsch said the motion was to authorize the staff to negotiate an offer, a good price for the purchase of the lot to the East of the entrance of the Sutter-Meyer house and get back to the Council. Mayor Adams said that if University City goes into negotiation to buy said property and does put forth a valid contract to buy property, that there be an appraisal rider on said contract. Another item that is usually present, normally when entering contract, a very short window of acceptance or rejection is given. Mayor Adams does not think that a Council meeting can be called in that small period of time and meet the legal Page 10