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Mr. Riley asked if beginning the condemnation process would "kill" negotiations. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman replied that it would not, but he would want to begin the process because of the fast <br />approaching spring construction deadlines. Also, the legislative session has begun which relates <br />to the technical college. Current negotiations with industrial business are halted until <br />negotiations for the land have been concluded. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen requested clarification for Mr. Riley as to whether the City can <br />continue to negotiate condemnation. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman replied that we could negotiate right up to the minute that they go before the judge. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen responded that it has been the City's past practice in condemnation <br />procedures to negotiate up to the last minute. <br /> <br />Mr. Hardin asked if the owners could fight the condemnation process, in that, does the public <br />purpose have to be proven to the court. He asked if we had any firm commitments from the <br />technical college or other businesses that would prove that public purpose. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman stated that staff believes that they could get those commitments, but not until they <br />have a reasonable chance of gaining control of the property. <br /> <br />Mr. Hardin asked if there is a risk of the City being sued. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman responded that it is possible if those commitments could not be made with the other <br />businesses. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen asked if condemnation has been used in the past for industrial <br />property. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman reiterated that it was used in the sites for the seniors' apartment building and the <br />wetlands site in the AEC Industrial Park. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen inquired if the City Attorney had been consulted in this matter. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman said yes and that the examples he had given were cited by the City Attorney Bill <br />Goodrich. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen asked if the EDA members didn't think that the condemnation <br />process was fair. <br /> <br />Mr. Kent summarized for the members that the condemnation process was not necessarily a <br />concern, only that they were not sure that the City's dealings with the owners in negotiating was <br />truly at a standstill, because it seemed early in the process as the members are new and the issue <br />is new to them. <br /> <br />Economic Development Authority/January 12, 1999 <br /> Page 5 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />