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willingness to discuss potential acquisitions by the City. However, they also disclosed they were jointly <br /> working on the development of a measure 37 claim which has subsequently been filed with Lane County. <br /> In early spring 2007, the City made a purchase offer for all of the Babb property and two strips of <br /> property from Van Duyn. Their response to our offer was that while it would be considered, they had a <br /> strong preference that the City acquire the full 200 +- acres consisting of both ownerships instead of our <br /> approximately 100 acre acquisition proposal. In late March, we were informed by one of the property <br /> owners they wished to postpone responding to our offer for a few additional weeks due to on -going <br /> negotiations with another prospective buyer. <br /> In mid - April, staff from Lane County disclosed they were the other prospective buyer. Their stated <br /> interest was in a future acquisition of 100+ acres from these properties for a potential fairground location. <br /> They indicated an interest to work with the City to explore future joint fairgrounds /city park development <br /> options. Considering Lane County's interest and due to the property owner's reluctance to discuss partial <br /> acquisition, the City expanded its purchase offer in May to include the full 200 + - acres. We have not yet <br /> received a response from the property owners. <br /> We have subsequently worked with Lane County to develop an agreement that would allow staff to <br /> explore joint development options and would allow Lane County up to two years to purchase a portion of <br /> the property from the City, the extent and location to be mutually agreed upon at that time. The rationale <br /> for the agreement is the County presently lacks the capital to acquire the property on its own (ostensibly <br /> relying on future proceeds from the sale of the current fairgrounds property to capitalize the new site) and <br /> wishes to preserve the option of relocating the fairgrounds to the site. The property owners also wish the <br /> County to have this option preserved, and they are apparently willing sellers only if the County is offered <br /> this assurance. We have made it clear there are a wide variety of issues to be resolved to accommodate <br /> both the disposal of the current fairgrounds site and development of the Golden Gardens site. <br /> Nonetheless, we have concurred with the County's request for such an agreement inasmuch as it will <br /> expedite the acquisition of property for development of the Golden Gardens Park, funding is available, <br /> and we see little risk of ending up with property we don't need as it is expected to at least sustain its value <br /> to other potential buyers should the County elect not to proceed with its option. <br /> Please let me know if you need additional information. <br /> cc: Susan Muir, Executive Director/Planning and Development Department <br /> Johnny Medlin, Parks and Open Space Division Manager <br /> Carolyn Weiss, Parks and Open Space Parks Planning Manager <br /> Attachments. <br /> 4 <br />