Beachfront RFP discussed in secret

So, this is why we need to watch our Council meetings and it is also why interested public should be aware of the procedural rules that our Council must adhere to.

I watched the meeting of our Council for November 14, 2024. I turned it on while doing housework and listened away. But at the end of the meeting, I thought, “wait a minute, I thought they awarded the RFP for Beach Front Development?”

I did not hear the motion nor any discussion about the issue. So, I re-played key parts of the meeting and nope… still didn’t hear it.

So, I thought, I wonder if it was buried in a consent agenda and not discussed? So, I checked the agenda and I found it. The RFP was an item discussed “in camera”. So, I read over the report and the first page of the report certainly sounded like it was a motion recommendation, but… and this is IMPORTANT, Council CANNOT vote on issues while in camera.

So, I fast forward: The in camera session ends and Mayor Smith announces that because they had a second “in camera” session scheduled later in the meeting, the clerk would provide a combined “rising report” at that time.

After the second “in camera” session, a rising report was presented and when discussing section 5.3 of the Agenda (the RFP), the clerk said, “There is nothing further to report on at this time.”

So… despite what the report recommends or what anyone has said on social media, I do not believe the RFP has been duly accepted. They may have talked about it, but procedurally they could not (should not) have voted on it.

I’m not saying they didn’t vote on it. I’m saying my understanding is that legally they could not vote on it unless the vote was held in a public meeting.

So… stay tuned for a “Special Council” meeting, or it may get added to the December Council meeting.

Now… in regards to the RFP people expressed concern that a respected World Class Developer walked away after 10 years, so the pool of respondents might be shallow. Yep… one respondent: a local builder was able to win the RFP. Interesting!

Personally, I am disgusted that with all of the public outcry about developing that particular parcel of land, our Council even proceeded with the RFP.

I will include several photos of the “report” for information, but remember… to my knowledge, it is just a report. It has not been accepted and voted on in Council.