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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,November 27, 2017 Page 19 tion, and if business remained steady a the license center with the improvements made, the renovations would pay for themselves and still generate revenue, but to halt the process and attempt to renegotiate with property owners that had already walked away from previous negotiations just added to a bad situation. Councilmember Laliberte noted that to return to the negotiating table, with a gas station and landlord situation involved,just continued the same issues previously discussed. Councilmember Laliberte noted that what the city did have control over was the difference in the estimated renovations and actual bids received; and agreed that returning to the negotiating table may not produce desired results this round either, with pending renovations still needed and investment made in a property no city-owned. Councilmember McGehee noted that by the city purchasing the property, it also removed a viable property from the tax rolls, whether used to rent out additional space or future city expansion, it removed additional city revenue. Councilmem- ber McGehee reiterated that she found this motion to represent an appalling idea. City Manager Trudgeon stated that he was stunned at the direction being proposed with this motion based on where the city had come from, with considerable time already expended in attempting to purchase the property. If it is the will of the City Council to reject the bids and move forward with additional discussions with the property owner, Mr. Trudgeon agreed to do so. However, Mr. Trudgeon not- ed that the initial $250,000 estimate was just that prior to any professional plans being created for what the city wanted to see for the renovation; with subsequent City Council review several times followed by approval of them. Mr. Trudgeon noted that the drivers of the cost of the renovation were based on that plan; and while recognizing that the costs were higher than anticipated, he reminded the council that the city had already paid for relocation of the tenant in the additional city-leased space to accommodate these renovations with the city paying rent on that unfinished space. For the record, Mr. Trudgeon opined that the council had held a lengthy and thorough discussion to this point. Considering the importance of context, Councilmember Willmus noted the higher numbers brought forward even beyond those included in the packet; with those dollars going out the window without any ownership stake in the property. Coun- cilmember Willmus noted that, subsequent to initial discussions, additional space needs were reviewed with the knowledge that this site would not accommodate all city space needs going forward, requiring additional space around the city campus for future needs. Therefore, Councilmember Willmus noted his reconsideration of spending money on space that the city has no control over, and creating a need to step back to flesh things out, making it prudent in his opinion to step back based on knowing the needs of the community. Willmus moved, Etten seconded, calling the question.