Title
Declaration and Sale of Surplus Property - GRU's System Control Center Property located at 4322 NW 53 Avenue, Gainesville, FL (NB)
The Systems Control Center (SCC) operations and employees have moved to the newly constructed facility at the Eastside Operation Center. Since the property located at 4322 NW 53rd Avenue is no longer needed for GRU operations, the property can be declared as surplus property and sold.
Explanation
The SCC property, located at 4322 NW 53rd Avenue, was acquired circa 1970 to establish an electric system control center, house the related dispatching operations and support functions. The new Eastside Operation Center (EOC) located at 4747 N. Main Street was completed on August 26, 2011 and included the construction of a modern control center to satisfy current electric system control functions and requirements, a data center and comprehensive support infrastructure. All operations and associated employees previously located at 4322 NW 53rd Ave. have moved to the EOC.
Since the SCC property located at 4322 NW 53rd Avenue is no longer needed for GRU operations, it has been determined that the property can be declared surplus and sold. For the benefit of GRU's ratepayers and bond holders to obtain the best price possible in the sale of this property, it is the utilities intent to advertise the property for sale and issue an Invitation to Bid for the property with an established minimum bid price based on an appraisal of the property.
In anticipation of the sale of this property and in order to receive the best return possible, the utility recently completed a change to the land use and zoning designations as approved by the City Commission on November 17, 2011. The land use change from Public Facilities to Mixed Use Low and the zoning change from Public Service to Mixed Use-Low (MU-1) will be effective thirty-one days after approval.
The award for the sale of the property will be made to the best evaluated bid response and a Purchase and Sale Agreement will be negotiated by staff and executed by the parties in accordance with the GRU Real Property Acquisition and Disposition Guidelines. Utility easements will be reserved for existing utility facilities located on the site and a Special Warranty Deed will be granted to the successful bidder.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) find and declare as surplus GRU's 2.69 acre SCC property located at 4322 NW 53 Avenue, Gainesville, Florida; 2) authorize the General Manager, or his designee, to issue an Invitation to Bid for the sale of the property; 3) authorize the General Manager, or his designee, to accept the bid deemed to be in the City's best interest and to negotiate a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the sale of the property, reserving appropriate utility easements, subject to approval of the City Attorney as to form and legality; and 4) authorize the General Manager, or his designee, to execute all documents to complete the closing for the sale in accordance with the Purchase and Sale agreement, as negotiated by staff, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.
Fiscal Note
Proceeds from the sale of the SCC property will be used to offset costs incurred by the utility to construct the new Eastside Operation Center.
Drafter
Prepared by David E. Beaulieu, Assistant General Manager Energy Delivery
Submitted by Robert E. Hunzinger, General Manager