Monroe County commissioners approved a resolution on March 13 authorizing county officers to execute deeds and related documents necessary to transfer certain convention center properties to the CIB.

County legal staff explained the resolution (Resolution 20-25-15) authorizes execution and delivery of the deeds attached as exhibits and grants officers, including the president of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, authority to finalize the transaction. Staff said the deeds correspond to the parcel where the current convention center sits and to property east of Third Street near the Napa Building; the transfer does not include county-owned property west of the Bee Line Trail, which is still intended to go to the CIB.

Staff told commissioners that bond counsel’s approach means the convention center parcel may be transferred to the CIB earlier than the other parcels and that two separate deeds were prepared to allow staged transfers. County staff also said Jim Whitlatch, attorney for the CIB, raised questions about deed restrictions that require the properties to be used for convention center purposes (including a hotel). Changing those restrictions would require returning to the county council because the original approval exceeded the county council’s $1,000 threshold for administrative action, staff said.

The presiding commissioner moved to approve the resolution; a second was recorded, there was no public comment, and the board voted 3-0 in favor. County staff told the commissioners they will provide an update at the next meeting.

The resolution grants broad authority to county officers to execute documents and make minor changes to deeds “that are seen as advantageous to the project,” but staff emphasized that substantive changes to deed restrictions will require further county council action.