Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

November 28, 2017

Agenda Report # 50

TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Request to Quit Claim City-owned property to Development Authority
INITIATED BY: City Manager’s Office


Recommendation: Approval is requested to quit claim approximately 21 acres of vacant city-owned property located at 7149 Manor Road to the Development Authority to be leased to
SolAmerica Energy for a solar panel farm. (see attached map).

Background: The Development Authority requested to utilize approximately 21 acres of vacant city-owned property near the Muscogee County Prison to lease to a company, SolAmerica Energy, to install solar panels. The exact acreage is pending final survey. This solar energy project would be up to 2 megawatt (MW) in size and would be under the Georgia Power Renewal Energy Development Initiative (REDI) program. This project would generate enough solar energy to power approximately 265 homes for a year. This property is bordered by Muscogee County Prison, Rutledge State Prison, and the Muscogee County Housing Authority properties.

Analysis: The City currently has no current or future plans for this property. Since the property is underutilized land and development is limited on this parcel. Quit claiming this property to the Development Authority will allow for the lease for a solar panel energy project. The property will revert back to the city at the end of the lease or at any time that the lease is terminated. The exact boundaries are pending due to final survey.

Financial Considerations: Allowing this property to be utilized by a for-profit entity will generate lease revenue and tax revenues for the City. All revenue generated by this lease will be payable to the city. The option period for a term of 2 year will generate $1,000/year. During the option period, the tenant can determine whether they will move forward with the project and begin the construction period. During the construction period, the rent shall be $800/acre. Once construction is completed, the lease will be in the operation period. During the operation period, the rent shall be $800/acre. The rent shall increase 10% every 5 years.

Legal Considerations: All real estate transactions require Council’s approval. The property will be deeded retaining easements for combination utilities, storm and sanitation pipes.

Recommendations/ Actions: Approval is requested to quit claim approximately 21 acres of vacant city-owned property located at 7149 Manor Road to the Development Authority to be
leased to SolAmerica Energy for a solar panel farm. (see attached map).


City QCD to Development Authority re SolAmerica Energy.pdfCity QCD to Development Authority re SolAmerica Energy.pdfSolar Energy Project Map.pdfSolar Energy Project Map.pdf

A RESOLUTION
No. _______

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO QUIT CLAIM APPROXIMATELY 21 ACRES OF VACANT CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7149 MANOR ROAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA (THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY) TO BE USED FOR A LEASE FOR A SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT.

WHEREAS, the above mentioned property is owned exclusively by the Columbus Consolidated Government; and,

WHEREAS, the Columbus Consolidated Government has no current or future use or plans for said property; and,

WHEREAS, the Development Authority is requesting 21 acres of this parcel be quit claimed to them so that they may enter into a long term lease, not to exceed a construction period plus thirty five years, with SolAmerica Energy for a solar panel energy project under the Georgia Power Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) program; and,

WHEREAS, the solar energy project will foster the development of renewable energy resources within Columbus; and,

WHEREAS, all rent revenue generated by this project will be payable to the Columbus Consolidated Government; and,

WHEREAS, the property will revert back to the city as the end of the lease or upon earlier termination of the lease in accordance with its terms.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a quit claim deed in substantially the form attached and any related documents to transfer approximately 21 acres of vacant city-owned property located at 7149 Manor Road to the Development Authority to be leased to SolAmerica Energy for a solar energy project under the Georgia Power REDI program.

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________, 2017 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ____________members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.


_______________________________ ____________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor