Title
Resolution to Enter a Lease with Lee Maulbetsch to Farm the Maisel Property (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution approves a 9-month lease with an optional 1-year renewal with Lee Maulbetsch to farm the City-owned parcel on Nollar Road, Northfield Township, commonly known as the Maisel property. The Maisel property was acquired by the City through the Greenbelt Program in 2022 with the intent to resell the property to land-insecure farmers, subject to a conservation easement. The purchase and resale process was approved by City Council resolution R-22-121 as part of the Greenbelt Buy-Protect-Sell acquisition framework. While the City prepares the criteria for sale of the property, City staff have deemed it in the best interest of the property to put it into organic production to preserve and improve the soil. Lee Maulbetsch farmed the property prior to its acquisition by the City and has agreed to farm it in accordance with USDA organic farming regulations.
The term of this lease is May 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023. The lease may be renewed for the entire year of 2024 upon mutual agreement of the City and lessee.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The value of conducting organic farming on the land to benefit soil quality is deemed sufficient to serve as compensation to the City for the lease. Therefore, the City will not charge any monetary rent.
Since the total amount of the lease requires the City to pay less than $50,000.00, an appraisal is not required by section 1:321 of City Code
Staff
Prepared by: Rosie Pahl Donaldson, Land Acquisition Supervisor
Reviewed by: Christopher Frost, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
RESOLVED, That City Council approves a lease with Lee Maulbetsch to farm the Maisel Property from May 1-December 31, 2023 with an optional 1-year renewal for 2024;
RESOLVED, That the lessee shall keep the land in cultivation in accordance w...
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