The Camp Verde Town Council discussed the amended lease agreement negotiations between the town and the Camp Verde Arena Association at their regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5
After the council held a work session with CVAA in August, council requested that staff bring an amended lease be brought before council members for review at the Nov. 5 meeting.
In September, town staff and attorney met with CVAA’s attorney, Joe Butner, a former Camp Verde town councilman, to review the lease and discuss proposed revisions. In October, Town Attorney Trish Stuhan provided Butner with a draft of the amended lease agreement.
On Nov. 3, Town Manager Miranda Fisher and staff met with Butner and Stacey Barker, CVAA’s vice president, to discuss the redlined agreement with proposed changes.
“I do feel we are moving forward in good faith,” Fisher said. “We’ve had some incredible discussions to date.”
She added that everyone seems to be on the same page to work through a lease that works for both parties. Termination of the lease still remains a possibility.
Due to delays, the finalized agreement was not ready for final review and adoption at this meeting.
Councilwoman Patricia Seybold and Vice Mayor Wendy Escoffier expressed their desire to start fresh with a request for proposals. If a RFP was sent out, CVAA could apply with a new proposal.
Barker said he was pleased with the amendment and is meeting with CVAA’s membership on Nov. 13 to bring forward the redlined version.
Fisher recommended that the council hold an executive session prior to CVAA’s meeting to review the changes and discuss any potential revisions. Following both meetings, if there are any changes proposed by either party they can address them together before the council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
The intention is to bring a lease to the meeting on Dec. 3, but if CVAA does not accept the town’s redlined revisions, the association will notify Fisher that they did not reach terms and the council will initiate a notice to terminate the lease. If CVAA accepts the revisions, there will be an action item for approval or denial of an amendment to the lease agreement. If the item is denied, then the official approval of the notice to terminate and to send out a RFP will follow.
The council will meet in executive session on Monday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. to discuss the contracts related to CVAA.
