Community group urges immediate transfer of Joker House to start renovations

During public comment Mr. Royal asked the council to move forward with transferring the Joker House/Max Manning property so community-led renovations for youth programming can begin. He reported an initial mock-up estimate of $132,000 but said donated materials and prisoner labor will substantially cut costs. He urged the council to "follow suit on what you promise" and to release the property so upgrades — including structural and electrical work — can be completed for community use.

Council and staff discussed prior steps and state-level review that affected transfer timing; staff suggested further meetings to ensure documentation is complete and that any state encumbrances are addressed before transfer. The community representative requested prioritized action to avoid continued deterioration of the site.