Adelanto approves $38,000 purchase of parcel for stormwater basin and future park amid appraisal questions

The Adelanto City Council approved the negotiated purchase of Assessor Parcel 0459-161-28 for $38,000 on Dec. 9, 2020. City staff said the property at the northeast corner of White Avenue and Pearmain Street is well positioned to receive stormwater runoff that has historically flooded nearby homes; the plan is to use the site as a stormwater detention basin that will also serve as a public park.

City Engineer Brian Wolf described a preliminary design and said acquisition is a necessary first step before pursuing construction grants and park development. "This is the subject flooding...could be routed westerly towards Panorama and therefore towards this property, which will be intended to be both the stormwater basin and it'll also double as a public park," Wolf said.

Councilmember Savannah Evans asked whether paying more than an appraisal could be considered a gift of public funds and requested legal review. "It's been brought to my attention that it's against the law for municipalities to purchase anything above the appraisal price because it could be considered a gift of public funds," Evans said. City Attorney Lloyd Pilchon and Finance Director Ward Comers said they were not aware of a statutory bar that would prevent a negotiated purchase above one appraisal and noted appraisals vary; Ward Comers added the acquisition would be paid from park development impact fees (not the general fund) and that grants could later reimburse some of the cost.

After public comment from a resident urging swift action and further council discussion, the council approved the purchase (roll call: Councilmember Evans voted no; other voting members voted yes). Staff said grant opportunities are being pursued to fund park development and to reimburse acquisition costs where eligible.

Why it matters: the parcel acquisition aims to address recurring flooding on the city's northeast side and to create a new park, but council debate highlighted due-diligence questions about appraisal, funding source and the timing of acquisition.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased: Brian Wolf (City Engineer), Savannah Evans (Councilmember), Lloyd Pilchon (City Attorney), Ward Comers (Finance Director), councilmembers and a resident who spoke in public comment.