Malibu property

Strongly supported selling the vacant 18-year-old Malibu property to Wild Horse Hospitality for a luxury RV/cabin resort, saying private investment beats more years of vacancy.

Countered the Malibu RV resort idea, suggesting the town instead offer discounted land near the rodeo grounds — with water and sewer incentives — and keep Malibu like Payson's own Central Park.

Proposed a 100-foot strip of town land near Town Hall for 20-30 Habitat for Humanity starter homes, and criticized the RV resort plan for removing all trees.

Urged the town to issue an RFP for the Malibu property and conduct a traffic study before deciding on the RV resort.

Called Darren Coldwell the best town manager she's seen since 1988 and urged extending his contract; also asked council to give careful consideration to the RV resort proposal.

Warned against giving away public land without an appraisal and open RFP, citing a 20-year-old airport taxiway mistake, and opposed the RV resort sale.

Opposed selling the Malibu land for an RV park without in-depth public debate, studies and resident input; suggested listing it on the open market with real appraisals if a quick sale is the goal.

Urged council not to trade the valuable Malibu property for an RV developer's promises, saying it could serve an improved services campus and affordable housing.

Speaking via Zoom, supported Coldwell and the RV resort sale, noting the Malibu property has been for sale for 18 years and the town isn't in the real estate business.

Representing the Rim Country Housing Coalition, urged the town to dedicate part of the 21 acres to affordable workforce housing before any sale, and offered a Habitat for Humanity presentation October 14.

Urged the council not to sell the Malibu property, calling a sale short-sighted and doubting Taylor Pool rehab is cost-effective.

Opposed selling to a developer, arguing the town should preserve the land for a community recreation center whose benefits outlast short-term RV revenue.

Representing the Affordable Housing Coalition, proposed a habitat-style workforce housing strip on the property, and noted the quadrant lacks a park and the town needs future parking.

Called affordable housing the most important issue, urged the town to consider it, and said the property is worth millions and should be properly appraised before any sale.

Distributed a proposal suggesting shared sewer/water/parking facilities, a future fire station site, competitive bidding for any sale, and stacking a recreation center beneath affordable housing.

Called the Main Street presentation a copy of the old American Gulch plan and accused the council of making big decisions without public participation, urging a library forum and a public poll.

Thanked staff for the Fourth of July event, called the two-hearings repeal a dumb idea, and said the Malibu property should be sold, citing door-knocking that showed roughly 70% support.

A retired reading teacher who strongly supported the library and opposed defunding it; also urged the town keep the Malibu site for future facilities or a park rather than selling.

Called library concerns a made-up political problem, opposed the Malibu sale, and urged the council to plan for future growth with the property.

Strongly supported selling the Malibu property for a high-end RV resort, citing Show Low's similar project and potential tax revenue.

The developer himself, who said the land was third-party appraised, not otherwise earmarked, and that he'd fund the project without city money.

Speaking by Zoom, he opposed selling the Malibu property for an RV park and supported library funding.

He opposed selling the Malibu property to an RV park, arguing the centrally located land is needed for future police and fire facilities and that the decision lacks public input.

The 21-year resident also opposed the sale, saying the property adjacent to the town center could be needed for future town uses and once sold is gone forever.