A last-minute addition to the Falls Church City Council agenda at its business meeting tonight calls for a motion to authorize the City Manager to release an Invitation to Bid on the City’s water utility assets, including but not limited to a 40-year easement for assets located on the City’s public property. The public release of the item notes that City Manager Wyatt Shields recommends the approval of the motion.

The item stipulates that the Invitation to Bid will be issued April 11, 2012, providing bidders with 45 days to respond. On May 25, bids will be read in public and bidders may offer higher bids in response to bids made by other bidders, in a repetitive process until no further bids are offered. The City will reserve the right to reject all bids, and may conditionally award a winning bid within 30 days, contingent to an approval by voters in a public referendum on Nov. 6, 2012. 

A town hall meeting open to citizens will be set for April 21, and net proceeds from the sale after obligations are met will be used to secure the long term financial condition of the City. 

The Council will vote to approve, modify or reject this proposal as its meeting unfolds tonight.