Sec. 122.410. - Authority of Real Estate Division to Acquire Interests in Real Property.

(a) Negotiation of and contracts for real estate acquisitions. The Real Estate Division is authorized to negotiate for interests in real property necessary for the use of the agencies, and to execute options or purchase and sale agreements and to execute all appropriate closing documents in form and substance acceptable to the Office of General Counsel. (b) Costs of acquisition. Interests in real property shall be obtained in the most economical and feasible manner. The available appropriated funds of the agency requesting the acquisition shall be used to pay the costs and expenses of obtaining these interests, including any option payments and the costs of appropriate due diligence products. (c) Form of deeds. All fee conveyances to the City shall be by no less than special warranty deed unless the conveyance is from the federal government, a State agency or another local government, or an instrumentality of any of them, from which a quitclaim deed is acceptable. A donation may be made by quitclaim deed if the Real Estate Division determines that acceptance of a quitclaim deed is in the best interest of the City. A quitclaim deed may also be accepted to aid in clearing title or boundary questions. The City's Topographical Survey Manager shall approve all legal descriptions on instruments conveying property to the City. (d) No joint acquisitions. The Real Estate Division shall make no acquisitions jointly with another governmental entity without specific authorization from the City Council. No property shall be held jointly by the City and a private party. (e) Title examinations and surveys; recordable instruments. All title examinations, surveys, and other title records obtained in the course of acquiring title shall be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel for marketability and encumbrances. All documents to be recorded in favor of the City or placing an interest in real estate in the City, including easements, shall be reviewed by the Office of General Counsel for form and legal sufficiency before delivery of the document is accepted and recorded. (Ord. 2018-871-E , § 2)