REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: RUTH F. QUINTO, CPA, Assistant City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Sequoia Brewery located at 777 East Olive in the City of Fresno:
1. Ratify the Lease Assignment and Amendment Agreement between J&A Mash & Barrel, a California limited liability company, J&A Mash No More, a California limited liability company and the City of Fresno.
2. Approve the Transfer Agreement between J&A Mash No More, a California limited liability company, J&A Mash & Barrel, a California limited liability company and the City of Fresno.
3. Approve the Restated and Amended Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Property and Joint Escrow Instructions between the City of Fresno, and J&A Mash & Barrel, a California limited liability company, and Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, a corporation.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council ratify the Lease Assignment and Amendment Agreement, and approve the Transfer Agreement and the Restated and Amended Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Sequoia Brewery property.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In April 2022, the City Council approved a purchase and sale agreement with J&A Mash & Barrel as part of the purchase of the Tower Theatre subject to compliance with the Surplus Land Act (SLA). The Sequoia Brewery property is being sold by the City based on the terms of the lease that was upheld by the Court of Appeal in prior litigation involving the Sequoia Brewery and the former owner of the Tower Theatre. The City has complied with the SLA requirements to sell the property in accordance with updated SLA regulations that went into effect on January 1, 2024. On August 8, 2025, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) issued a letter to the City with HCD's final determination that the subject property is "exempt surplus land" under the...
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