Published on June 04, 2025
During the June 3 City Council meeting, Suisun City City Manager Bret Prebula shared a letter from California Forever to the city, offering to purchase $1.5M worth of city-owned downtown properties. This offer letter comes in response to discussions the city is having with California Forever surrounding an Exclusive Reimbursement Agreement as the city seeks to expand its boundaries through annexation of California Forever-owned land. The offer letter outlines California Forever’s desire to accelerate their investments into Suisun City’s downtown while bridging a 2025/2026 budget shortfall for the city, through the purchase of the Lawler House/Theater block and the city-owned parcels on the adjacent 701 Main St. block. In the letter, California Forever CEO Jan Sramek says, “We understand that these are parcels the city has previously listed for sale and already wants to sell for mixed use developments. Our offer would provide a fast, easy and reliable way to achieve that, and in doing so generate the funds the city needs within the next few months.” Sramek later continues on, saying, “Our goal would be to not just buy the properties, but to immediately begin the process of working with you, city staff and the Suisun City community to design something wonderful. In such a process, we would seek to evaluate whether any of the existing buildings can be incorporated into the new project, or if we would need to do all new development. In either case, the goal would be to enhance the vibrancy of the downtown.” In addition to the property purchase offer, California Forever added they would like to offer a grant to Suisun City in the amount of $55,000, to prevent the pending cancellation of upcoming community celebrations across the city, due to the budget shortfall. Sramek ends the letter saying, “California Forever is committed to being a strong partner for Suisun City for the next half a century. We look forward to hearing from you.” “We’d like to thank California Forever for prioritizing investments into our city and showing us they are a committed partner,” said Suisun City City Manager Bret Prebula. “Their offer is more than a transaction — it’s a signal that California Forever is not just investing in the land, they are investing in the people, the culture and the long-term vibrancy of Suisun City. This offer reflects a thoughtful and collaborative spirit that will help us move forward together — strengthening service, preserving traditions and ultimately delivering a brighter future for all residents.” This item will return to Council for an official vote in late fall 2025.