Less than a month after a proposed $80 million redevelopment project was rejected in the English Village, the Lake Havasu City Council now appears interested in acquiring the property.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted 5-1 to call a Nov. 9 special meeting for public input on a possible purchase of 6.8 acres north of the London Bridge.

Mayor Bob Whelan opposed the decision after questioning its legality.

"We don't have an attorney here and I'm not sure we can do that," Whelan said. "I don't think you can move to have a meeting when we don't have a meeting scheduled."

Councilwoman Kristen Lietz-Aldridge and other council members disagreed.

"You can schedule a meeting with 24 hour's notice as long as you post it," Lietz-Aldridge said. "Then we can have a meeting whenever we want."

Last month, the Council voted 4-2 in favor of a general plan amendment that would have allowed for a mixed-use development on the site. Havasu English Village LLC asked for the amendment in order to proceed with a major redevelopment project - including two multi-level structures with commercial and residential use and a large tower clock similar to Big Ben in London.

However, the motion failed because state law requires at least five "yes" votes to change the general plan.

A few weeks later, spokesman Larry Heath said the investment group intends to sell the property unless the Council reconsiders. He also identified a California Indian tribe and a grocery store chain as potential buyers.

Council members Vall Striyle and Bob Crabtree opposed the plan amendment. Striyle declined comment on his position, citing advice from his attorney. Crabtree broke his silence in a letter to Today's News-Herald, saying the general plan should not be changed without serious consideration. Crabtree also claimed he was threatened by the investment group, which denied the allegation.

During Tuesday's call to the public, local citizens Harvey Jackson and Paul Kellogg urged the Council to address the English Village issue in public. Both are running for City Council in Tuesday's election.

"You can force a vote by all seven of you, and this community will be very interested in a public vote on whether or not the public will have input," Jackson said.

Striyle, who made the motion for the special meeting, said the Council was tentatively scheduled to discuss the English Village in executive session Tuesday, but the item was later removed. Crabtree seconded the motion.

City leaders expressed interest in acquiring the English Village last year after learning that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, based in Highland, Calif., planned to bid on the site in a bankruptcy auction.

The San Manuel tribe helped finance a $5.5 million casino expansion on the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation two years ago. The Chemehuevi tribe has been searching for a new location in Lake Havasu City to dock its ferryboat, which transports casino patrons back and forth across the Colorado River.

After some local officials raised concerns, San Manuel Tribal Chairman Deron Marquez wrote a letter to Whelan stating that the tribe had no plans to place the village property into trust or build a casino at the site.

Havasu English Village acquired the English Village property after matching a high bid of $4.1 million. Heath said the San Manuel tribe is now a potential buyer.

"Mr. Crabtree was made well aware of the risk of ignoring our plea for a reconsideration," Heath said a few weeks ago. "So was Mr. Striyle."

You may contact the reporter at bwedemeyer@havasunews.com.