The property owners in attendance Tuesday said they felt they were being portrayed as trying to extort money from the government. Staton responded by saying his comments were directed to the Mackinaw Center for Public Policy, an organization that had published a separate letter in various newspapers last month.

The land in question is located at the proposed site of the city’s East Village development project, which would replace several student housing units and businesses, including Cedar Village apartments and McDonald’s.

San Diego-based Pierce Education Properties currently is 12 months into a 30-month deadline to complete the land acquisition of the properties located in the planned East Village area but hasn’t acquired any properties.

Riot ordinance

In other business, Council held a public hearing regarding an ordinance that clarifies riot conduct. The Inter-Fraternities Council voted in support of the ordinance Monday.

“It helps alleviate discretion with the implementation of this and dictates the person’s rights,” said Alex Fike, president of the Inter-Fraternities Council.

The ordinance wouldn’t change the city’s law against rioting, but would clarify prosecutable actions at a riot, said assistant city attorney Tom Yeadon, a drafter of the ordinance.

Officials have said the ordinance was drafted after students who were prosecuted after Cedar Fest last April asked that the city clarify what students couldn’t do. Yeadon said laws against chanting and shooting off fire extinguishers were among the actions in question.

Another public hearing regarding the ordinance is scheduled for March 17.