REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Budget Modification No. 8 to Appropriate $25,000 to Fund Consultant Services Related to the Civic Center Modernization Project with Funding from the Future Infrastructure Projects Set Aside in the Infrastructure Fund
Report
BACKGROUND
On October 28, 2014 Council appropriated $400,000 for consulting services and expenses related to the Civic Center Modernization Project (RTC 14-0746). The City Manager was authorized to enter into and amend individual service agreements exceeding $100,000, up to the budgeted amount. The City subsequently awarded a contract to Anderson Brule Architects in the amount of $374,660 to provide services in three key areas - community outreach, market analysis, and space planning. Work in these areas is progressing well and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project within the meaning of CEQA because it involves funding for outreach, organizational, and administrative activities that will not result in direct physical changes to the environment (CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5)).
DISCUSSION
The current scope of the market analysis for the Civic Center project is limited to the existing City-owned property located at the Civic Center. The market analysis will evaluate current market conditions for alternative land uses at the Civic Center such as housing, hotel, retail, or office and estimate an approximate value of land if sold or leased for private uses. This is one way the City could potentially offset the cost of improvements needed at the Civic Center.
During the community outreach process numerous concerns were raised about the impacts of converting land at the Civic Center to private uses. It has been suggested that the City consider other City-owned properties, not currently being used to deliver City services. Staff has identified two properties owned by the City that have never been used to provide City services: 1) Parcel...
Click here for full text