Item B: City Council Goal - City Hall Complex

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ATTACHMENT B City Hall Site Considerations New Considerations on City Hall Sites Several new considerations relative to site selection for a new City Hall have surfaced since the commencement of the Implementation Plan Phase. Given the following considerations, using the existing City Hall site in future planning efforts may enhance public support, lower costs, and accommodate full consolidation of city functions wholly or incrementally over time. New benefits for using the existing City Hall site include: Public preference. Public Opinion Research performed in the spring showed a strong preference for ? using city-owned property. Available adjacent lease space. The General Services Administration has indicated a strong desire ? for the City to lease space in the Federal Building, creating the possibility of a favorable lease opportunity for temporary or long-term occupancy. Available adjacent open space. All or part of the full half-block south of the existing City Hall ? could be used for future City Hall growth or even a new Police Patrol facility. Flexibility for design and planning. Ability to master plan full consolidation on one site through ? incremental building. New complications for using the Rock N’ Rodeo/Butterfly Lot site include: Property owner interest. During the site selection effort of the Development Plan Phase, public and ? private property owners of the Rock N’ Rodeo/Butterfly Lot site were contacted and none indicated an unwillingness to discuss selling their properties. Since that time the Rock N’ Rodeo owner has indicated strong opposition to selling her property. Cost of private properties. An appraisal was performed on the private properties totaling ? approximately $2,000,000 excluding legal fees and staff time. Project Team cost models reflect $3,000,000 to account for the appraised value plus an acquisition premium, legal fees, staff time, and relocation costs. Cost of public properties. The County has indicated a willingness to sell if the City funds ? replacement parking for the 228 spaces in the Butterfly lot and identifies a piece of land for the County to build a future County Courthouse. Project Team cost models include an escalated cost (to 2010) of approximately $4,400,000 to construct 228 spaces in an above grade structure. The th County’s preferred option of adding additional levels to the existing County parking structure on 6 Avenue has an estimated cost of $11,500,000. Deed restrictions. City staff reviewed the deed restrictions of the Butterfly Lot in 2006 prior to ? proposing it as one of the potential sites for the City Hall Complex and—pending further analysis— felt that a city hall would be an appropriate use on at least the north half of the site and would not violate deed restrictions. Subsequent research by the City Attorney of the deeds, plats and history of the park blocks has further confirmed this opinion, though caution suggests that the City contact the heirs of Eugene Skinner, if any can be found, before proceeding with a deal to acquire the property. In May, the Court Administrator for Lane County Circuit Court issued a letter to the City of Eugene and Lane County stating the Court’s opposition to the proposed sale of the Butterfly Lot. While not a formal legal opinion, the letter did state that the position of the Presiding Judge is “that the proposed sale would violate the deed restrictions.” However, the Circuit Court did not provide its reasons for this opinion and has subsequently notified the City that all inquiries in the matter should be directed to their legal counsel. If the Council elects to pursue the Butterfly Lot further, the City can initiate an information-finding process through the Circuit Court’s appointed counsel. However, it is possible this matter would need to be resolved through legal action.