Item A: City Hall Complex Strategic Issues Workshop

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On October 29, 2003, council held a work session on the Downtown Space Plan, focusing specifically on the need for a new Police services building. Council directed staff to bring recommendations back on the preliminary planning, cost and financing of a new Police Services building. Several councilors asked for more information on how a new Police building would fit with future plans to replace City Hall, and for development of a more general “civic center” concept. On November 17, 2003, staff presented the Multi-Year Financial Plan to the Budget Committee. This plan identified both the capital and operating needs for the entire organization over a six-year period. The police building was listed as a high priority need in the MYFP, and replacement of City Hall was also included as a future project. On November 19, 2003, council held a work session on sequencing of financial measures to be presented to the voters. The staff materials indicated that a bond measure for a police building would be the next potential item to be presented to voters in November 2004. Council discussed the materials, but did not provide any direction or make any decisions at the work session. On February 25, 2004, council held an informational work session on the Civic Center Design Charrette and the Mayor’s Civic Facilities Visioning Committee. On April 28, 2004, a work session was held to update council on the Mayor’s Civic Facilities Visioning Committee and on financing plan options, borrowing methods and construction methods that could be applied to a new police facility. On June 16, 2004, council reviewed the report of the Mayor’s committee and asked that a public hearing be held on the proposed policy principles that would guide future Civic Center development. A public information session was held on July 8 and the public hearing on July 12. On July 14, 2004, council held a work session on the Civic Facilities Visioning Committee Report and adopted a revised set of Civic Center policy principles. They also determined that a City Hall and Police Building would th be located on City-owned property on 8 Avenue. On July 21, 2004, council continued discussion of a potential bond measure for the November 2004 ballot. The council directed the City Manager to develop a resolution to place a measure on the ballot based on an option that would combine near-term space needs with modest Civic Center amenities. On July 26, 2004 council placed a $6.79 million bond measure on the November 2004 ballot. The measure was to fund social service th agency space, police expansion space, improvements to the parks blocks, and improvements to make 8 Avenue a “Civic Street”. On November 2, 2004, voters rejected ballot measure 20-88 by a margin of 60% to 40%. On November 22, 2004, council approved the transfer of $15.4 million into the Facility Replacement Reserve and agreed, in concept, to move forward with a master planning and public participation process for the purpose of informing future decisions related to City Hall and/or a Public Safety Building. On SB #1 on December 8, council approved the budget actions to make these transfers. On May 25, 2005, council approved the City Hall/Police Building Priority Issue Action Plan which identified the major policy issues to be addressed, the overall description of project phasing, the nature of work to be accomplished, resource needs and proposed project outcomes. Council approved the allocation of up to $50,000 from the Facility Replacement Reserve to implement Phase One of the action plan. On September 12, 2005, a public hearing was held to give the citizens of Eugene an opportunity to offer sugges- tions on a master planning process related to City Hall and associated City facilities, and identify issues to be addressed as the City plans for its future downtown facilities needs. Several people addressed the council at the hearing and several more people have subsequently submitted written comments on the subject of City Hall master planning. L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M051019\S051019A.doc