CC Minutes - 10/19/05 Workshop - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bettman said she wanted some kind of data that would inform the public numerically why a decision to replace the building would be made. Mr. Kelly concurred. He noted that there had been some past studies on seismic retrofits that could be consulted. Mr. Hacker commented that a fairly convincing study on the pros and cons of renovation could be conducted, if one was not concerned with accuracy. He said Mr. Kelly was correct with regard to the past studies and that his firm had copies of them. Ms. Taylor asserted that the public should be consulted about whether the City should renovate the existing building or build a new one. She averred that staff should present material impartially. She also wondered if some functions, such as Human Resources and Risk Services (HRRS), could be moved out to create more space. She opined that earthquakes did not keep getting worse. Mr. Hacker reiterated that the earthquake issue was based in code. Mr. Pryor asserted that this issue should be “put to bed right away.” He recommended presenting the public with the current and predicted square footage needs. But he thought this decision needed to be made within the body of the City Council. Ms. Taylor wanted to know what the public thought about this. She was concerned that confidence in City government could be lost. She reiterated that the workshop should have been televised. Mr. Papé commented that in accepting the project values, a renovation would have to have as a goal the desire to inspire civic pride. Ms. Ortiz wanted to remain clear in the focus. She averred that the council should make a decision as to which direction it should take. Mr. Kelly noted that when he had spoken about using the City Hall for something else he did not mean something necessarily related to government. Mayor Piercy thought whether the City Hall had enough significance to save was a question for the community. She noted that there was some interest in a visual arts center in the downtown area. Ms. Kennedy suggested that this question be taken to the public in a modified way. Ms. Bettman thought the question should be whether one wanted to save the building versus whether it was worth saving. She echoed Ms. Taylor’s desire to have the meetings cable-cast. In response to a question from Mr. Kelly, Mr. Hacker stated that he would have a cost of the rough study for the next work session. Mr. Papé asked if the existing City Hall would have to be seismically upgraded for other uses. Mr. Hacker responded that it would have to be completely refitted structurally and mechanically and it would have to have electrical upgrades as well. Mr. Penwell reminded the council that much of the maintenance had been deferred over the last four to five years. MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 19, 2005 Page 8 Workshop