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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964 06-08 CC MIN56 National City, California, June 8, 1964 A special meeting of the City Council by Mayor Gautereaux. Council members Gautereaux. Council members absent: was called to order at 7:30 p.m. present: Allen, Hogue, Morgan, Colburn. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS present: Carstens, DeHaven, Gautereaux, Hess, Minogue, Osburn, 'Ruehle, Stockman. OTHERS present: J. Bird of Freeland and Bird, architect; George Dicker- son and Leon Normand of William J. Moran Co.; Charles McPhee of Rafferty and Co.; Mr. Burkhardt of J. B. Hanauer & Co.; and Robert E. .Schweser of Robert E. Schweser Co. The meeting was opened with salute to the Flag by City Manager Hess, followed by invocation by Mayor Gautereaux. COUNCILMAN MORGAN stated the plans submitted for the proposed Civic Center at the 14th Street and D Avenue site contained too much square footage; he favors remodelling the present City Hall Building and adding a new structure of 20,000 sq. ft. to the north for a total cost of about $685,000. He stated the Police Department could take over the entire first floor of the old part of the building and the Emergency Operations Center and pistol range could be situated under the new part of the building; the Court might take over the upper floor of the old part of the building and possibly the Building Department. The new part of the structure would house the other departments. Councilman Morgan recom- mended the $185,000 in the Civic Center Fund be used and we go to bond for $500,000. Vice Mayor Alien stated he did not believe the present building, portions of which were erected in 1910, could be converted into anything worthwhile. ARCHITECT J. BIRD reported the original plans were based on the projected needs of each department, checked against comparable facilities in other cities. He stated, with the continual upgrading of building codes, it is possible the present structure might contain major discrepancies and suggested the City Building Inspector inspect the building and report his findings to the Council. COUNCILMAN MORGAN stated, although the City might increase in population, there is no room for expansion through extensive annexation, and the City would still have but one City Manager. Some of the departments might need additional space, but the Manager's, Clerk's and Treasurer's needs for space would be constant. MAYOR GAUTEREAUX stated he was not interested in remodelling the present facilities; the City is entitled to new, desirable facilities. The Mayor stated there are many more employees now than in 1940 and there will be more as time goes on and the Civic Center should be adequate for future needs; building costs are increasing and it would cost the taxpayer less to build now than to add on later; perhaps building for the needs of ten years from now would be acceptable. The Mayor stated he hoped we could get the job done and done now and obviously the people do not choose to pay for the Civic Center by general obligation bond. COUNCILMAN HOGUE stated 55% of the people want a new Civic Center and a possible way of financing it might be through "lease back," VICE MAYOR ALLEN suggested a new Police and Emergency Operations Center be built at another site and a new Civic Center be built on the Kimball Park site. Mr. Dickerson and Mr. Normand of William J. Moran Co.; Mr. McPhee of Rafferty & Co.; Mr. Burkhardt of J. B. Hanauer & Co.; and Mr. Schweser pf Robert E. Schweser Co. outlined "lease back" financing through the petting up of a non-profit corporation to be composed of three to five members and offered to make firm proposals and feasibility studies when the Council has determined what will be needed. City Manager Hess 6/8/64 57 inquired if a call clause might be a deterrent to the selling of bonds on the open market in competition with general obligation bonds and was told this might have some bearing, but the financing could be tailored to the City's needs. City Manager Hess inquired if the annual payments would be of equal amount of if the payments could be higher in the later years when the assessed valuation would be greater and was told it might affect the financing but presumably could be done. City Attorney Carstens inquired if the proposals would be firm commitments or on a best efforts basis and Mr. Normand, Mr. McPhee and Mr. Burkhardt all stated their proposals would be on a firm commitment basis; Mr. Schweser stated his proposal could be handled either way. City Manager Hess asked, assuming the Council elects to finance this way, would there have to be some type of specification on which bids might be made and was told it would be a simple matter of the City's going to bid to buy money at the lowest cost. COUNCILMAN MORGAN said he did not think any decision should be reached at this time, additional study should be made. Councilman Hogue stated there were three proposals made: remodelling the present building, de- molishing the present building and erecting a new building to house all departments on this site, and building a Police and Emergency Operations Center elsewhere and a new building on the present site. Mayor Gautereaux stated nothing could be accomplished without direction from the architect and recommended Mr. Bird be retained. Mr. Bird stated the feasibility of remodelling the present structure is an unknown factor and the Building Department could determine the fire resistance, the fire exits, structur- al analysis and, then, whether or not it is economically feasible to remodel. Vice Mayor Alien said he would like to hear Mr. Colburn's recommendations. BOB WORTHY, National City Junior Chamber of Commerce, was present ^rI said he would like to see the meetings continue until somoLaxing is de- cided; and suggested Mr. Bird make some studies and a date be set for a future meeting for presentation of his recommendations. MOVED BY MORGAN, seconded by A11pn, the Bulialne Tnspector inspect this building and see if it is sound and cvuzd be remodelled and the inspec- tion be made with none of the Council present. Vice Mayor Allen withdrew his second. Motion died for lack of second. MOVED BY HOGUE, the architect draw up a new set of plans to fit the site for a new civic Center. Mr. Bird stated he would need some direction from the Council as to size, etc. Motion died for lack of second. MOVED BY GAUTEREAUX, seconded by Allen, we not consider remodelling this structure, we raze this structure and build a new Civic Center. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Allen Hogue, Gautereaux. Nays: Morgan. Absent: Colburn. MOVED BY ALLEN, seconded by Gautereaux, Mr. Bird of Freeland and Bird be retained to bring in some type of position setting, etc., of a building presumably somewhere in size between what was turned down and what we now want. City Manager Hess suggested a clear outline of the scope of the endeavor be made (Should the rendering be limited to square footage, traffic flow, etc.?) as some sort of contractural agreement will be needed. Vice Mayor Allen said his intention was to get some picture of whether the building would face 12th Street or National Avenue. Mr. Bird stated the model for the original site was the result of criteria col- lected from all departments and recommended he bring back a proceedure and have workshop sessions with the Council as to the size, etc., and then develop the renderings. Vice Mayor Allen withdrew his motion. Moved by Allen, seconded by Gautereaux, we accept Freeland and Bird as the architects, and Mr. Bird bring in criteria as his recommendation for our discussion.. Councilman Morgan stated the City should not spend any money until ready to go; no checks should be made out to Mr. Bird during this study period. Mr. Bird stated this is subject to negotiation; they undertook the complete project and it was terminated; they have developed a lot of information for any building on any site in the City; morally 6/8/64 58 a complete new fee could not be charged, nor could they do the work for no cost. Mayor Gautereaux asked, pursuant to the motion, if a proposed negotiated contract or fee could be included in the motion. Mr. Bird agreed. Vice Mayor Allen included this in the motion, seconded by Mayor Gautereaux. Carried, by the following vote to -wit: Ayes: Alien, Hogue, Gautereaux. Nays: Morgan. Absent: Colburn. Mr. Bird stated he would have the recommendation in about two weeks. VICE MAYOR ALLEN inquired of the City Attorney if there would have to be another special meeting to discuss the Civic Center or if there could be an adjourned meeting. City Attorney Carstens stated the meeting could be an adjourned meeting. MAYOR GAUTEREAUX introduced Chula Vista Councilman Dan McCorquodale who was present in the audience. MOVED BY MORGAN, seconded by Gautereaux, the meeting be closed. Carried by unanimous vote. Absent: Colburn. The meeting closed at 9:50 p.m. ATTEST: CITY CLERK / 6/8/64