REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Action on Contracting with the Current Downtown Precise Plan Consultant, WRT, to Prepare a Financial Analysis for Moving City Hall to a Location within the Eight Blocks of the Original Downtown (Lafayette, Benton, Monroe, Homestead)
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency, and Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
At the April 19, 2022 City Council hearing, a written petition was submitted by resident Mary Grizzle on behalf of the members of Reclaiming our Downtown (Attachment 1) requesting that the Council agendize a discussion and action for contracting with the current Downtown Precise Plan consultant, WRT, to study the four following financial benefits of moving City Hall to a location within the eight blocks of the original Downtown (Lafayette, Benton, Monroe, Homestead):
1. The financial benefits and construction savings of moving City Hall to an 8+ story mixed-use (offices) building;
2. An updated and complete analysis of the advantages of selling the acreage used by City Hall on its current location on Warburton Avenue;
3. The substantial increase in private investment after a City Hall has been brought back to Downtown as evidenced by several other American cities studied by Reclaiming our Downtown; and
4. Financial benefit of a "completed Downtown" to the tax revenue of Santa Clara.
The City Council approved placing the item on a subsequent agenda for further study and discussion.
DISCUSSION
At the December 16, 2021 Downtown Community Task Force (DCTF) meeting, the DCTF asked a similar question of the City's consultant assisting with the preparation of the Downtown Precise Plan (WRT). WRT provided the following information on scope and schedule to the DCTF along with a potential cost of $258,000 - $334,000.
Potential Study Scope:
* Land Use Layout Options
* City Hall floorplans, and floor plates are specific to that type of us...
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