Council sends City Hall renovation back to ad hoc committee after residents say outreach hasn't reached the public

The City Hall renovation at 400 Magnolia Avenue came back to Council on Wednesday not as a decision but as a reality check. Public Works Director Julian Skinner laid out three paths from the ongoing historic structures study: costs range from $6 million for option one — a basic fix meant to buy roughly ten more years — to $23.5 million for option three, a full renovation and rebuild. Staff asked Council a narrow question: keep running outreach through the two-member ad hoc committee, or hire an outreach consultant?

“The general plan's action program FR-6.1 reads: 'rehabilitate city hall to comply with seismic safety standards and capacity improvement needs.' Maybe an option 1.5 focused on seismic strengthening should be considered.”— James Holmes, public speaker

Public commenters answered a different question. Hillary Kullhane told the Council she found that a lot of employees in downtown shops didn't even know a renovation of the building was planned, and urged more work with the ad hoc committee. Joan Lubberki urged that funds be provided for significant public education and outreach, saying the very limited number of survey responses showed the city needs to get more information out there. A Planning Commissioner who lives in Green Bay put it more bluntly: most of his neighbors don't care about this, but they might care if they had to pay for it. James Holmes pointed the Council back to the General Plan and suggested a middle path focused on seismic strengthening — call it option 1.5.

On the dais, Council Member Pollson asked whether the city had commissioned any polling for a bond measure and said he was thinking of drafting a use plan; he called the band-aid option the least appealing and the third option a marginal improvement for two million more dollars, landing on option two. Council Member Margalles wanted a study of how much space staff actually needs before the city sizes a building around it.

No vote was required. Mayor Way's preference carried the room: reconvene the ad hoc committee — Mayor Way and Vice Mayor Andre — in January with the new data, sharpen the goals and the questions, and revisit hiring an outreach consultant after that.

Rec Department gets a $3.1 million modular building at Piper Park

The Recreation Department is leaving its leased space in the school district for a home of its own. Council unanimously adopted a $3.1 million budget amendment (Resolution 54/25) for a 2,400-square-foot enhanced modular recreation building at Piper Park, and authorized a $258,000 consultant agreement with Kitchell CM (Resolution 55/25) to write the design-build criteria documents and manage construction.

Council Member Pollson pressed on whether the roughly $2.2 million structure cost is holding, and which line item is most exposed to material price swings. Public Works Director Julian Skinner said it remains the best estimate to date and that he doesn't expect anything to fall outside the parameters of the numbers presented.

Two council members pushed on the building's energy design. Skinner said batteries and solar will be among the items contractors are asked to price, and put the schedule at 12 to 18 months start to finish, aiming for 12.

A footnote with potential: Larkspur Wrecking Crew president June Fidel, presenting earlier in the evening, offered to help fundraise for recreation facility upgrades.

New fire impact fee on new homes introduced unanimously

Council held a public hearing and unanimously introduced Ordinance 1095, amending Title 3 of the Municipal Code to create a fire protection impact fee on new residential development. The money would fund Central Marin Fire Department equipment, facilities and vehicles as the city absorbs a projected 997 new units by 2040. Deed-restricted affordable units get a 50% reduction.

Fire Chief Ruben Martin told the Council the partner jurisdiction's version of the ordinance passed 5-0 with minor amendments and is nearly identical to Larkspur's, since the department provides equivalent service to both.

Asked whether ADUs are exempt, Senior Planner Alex said they are exempt insofar as state law exempts them — under 750 square feet — while larger ADUs can be assessed the fee. The ordinance returns for a second reading before it takes effect.