Council extends lease with Route 66 Association at old fire station for long-term home
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
City formalized a lease with the Route 66 Association for the old fire station, approving a 10‑year term with successive one‑year renewals, clarifying retail limits and insurance, and preserving city control over displays and subleases.
The City Council approved a lease agreement granting the Route 66 Association continued occupancy of the old fire station, formalizing terms after the previous agreement had expired. The council voted in favor after staff described the proposed 10‑year term with successive one‑year renewals and conditions for termination and use.
City staff member Mr. Wilford, who presented the proposed agreement, said the association has obtained 501(c)(3) status since the last lease and that the city and the association wanted to "codify that and make sure both the association and the city were secured heading into the hundredth anniversary and beyond." Wilford said the lease term is 10 years with automatic successive one‑year renewals, terminable for cause with 90 days notice by either party.
Under the lease, the association may continue limited sales tied to its nonprofit activities (memberships, motor tour fees, cookbooks and guides), but the agreement prohibits other retail sales without city approval to protect the city’s property and tax-exempt considerations. The association is responsible for liability insurance for its collections and displays, and the city reserves the right to display city‑owned items within the building. The city will continue to staff the gift shop and museum areas, provide parking at no charge and work with the state to maintain signage directing visitors to the Hall of Fame.
Councilmember John (first name used in discussion) said the city staffs the gift shop and museum, and another council member said the association’s presence has been a boon to Route 66 visitorship. One council member said they would abstain from the vote because they serve on the association’s executive board; the member notified the council and did not cast a vote on this item.
The council voted to approve the lease. Councilmembers voting in favor included Chan Gill, S. Horner, Jerry Causer, A. Horner, Cranford, Barb Howard, Giovannini and Mike Barr. One council member announced an abstention prior to the vote due to a role on the association’s executive board.
The lease allows the city to retain control over subleases and display of city property and formalizes cooperation between the city and the Route 66 Association as the city approaches Route 66’s centennial celebrations.