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Camas staff say city hall systems overhaul likely will require temporary relocation; $4 million remains in bond package
Summary
City staff told the council that repairs to heating, cooling, electrical and other infrastructure at city hall are planned under existing bonds and that completing the work may require closing or partially vacating the building for about six months while staff are relocated.
City staff gave the Camas City Council a status update March 3 on planned repairs and system replacement at city hall, saying the work will affect building occupancy and could require temporary relocation of most staff.
City Administrator Quinn and project lead Justin said the city has roughly $4 million remaining in a previously approved limited‑voter general obligation (LVGO) bond package to address essential systems: the failed emergency generator and automatic transfer switch, heating, ventilation, lighting and plumbing infrastructure located behind walls and ceilings.
Quinn said contractors and designers have told staff that trying to fully replace those systems while employees remain in place would significantly increase costs and delay the schedule. “Relocating staff to an off‑site facility would reduce construction costs, shorten the project duration and improve efficiency,” Quinn said, while noting relocation would carry rental costs and require a roughly six‑month closure or phased relocation in most scenarios.
Options under consideration include renting space in a nearby facility currently owned by the Kemmis School District (described in the meeting as the “UL facility”), scheduling the city hall work after the fire and emergency medical services vacate their bays following relocation, using temporary job‑trailer space on a nearby pad, or shuffling staff within city hall while work proceeds. No final decision has been made.
Why it matters: The work addresses failing mechanical and life‑safety systems; staff said the emergency generator and transfer switch have already failed in the past year and need replacement. The timing and relocation approach will determine how long public services might be moved and what interim customer access will look like.
Costs and timeline: Staff said the roughly $4,000,000 remaining in the 2023 LVGO bond is dedicated to the systems work. An off‑site relocation scenario could require closing or vacating much of city hall for approximately six months; staff said final project duration and cost estimates will be defined after designers complete specifications and contractors propose schedules and methods.
Other staff updates: Public safety staff reported efforts to address unauthorized camping near the skate park and said legal staff are drafting code amendments to address situations that now fall outside existing RV camping language. Police and fire staff also noted outreach and a regional recruiting event for women in public safety planned for the coming weekend.
Next steps: Project designers will finalize specifications and contractors will submit schedules and cost estimates to help the city select the most cost‑effective approach. Staff said they will return with a recommendation and more concrete cost and timeline details once vendor proposals and site analyses are complete.
Ending: Council members asked staff to continue exploring relocation options that minimize service disruption and cost, and to return with firmer cost estimates and a proposed schedule before moving forward with major disruptive work.
