Council opens discussion on downtown building appraisal; directs negotiation option for city hall possibility

City staff presented a commercial appraisal for a downtown building that has been studied as a possible city hall and public-safety location. The appraisal document was distributed to council members and staff recommended that, if council is interested, the next step would be to authorize the city manager and city attorney to negotiate with the property owner.

Why it matters: Council members said the downtown property could consolidate city functions and offer long-term space, parking and visibility advantages. Members also flagged competing capital priorities — notably a new fire station and other infrastructure projects — and asked for more detailed cost estimates and phased options.

Council direction: By consensus, the council asked the mayor, city attorney and city manager to approach the owner for potential purchase terms and to return to council with options for acquisition, renovation, or alternative investments. No purchase contract or financing authorization was approved at the work session; several council members asked staff to model cost scenarios and how a purchase/renovation would interact with other capital projects.

Budget context: Staff noted existing capital funds from prior bond allocations and warned that renovation or expansion costs could be substantial; council members referenced prior planning-level estimates and asked staff to bring detailed financial options (use of existing capital funds, potential debt issuance, and trade-offs for other projects such as a fire hall).

Next steps: Staff will pursue informal negotiations only and return proposals and financing scenarios to council for formal authorization and vote.