Assembly sends Burns Building purchase ordinance to full assembly and directs design work for interior remodel

City Manager Kester presented the staff memo and timeline for acquiring two floors of the Burns Building and associated parking. Kester said the purchase price under current negotiations is $9,300,000 plus a $2,700,000 sinking-fund contribution; she summarized expected renovation costs ranging from a minimal-move option to a full interior remodel.

Kester described the full interior remodel estimate as $7.6 million (carpet, paint, furniture, cubicles and move costs) and said that initial earlier estimates for a lighter renovation had been significantly lower. “The kind of full interior remodel is at $7,600,000,” Kester said.

Nut graf: After more than three years of options and public discussion about a purpose-built city hall versus leasing or renovation, the committee voted to send ordinance 2025-39 (the Burns Building purchase) to the full assembly and separately directed the manager to proceed with design work for a full remodel while also returning cost estimates for a nonreversed layout.

Key issues and votes

Assembly members discussed pros and cons including long-term service life, downtown location preference, deferred maintenance at the existing Marine View building, and the higher renovation cost estimates staff presented. Several members said owning and consolidating office space would provide operational efficiencies and predictable condo association maintenance funding compared with scattered leased offices.

A motion by Mayor Weldon to move ordinance 2025-39 to the assembly passed on roll call 6–2. The roll call as read by the clerk recorded: Madam mayor: Yes; Miss Adkisson: No; Mister Kelly: Yes; Miss Hughes Gandy: Yes; Miss Hall: Yes; Mister Steininger: No; Mister Bridal: Yes; Madam chair: Yes. The clerk announced the motion passed by a 6–2 vote.

Design direction and unanimous consent

Assembly member Hall moved to direct the city manager to begin design on option 3 (full interior remodel) and asked for unanimous consent. Assembly members objected and requested that staff return with more detailed estimates for both reversed and nonreversed layouts. Mayor Weldon offered an amendment to that effect. The amendment to include both layouts was agreed to without objection. With the amendment in place, the committee asked for objections to the revised motion; none were raised and the chair declared the directive so moved.

Kester said staff will return with refined designs and more detailed cost estimates and invited assembly members to visit the Burns Building and other facilities to inform their judgment. She noted that the city currently has roughly $14.6 million in city-hall CIP funds available and that a purchase price of $12 million would still leave follow-up decisions about appropriation and renovation scope.

Ending: next steps

Staff was directed to proceed with design work for option 3 and to bring detailed cost estimates for both reversed and nonreversed floor-plan options to a future committee meeting. The ordinance to purchase the Burns Building will be scheduled for full assembly consideration.