Residents press council to fund seismic work for Grand Theater and old City Hall; staff says project is eligible for federal grants

Several residents and leaders of the Grand Foundation urged the City Council to prioritize restoration and seismic mitigation for historic buildings the city owns, particularly the Grand Theater complex and the adjacent old City Hall and jail.

What commenters said: Ross Bogan, who identified himself as a resident and advocate for historic buildings, said the old City Hall and jail is an unreinforced masonry building on city property and poses a seismic-safety risk; he asked whether any engineering study had been completed and whether the city planned remediation. Cynthia Souza, president of the Grand Foundation, said the foundation has used space in the building for years and urged the council not to wait solely on grant funding and to consider moving the project up in the capital plan.

Staff response and status: Planning/parks staff said the old City Hall/jail is on the city's list as an unfunded project with engineering already done; staff said the building is a federal historic property (Department of Interior listing), an estimated cost of about $1.5 million was available as an engineering estimate and that the city had applied for grants but not yet received funding. Staff emphasized the project is a top priority and that the city intends to continue applying for state and federal historic preservation money while seeking alternatives if grants do not materialize.

Why it matters: The building is used by community organizations and is on the National Register of Historic Places; its seismic vulnerability is a public-safety and cultural-heritage concern. Public commenters urged a fallback plan if grants are not awarded and asked the council to accelerate funding decisions if necessary.

Next steps: Staff told the council the project remains on the unfunded list for the five'year CIP outlook and that the city will pursue grant cycles; staff indicated the next federal grant cycle they expect to pursue runs roughly September to September. Councilmembers who spoke signaled support for pursuing grant funding for at least one cycle and for returning to the issue if grants are not forthcoming.