Jurupa Valley moves forward on city hall annex design; cost estimate $18–22 million

City officials and their architects unveiled a conceptual design for a two‑story city hall annex at a study session, and staff said they will complete construction documents this year and go to bid only after a financing plan is in place.

The new annex would sit on the south side of the existing city hall and provide about 11,000 square feet on the first floor and about 9,000 square feet on a future second floor that the design team proposed to shell for later buildout. The project team estimated the full cost — including off‑site work and parking — at roughly $18 million to $22 million, with off‑site improvements alone cited at about $5 million, and a plan for 182 parking spaces.

Why it matters: City leaders said the current city hall has aging systems and limited space for staff and public services. City Manager Rod Butler told the council that the building’s heating, plumbing and electrical systems are “very suspect” and that the city is operating “on borrowed time.” The council’s decision on funding and phasing will determine whether the city can replace or repair systems before a major failure occurs.

Design and program: The design team from SVA and landscape architect Arcaterra presented a site plan and interior layout intended to keep public services concentrated and improve customer flow. Robert Palleo, director of interiors for SVA, described a public lobby with a large, circular counter and separate secure staff work zones. He said the public area would include cashier and plan check stations and two large conference rooms, while the staff zone would include 30 workstations, five private offices, secure staff restrooms and a staff break area with a private outdoor zone. Greg Denson of Arcaterra described a plaza and “wagon‑wheel” pattern at the main entry and a landscaped rear courtyard intended for flexible community uses such as farmers markets and seasonal events.

Phasing and schedule: The architects recommended building a second floor as a shelled space now — providing stair and elevator access — so the city can fit out that level later as needs and funding permit. Staff said they expect to finish design development and issue plans and specifications by the end of the year; the architect estimated 12 to 18 months for construction, with overall completion in about two to two‑and‑a‑half years if the project proceeds on schedule.

Funding approach and options: Paul (staff member) told the council the city has already budgeted about $2,000,000 for architectural and construction management services, paid from a General Governmental Facilities development impact fee account. City Manager Rod Butler said the city has roughly $4.2 million in that account and proposed using about half for design and the balance for renovating the existing building. Butler outlined common financing strategies: pay a larger up‑front portion from reserves and finance the remainder over time (similar to the city’s earlier purchase of an operations center), use certificates of participation, or obtain a bank loan. Butler stressed the city will not use a general obligation bond — which would require a two‑thirds public vote under the California Constitution — and said “we're not raising people's taxes” for the project. He estimated a market borrowing rate “around 4%” if the city finances now.

Council concerns and staff direction: Several council members pressed designers to improve physical connectivity between the existing city hall and the new annex and to avoid a sense of two disconnected buildings. Council Member Carmona said she was concerned the two structures “seem disjointed” and urged a stronger visual and physical connection; others asked for covered walkways, shade structures for employee patios and better integration with the existing historic façade. Council members also asked staff to return with financing options and more refined cost estimates before the project goes to bid. Staff said the next formal steps are to finish construction documents, confirm funding, then advertise for construction bids.

Existing building and ARPA HVAC funds: Staff said the new annex is intended to allow partial relocation of staff so crews can renovate the older building’s plumbing, electrical and heating systems. Paul (staff member) estimated renovation of the existing building could be “a couple of million dollars,” but said a final number will depend on the renovation plan. The council asked about $2,000,000 in ARPA funds previously allocated for HVAC work at the current city hall; staff said that money is unspent because the building lacks the necessary internal infrastructure to receive a retrofit and that the city is coordinating how to apply the ARPA funds in concert with the annex and renovation work.

What the council directed: Council members expressed general support for completing design and for bringing back detailed financing options. The council requested that staff and the architects prioritize: (1) clearer physical and ADA‑compliant connections between old and new buildings, (2) a practical landscaping and plaza scheme that can be phased without “gold‑plated” elements, and (3) a financing plan that balances reserve use and financing so the city can continue other priorities such as street repairs. Staff said they will return with the construction documents and a financial plan before issuing the project for bid.

Source excerpts from the meeting transcript: “this is 1 of our perhaps the… single most important project for the community” (Paul, project presentation) and “The next step will be…Rod is ready to come up with the financial numbers” (Paul/closing comments).