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Council approves City Hall restoration, authorizes budget adjustments and stack plan with historic‑core review
Summary
The council adopted a stacking plan for the restored City Hall and approved related budget adjustments including $26 million in changes and $15.5 million authorization for tower‑floor fit-out; the motion directing a strategic review with priority for the historic core was added as an amendment.
The Los Angeles City Council on a vote approved a City Hall restoration stacking plan, authorized a roughly $26 million package of budget changes to finish the project and authorized $15.5 million for fit-out of tower floors, while directing staff to develop a strategic plan that prioritizes the historic core.
Council approved an amendment (34a) directing the City Administrative Officer (CAO) and the City Administrative Liaison (CLA) to develop a strategic plan examining the stacking plan’s impact on leased downtown space and giving priority to the historic core; that amendment passed 12–0 (recorded as 12 ayes). The full item as amended passed on final tally 10 ayes, 2 noes.
City staff told the council that construction bids returned higher than originally estimated during delays and that staff recommended a package of changes totaling about $26 million. City staff outlined three components of the $26 million change: an increase tied to bid cost escalation, $5 million for upgraded communications and fiber-optic infrastructure, and $9 million held as owner contingencies for adjustments during fit-out. In addition the council authorized $15.5 million for tenant improvements and fit-out of tower floors. Staff said the projected move back into restored City Hall would not occur prior to July 2001 and that some sequencing and space adjustments would be reviewed over the coming year.
The vote followed public comment from downtown advocates and property owners. Carol Schatz, president of the Central City Association, urged the council to prioritize a high-quality restoration, noting San Francisco’s restored city hall as a model for civic pride and tourism. Joe Loomer, a downtown property owner, urged the council not to abandon commitments to the Spring Street historic core and warned that shifting large city operations out of the historic district would undermine prior redevelopment investments and the area’s transit-oriented planning.
Several councilmembers asked staff to address public access, meeting-room placement, safety and evacuation routes, and the potential impacts on leased office space downtown. Councilmember Walters’ amendment to require a strategic plan with a priority for the historic core was added after committee discussion and public testimony.
What was approved: (1) budget adjustments totaling approximately $26 million to cover bid increases, communications upgrades ($5 million) and owner contingency ($9 million); (2) authorization of $15.5 million for tower‑floor tenant improvements; and (3) a stack plan for City Hall as presented, with the additional direction that CAO/CLA prepare a strategic plan to assess impacts on leased downtown space and prioritize the historic core. The council recorded the amendment (34a) at 12 ayes; final approval of the item as amended was recorded 10 ayes, 2 noes.
Staff said implementation steps and further refinements on allocations and meeting-room locations will return to council in future reports.
