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Committee forwards Family Focus relocation plan and up-to-$1.6M support to council with neutral recommendation
Summary
The Administration & Public Works Committee voted to send Resolution 68‑R‑25 to City Council with a neutral recommendation after staff described a plan to help Family Focus move operations and manage disposition of its landmarked Dewey Street building; staff estimated up to $1,601,953 in reimbursable costs tied to relocation, unpaid invoices and temporary maintenance.
The Administration & Public Works Committee voted Tuesday to forward Resolution 68‑R‑25 to the full City Council with a neutral recommendation. The measure authorizes the city manager to enter an agreement with Family Focus to support the nonprofit’s move from its Dewey Street location to 1601–1607 Simpson Street and to develop a disposition plan for the existing, landmarked building.
Community Development Director Sarah Flax told the committee the city does not own the building but is proposing to help Family Focus transition and to run a request for expression of interest (REI) to identify buyers who can respect preservation requirements. “We would work out and provide options that would be acceptable to the preservation commission,” Flax said, noting the city would aim to broaden outreach to developers who specialize in historic properties and could access preservation funding.
Council discussion focused on how to balance preservation requirements with market interest and on the city’s prior commitments. Council member Newsom noted the city previously committed $3 million in ARPA funds to Family Focus but said the earlier rehabilitation plan proved more expensive than anticipated and Family Focus moved operations to Simpson Street. Flax said the city has paid just over $800,000 so far for planning and exploratory work.
Staff provided line-item estimates for support requested by Family Focus: $257,142 in unpaid billing for redevelopment planning; $278,000 for relocation costs; and up to $451,410 for maintenance over an estimated three‑year window. Flax said the three‑year total—if all costs are realized—would be $1,601,953 and that the city expects to be repaid when the property is sold. The staff presentation also explained interagency accounting steps that placed equivalent ARPA‑eligible funding into the water fund and left the unencumbered balance available for this use.
Council member Kelly asked for clarification on what the committee was voting on; Kelly then moved, and Council member Harris seconded, to forward the item to council with a neutral recommendation so council could consider the full package and additional details. The committee approved the procedural motion by roll call, with all members recorded as voting in favor.
The committee did not adopt or allocate funds at the meeting; it sent the resolution and supporting analysis to the full City Council for final action.
What comes next: Resolution 68‑R‑25 will appear on an upcoming City Council agenda for a final vote; staff said the REI and disposition approach would be developed in coordination with the preservation commission and with Family Focus.
