The Calimesa City Council unanimously approved a purchase and sale agreement on Dec. 1 to buy the former Bank of America building at 1055 Calimesa Boulevard for $1,985,000, authorizing the mayor to execute the agreement and amending the fiscal-year budget to reflect the purchase.

City Manager Will Cobos summarized the transaction to the council, saying the roughly 8,065-square-foot building was acquired through a competitive bid process and that staff completed substantial due diligence, including a new appraisal (which staff said exceeded the purchase price), an updated ALTA survey and an upcoming Phase I environmental assessment. “Staff recommends approval of the purchase and sale agreement,” Cobos said.

Cobos told the council the acquisition is funded entirely through government facilities development impact fees. Those funds are restricted by law to capital facility uses and cannot be used for salaries, police staffing, parks, or other operational expenses, he said, adding that the purchase will not affect the city’s general fund.

The agreement includes a leaseback for the existing ATMs on the property, which staff said is standard for bank properties and will generate modest revenue to offset facility costs. Cobos said the city’s current administrative space is about 2,000 square feet and has required modular buildings for several departments; staff and several council members framed the purchase as a cost‑effective, long‑term solution compared with building new from the ground up, which staff estimated could cost roughly $8–9 million.

Council discussion was supportive and procedural. A motion to adopt Resolution 2025‑60, approving the purchase and related budget amendment, was moved and seconded and carried 5‑0. The council did not call for any amendment to the terms presented in open session; staff said negotiating parameters were previously provided in closed session and that the full terms were being disclosed for final approval as required by law.

The city manager said staff will complete the remaining inspections and environmental clearance during the agreement’s inspection period. Once staff relocates to the new building, the existing modular city hall will remain city property and staff suggested it could be repurposed for public works operations, an emergency operations center funded by a federal earmark, or other community services.

The council’s approval clears the way for closing under the terms discussed; staff did not give a firm closing date during the meeting.