Calistoga council directs staff to explore a modular office near City Hall; larger Butler conversion faces funding gap

The Calistoga City Council reviewed four staff-recommended options on Feb. 17 to address a citywide shortage of office space and directed staff to further explore purchasing and siting a modular office unit near City Hall.

Deputy City Manager Udi presented four options with preliminary cost ranges: (1) adapt shared offices at the Tubbs Building ($350,000–$500,000); (2) install a modular office adjacent to City Hall ($400,000–$500,000, including site work and utilities); (3) renovate a classroom/storage building at Public Works ($350,000–$500,000); and (4) convert the Butler Building and community center into administrative offices and meeting space (the largest estimate, about $2.5 million–$3.3 million). Udi said the figures are rough, not formally bid, and that the city already has about $200,000 allocated for Butler upgrades, approximately $550,000 in administrative impact fees earmarked for administrative facilities, and roughly $225,000 in flexible CIRA funds.

Public speakers urged the council not to repurpose the Butler or Tubbs buildings that the community uses for events and revenue-generating rentals. Several residents said those fairgrounds spaces are frequently rented and important for community activities; they encouraged locating staff offices elsewhere, such as Tucker Building space or a modular unit.

Council debate reflected those concerns and budgeting priorities. Vice Mayor Giff moved to table the item until the council's goal-setting budget session; the motion was defeated on roll call (only Vice Mayor Giff voted yes). Multiple councilmembers then expressed support for staff to research the modular option more closely, including site feasibility, exact costs, hookup estimates and whether a modular could accommodate the entire Planning and Building Department. Councilmember Eisenberg and others cautioned that a chosen modular must be large enough to avoid splitting a department across sites.

City Manager said staff can pursue a more detailed feasibility analysis and return with renderings and cost estimates; the council did not commit to purchase but authorized deeper exploration. Staff noted that, based on current impact-fee balances, the administrative facilities money could cover one of the lower-cost options without dipping into the general fund.

Next steps: staff will evaluate modular footprints and siting behind/adjacent to City Hall, produce more refined cost estimates and a timeline for procurement and installation, and present findings to the council at a future meeting.