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Candidates disagree on fixing aging City Hall; some favor relocating to City Center, others warn of costs and need for analysis
Summary
Forum candidates differed on whether to renovate the aging City Hall or relocate to the City Center/Riverwalk site: some supported a downtown move to modernize facilities and spur redevelopment, while others urged further analysis, public input and caution about government-led real-estate deals.
Candidates at the League of Women Voters forum offered varying views on how to address the city’s aging City Hall and a possible City Center purchase.
Alec Lefebvre said a Riverwalk location could become an economic engine if used for a modern City Hall plus public space and a market; he called the possibility exciting if done “right.”
Meredith Shireman said she would move forward only if analysis showed the existing City Hall was unsuitable and emphasized she is not supportive of siting a new city hall on the river no matter what she’s heard so far. Paul Eslinger and other candidates said they have not had access to closed-door executive-session details and urged public input and careful analysis before government takes on large real-estate development.
Tim Neubauer favored investing in the current City Hall and warned against an expensive new build. Jacob Amis, noting constraints as a sitting council member, said he could not discuss negotiations in detail but would support workable deals that benefit the city.
Candidates agreed on the need for public engagement, transparent analysis of costs and benefits, and careful consideration of how any move would affect downtown businesses, tax rolls and public access. No binding proposal was advanced at the forum.
