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Council approves 10‑year lease for development services offices; some council members dissent
Summary
Council authorized a 10‑year lease for five units at 2140 South Riverside Drive to house planning and building staff, approving estimated in‑house renovation of $74,000 and a monthly rent of $6,858 with a 5% annual increase; the motion passed with recorded dissent.
Edgewater's City Council on June 3 authorized the city manager to execute a 10‑year lease for office space in Riverside Plaza (2140 South Riverside Drive) to provide workspace for development services divisions.
Staff reported the leased suite would comprise five contiguous units and create approximately 18 workspaces, include four restrooms and a shared public waiting area and would require roughly $74,000 in in‑house renovation labor. The monthly rent was presented as $6,858 with CAM charges and a negotiated 5% annual escalation.
Councilors asked multiple operational and fiscal questions, including whether code enforcement would be housed there (staff said that placement was "just about decided not to"), whether year‑end CAM accounting would be provided (staff said a yearly accounting could be obtained), and whether the 5% annual increase could be reduced (staff reported the landlord would not lower the rate and that this was the best available deal given the market). A council member noted the guaranteed 10‑year government rent was attractive to the landlord but questioned flexibility in the escalation clause.
The motion to allow the city manager to sign the lease was moved, seconded and adopted after a roll call; the transcript records recorded dissenting votes on the motion. Staff said some employees will continue to have telework options, and that the location offers immediate public access to planning and building services while the city continues to examine a permanent city hall site.
Key numbers reported to council: $74,000 estimated renovation (in‑house labor), $6,858 monthly rent, CAM charges (per transcript discussion approximately $13.58/month noted earlier in council discussion), and a 5% yearly rent increase clause.
Next steps: manager authorized to execute the lease and staff to proceed with the renovation and occupancy plan; council requested yearly CAM accounting and continued exploration of permanent city facilities.
