Study outlines $985K–$1.1M option to move staff into Carnegie and Parks & Rec buildings

City staff and FEH Design presented a space-utilization study July 13 that evaluated moving staff out of the original City Hall into the Carnegie building and the Parks & Rec building and estimated construction costs to reconfigure those two buildings.

Corey Sharp of FEH Design said the consultant identified three initial HVAC options and then refined concepts that would rearrange offices, consolidate storage in the Carnegie lower level, add a new public-facing welcome desk in the Parks & Rec entry, and fit finance and other departments into reconfigured garage/storage space. His firm estimated construction (hard) costs roughly between $985,000 and $1,100,000 and noted a high-density mobile storage system could add approximately $185,000.

Sharp emphasized phased construction to avoid occupying spaces under hazardous-material conditions and to maintain operations: "We suggest it happens in phases," he said, explaining each phase could take six to eight months depending on scope. Council members asked whether the existing boiler and other code issues could be stabilized at lower cost. Finance staff warned that bonding for a general corporate purpose above the reverse-referendum threshold (discussed by staff as roughly $980,000–$985,000) could trigger a public petition and vote.

Council asked for additional information on hard vs. soft costs, long-term operational expenses, potential funding (capital plan, bonding, grants) and whether YSS's use of the current system complicates any replacement. Staff committed to returning with more detailed cost breakdowns and potential funding scenarios for council consideration.

No binding decision or appropriation was made; staff will return with more specific estimates, phasing scenarios and cost comparisons between stabilizing the current City Hall and completing a move into the Carnegie/Parks & Rec buildings.