SR 06:079 - Laserfiche WebLink

ATTACHMENT 3 . Discussion of programmatic costs and proiect schedule for the Firehouse Arts Center. (SR 06:012) Mr. Fialho provided a summary of the joint workshop with the Civic Arts Commission and Council in September 2005 where staff presented its long-term plans for the currently vacated Firehouse located on Railroad Avenue. The workshop also included a presentation by the project consultants, ELS Architecture and Urban Design, who laid out the capital costs to provide Council and the Commission a complete picture of the total cost of the project assuming the uses would be built out; the uses in the facility currently contemplated include a theater, classrooms as well as an art gallery. One of the recommendations that came out of the workshop was for staff to spend some time breaking out the capital costs in such a way that it could paint the picture of what the programmatic activities would be assuming that Council would choose to phase the project rather than completing the entire project. The Council also received an update at the workshop from the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation, which is seeking to supplement the City's allocation of $5.25 million for construction of the facility. Jim Wolfe, Director of Parks and Community Development, presented the staff report. Kurt Schindler and Ed Noland, project consultants with ELS Architecture and Urban Design, presented a visual presentation of project Scenarios One and Two that would allow for an incremental approach to the construction and funding of this project, including the community process, initial cost estimates related to operating the new facility and programming the art gallery. Mr. Schindler also provided an initial cost estimate associated with potential improvements at Lions Wayside Park, should the Alameda County Transportation corridor be acquired by the City. If Council chose Scenario Two and knowing the City had allocated $5.25 million dollars with a construction start date of November 6, Mayor Hosterman asked if it would provide the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation ample time to be able to raise the additional funds necessary to begin the project on time. Mr. Fialho noted there were several other components in the presentation that would address her question. Staff had also attempted to identify in the staff report costs that were important from an operational standpoint beginning with the area of soft costs, which are associated with the start up of the project, and the figures the project consultants have submitted to Council are pure capital costs. Soft costs consist of items such as office computers and office furniture and because most of the equipment is being constructed as part of the project, items such as office computers and furniture are not and staff estimated these costs to be approximately $9,091, which are items that would have to be budgeted as part of the operating budget. He noted improvements to Lions Wayside Park were mentioned at the workshop. He reminded Council that the Downtown Trails Master Plan eventually contemplated having Lions Wayside Park improved. He believed the proposed design for the improvements to Lions Wayside Park complimented the Firehouse and the cost for this project is roughly estimated at $1.5 million dollars, which he would consider to be basic improvements including grading, undergrounding the existing drainage channel, irrigation, and turf seeding, in order to create grass spaces and simple paving surfaces to draw the connection between the Park and the Firehouse. The estimate did not include costs related to the relocation and improvement of the Chan Henderson Bandstand, parking, actual acquisition of the Transportation Corridor, etc. He noted that funds have been set aside for the acquisition of the Corridor and staff is in active negotiations and discussions with the County. As part of the 2005-2006 operating budget, staff did not contemplate in the cash flow analysis the addition of any new facilities; staff has attempted to estimate the operating cost associated with the Firehouse Arts Center which would EXCERPTS: CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, January 17,2006 Page] of6