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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/16/1993, 6 - CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASE OF A 2.4 ACRE PARCEL ON THE CORNER OF SANTA BARBARA AND ROUND HOUSE TO CONSTRUCT A NEW HEADQUARTERS FIRE STATION/RECREATION ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. QIiII��I IIIIIIIIIIIIIII II / - MEETING DATE: �Ulj�lllll city ,' o(' San LUIS OB1SpO 2/16/93 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER: From: Robert Neumann, Fire Chief Prepared By: Erwin Willis, Battalion Chief Subject: Consideration of purchase of a 2.4 acre parcel on the corner of Santa Barbara and Round House to construct a new Headquarters Fire Station/Recreation Administration Building. CAO RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to enter into discussions with Southern California Gas Company relative to the potential acquisition of the 2.4 acre parcel on the corner of Santa Barbara and Emily Streets and return to the City Council for further direction once additional cost and other information is known. BACKGROUND: In 1986 the Fire Department became very concerned about the structural stability of the Headquarters Fire Station. The Fire department requested funds for its replacement and started searching for potential locations for the new Station. Since the response time of the Fire Department in many instances can make the difference in life or death, fire station locations are extremely critical. Therefore, the Fire Department contracted for a computerized Fire Station Location Study which identified 20 potential sites. These included the "Old Brick Yard" on Broad Street, the Southern California Gas Company (SCG) property on Santa Barbara Street, the Kimball Motor Company property on Monterey Street, the Emerson School Property, the current Fire Station location and others, each of which were reviewed. All of these properties had both advantages and disadvantages in terms of size, availability, type of neighborhood surrounding the site, location in proximity to the downtown, (which this station protects) and to arterial roadways (which speeds up response to other areas of the City). Of these properties, the SCG property was the most desirable in all aspects except one — it was not available. The City did not even have the option of condemning this property because it belonged to a public utility. The next most desirable property was the Emerson School Site which was of adequate size, was available-and while it its location was not ideal-it met the location parameters for protecting the downtown. CURRENT STATUS On November 7, 1990 Council approved expending $2,640,000 to purchase the Emerson School property and the City took ownership of this property in October 1992. At its January 5, 1993 meeting Council approved a contract with Ross Levin MacIntyre & Varner Architects to design the new Headquarters Fire Station/Recreation Administration Building. The Architects are now completing the Program phase of the project and are starting the Site Plan for the project. A neighborhood meeting has also been held. Thus, the project is progressing rapidly but most of the work that the Architect has completed to date could be used at a new site. Any further work on the project would be site specific. v – / ����naiww►�Illll���iwA►���U city of San Luis OBlspo WNZa COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT In late 1992, the SCG property went on the market. The SCG property Manager was contacted to determine if the property is still available. As of February 10, 1993 the property was still available, but they state that they are very close to closing a sale on the property. The SCG Property Manager would not provide specifics as to cost; however, it is staffs understanding the property was on the market at $1,2000,000 and was bid up to a somewhat higher level. Given the stage we are at relative to the Emerson School site (e.g. the site is purchased; an architect has been engaged), a change in location at this point will pose some significant complications and delay, and possibly added cost. On the other hand, the SCG site offers some very attractive features, and potentially long-term cost savings. In the short amount of time available, staff has attempted to develop as much analytic information as possible, and several potential advantages and disadvantages are outlined below. In addition, staff will continue working between now and February 16 to develop further information for discussion with the Council during the presentation of this item. However, it is unlikely that a fully informed decision can be made relative to acquisition on February 16; more likely, direction will be sought regarding Council's desire to put existing work "oh hold" long enough for more thorough analysis and detailed discussions with SCG relative to an actual purchase of the property. Advantages: Size 1. The parcel is 2.4 acres. The original parameters for the new building with required parking was two acres. The additional space may provide enough area for training activities. The Prado Road Training site may no longer be necessary for this purpose. 2. The Emerson School property is 3.5 acres, but approximately 1/3 is lawn area that will be left as open space. Therefore, the usable area of the sites are similar in size but due the close proximity of residents, noisy training activities would not be appropriate at the Emerson School site. Location 3. The SCG property is located at the intersection of three arterial roadways substantiality improving response times to many areas of the City. The Emerson School Property is located on one arterial roadway (Pismo Street). 4. To provide response to 90% of the City within four minutes (current City goal) the City now has four fire stations. If a railroad overpass were constructed from South Street to Bishop Street, using the SCG location, the same response time could be provided from only three stations. This could significantly reduce equipment and personnel costs. Additionally, the property that Fire Station Three currently occupies could be sold. ����� ��IIIII��p�Nu�►��UIB city of San Luis OBISPO Via; COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT It should be stressed that this "advantage" only exists if the South Street Overpass is a realistic assumption. Without this overpass it would not be possible, with three fire stations, to adequately serve the Johnson Avenue/Laurel Lane area due to the "at grade" railroad crossing at Orcutt Road. Responses to the Laurel Lane area would have to be by way of Buchon Street and then Johnson Avenue-an option which would provide unacceptable response times. 5. The surrounding neighborhood is more conducive to fire station activities than the Emerson School property. Cost 6. The cost of the property is currently unknown, but we believe it could be at least $1,000,000 less than the Emerson School property, depending upon the asking price and the possibility of contamination. Construction costs will be the same at either of the two sites. Potential Problems: Site Contamination 1. Staff is concerned that there may be soil contamination on the property. The property's location near the old round house and the fact that Cal Trans was the previous owner raises these concerns. A thorough site analysis will be required before any decision to purchase is made. Disposal of Emerson School Property 2. While the City paid $2,640,000 for the Emerson School Property, it may be difficult to sell the property for that amount today. Additionally, the people in the neighborhood have grown to expect that the lawn area of the site will be kept as a neighborhood park. Therefore, less land would be available to sell if the City decided to keep that part of the lot for open space. However, if we were to sell two thirds of the site for development purposes that are compatible with the neighborhood (senior housing?) we believe the land cost would be equalized. The Site may not be available 3. . On February 10, 1993, SCG stated that they were very close to closing the sale of the property. They also stated that one of their main criteria for the sale would be that it be completed quickly with few or no contingencies. Therefore if the property is still available, the City would need to move quickly and decisively. This may be difficult with the current budget activities, and procedural requirements; a detailed site contamination evaluation, a Consistency Finding from the Planning Commission, and an Environmental Review. -3 a�����► city of San tins OBISpo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT FISCAL IMPACT Although the exact purchase price of the property is unknown, debt financing of a purchase price of $1,500,000 would increase these City's debt service by $135,000 per year. The purchase price could be offset by the selling of all or part of the Emerson School property, depending upon the availability of an interested and acceptable buyer. Without the use of the Emerson Site as a part of the financing plan, the added cost of the SCG site would pose another challenge on the City's already strained budget. CONCURRENCES The City Attorney, City Engineer and Director of Finance concur on the Staff recommendation. In The Superior Court of The State of California In and for the County of San Luis Obispo AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION No. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SS. County of San Luis Obispo - I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the mil; crty of Z a san lws oarsod ` p County aforesaid; I am over the age of eighteen and not CITY COUNCIL g g PUBLIC HEARINGS On Tuesday, February 16, \ interested in the above-entitled 1993, the San Luis ObispoCity Council will hold public Q O Q hearings beginning at 7:00 O p.m.in the Council Chambers I am now, and at all times embraced of City Hall, 990 Palm street, on the items listed below. The reports will be available in the publication herein mention was, the principal clerk for review in the City Clerk's O Department on the Wednes- day before the meeting. For of the printers and publishers of the SAN LUIS OBISPO more Information, please call 781-7103. / The Council may also dis. COUNTY TELEGRAM-TRIBUNE, a newspaper of general cuss other hearings or bus'- ®PD 192-92 PaP g ness items before or after those listed. If you challenge /s/Diane R.Gladwell, any one of the proposed City Clerk circulation, printed and published daily, Sundays ex- actions described below in Feb.6,1993 dv W72 court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you cepted, at the City of San Luis Obispo in the above or someone else raised at the public hearings described-in this notice, or in written named county and state; that __JVn1_14eo correspondence delivered to the City Council at,or prior to, the public hearing. WATER RATE STRUCTURE •to consider eliminating mini- mum charges and implement. ing a three-tiered commodity rate structure for all custom- ers at the following monthly at which the annexed clipping is a true printed copy, was rates: 1•5 units $2 per hundred cubic feet (CCF); 6- published in the above-named newspaper and not in any 12 units at $3 per CCF supplement thereof — on the following dates, t0-Wit: consumed, 13 units and overat $3.35 per CCF consumed. (45 min.) APPEAL-GRAND AVENUE. - to consider an appeal of a Planning Commission decis- tion.to approve a request to allow more than one dwelling on an R-1 (Low Density Resi- dential) lot located at 300 Grand Avenue.(30 min.) APPEAL - 2070 Fixlini - to that said newspaper was duly and regularly ascertained consider an appeal of an Com- and established a newspaper of Architectural Review Com• pap general CII'CulattOn by mission schematic approval of a new church, specifically Decree entered in the Superior Court of San Luis Obispo the setback from riparian veg- County, State of California, on June 9, 1952, Case #19139 F kl ni..(30 m nabed at 2070. RE20NIN(J (P.D. 192.92) - under the provisions of Chapter 1, Division 7, Title of the to consider a Planning Com. Government Code of the State of California. mission recommendation approve a request for a pre-e. liminary development plan I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury that the (PD 192-92) to change the. -caning on affected lots in the foregoing is true and correct. mock bound by Osos.Pismo. Morro and Pacific Streets from O (Office) to O•PD from R-3-H (Medium-high. R density-Historici to R-3-H-PD.. (,� 130 min.l (SigrIEfture of Principal Clerk) ; Date ���® 19 93 �J a O m C CD c r cr o: a d ^ Q •e O _ 'I 00 co I •.