The city will again ask Juneau residents if they would like to pay for the construction of a building for a new municipal hall.
In a Monday night meeting, Assembly members voted to include a bond of $27 million proposal on the ballot in October.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”A The new facility will include a variety of positive benefits for our city and people,” City Manager Rorie Watt reads from the ordinance. “An end to office space rental payments that exceed $800,000 per year and the release space in old apartments and the capability for employees and customers to conduct business with the city efficiently. .”
In the last month the Assembly also approved the city to invest $50,000 in promoting for the project via posters, presentations and posts on social media. The move came following Juneau residents narrowly rejected the city’s request for a loan of up 35 million dollars for the city hall project in the last year.
the city’s hall is in need of several exterior and interior repairs, and it’s too small for the entire city staff. The project is estimated be $43 million which is why it’s been approved by the Assembly has already allocated $16 million to fund it. If the bond isn’t approved it is possible that the Assembly could decide to re-allocate the money.
The city’s preferred site for the city’s new municipal hall is located at 450 Whittier Street, which is located across this street is the State Museum. In accordance with an ordinance passed by the city, it does not anticipate increasing the mill rate of property taxes when the bond passes.
The city might also make some money from selling the city’s old hall. The buildings in the vicinity have been sold for more than $3 million.
“A new structure will be less expensive to maintain, since the current city hall is among our most expensive municipal structures for maintenance,” Watt said Monday.
However, in accordance with 2022’s economic study for the plan, total operating costs will increase. The reason is that the city’s lease agreements with other offices include water, energy and garbage charges in the rental.
“Because the more than 55,000 square foot building is significantly bigger than the existing city hall, prices will rise in every operational area,” the analysts wrote.
Six Juneau residents were present at the meeting on Monday night about the bond. Some expressed doubt about the morality of city staff who advocated for a plan that which voters have rejected in the last election.
Downtown residents Sally Wilson said she wanted the city to give an accurate overview of the project’s costs including the cost of making the city hall that is currently in use to sell, the fees associated with breaking lease agreements for office space in other buildings and maintenance costs for the building that is being constructed.
“span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I’m not advocating for a brand new city hall. I’m not advocating for a brand building a new municipal hall.” the mayor said. “But I would like to emphasize the importance of presenting all of the financial cost and advantages associated with this particular project. .”
The municipal election day is in October. 3.
