EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 15, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Jaime M. Fontes, City Manager
BY: Patrick Heisinger, Assistant City Manager
Patrick Heisinger, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: City Council consideration of partnership with County to explore options for 2415 University ($25,000)
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution allocating $25,000 from the General Fund Reserve to partner with the County of San Mateo in jointly funding an analysis of potential development options for 2415 University Avenue as a City/County governmental center.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Background
On May 18, 2021, the City Council adopted the City of East Palo Alto Facilities Master Plan (“Plan”) which included specific objectives and recommended actions. Objective #1 of the Plan, “Pursue 2415 University for Permanent Use by the City,” was prioritized by the City Council as an essential milestone that will allow the City to advance other facility planning efforts. Determining the future use of 2415 University (“Property”) will impact how the City approaches other facility needs.
Analysis
Since the Plan was adopted, City and County representatives have met on two occasions to discuss the Property and a potential partnership to re-envision the building. Both parties have agreed to partner to complete an analysis of options for the Property, with the ultimate goal of creating a City/County governmental center.
Proposed Approach
The County estimates that the appropriate level of analysis on the Property would require approximately $50,000 in total, which would be shared equally by the City and County. The scope of analysis would be limited to providing high-level concepts for use of the Property.
The City and County would be equal partners in this endeavor and the consultant would engage with City staff, members of the City Council, and the public to better understand the space needs for a civic facility in East Palo Alto. After the analysis is completed, staff recommends that the findings be presented to City Council in a Study Session.
The County will manage the contract with the firm for this analytical project; staff recommends the following structure for City payments to the County:
Payment Amount Project Milestone
1 $12,500 50% of the analysis is considered completed when the City is provided with the first draft concepts.
2 $12,500
Analysis is considered final upon completion of public
processes, including a presentation to and feedback from the City Council. If the analysis does not cost $50,000, the City’s final payment would be adjusted accordingly.
Next Steps
If the City Council adopts the staff recommendation to partner with the County to analyze development options for the Property, staff will work with the Mayor and Vice Mayor to place an item on a future agenda, at which time the selected consultant may obtain initial input from the City Council.
Fiscal Impact
At this time, there is no fiscal impact to the City associated with this report.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo Co. Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. Resolution