The original item was published from February 8, 2017 3:05 PM to February 8, 2017 3:06 PM
On Wednesday, February 15, the Council will meet for their
regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting begins at 7 pm
at the Atherton Council Chambers.
The Agenda includes a number of important items for
Council consideration. Up first will be the regular Consent
Agenda. These are routine items considered in one motion
for approval. This will typically include minutes of prior meetings,
the warrant register (bills), and other routine items. Specific
approvals this month include:
- Approval of an amendment to the Master Fee Schedule to
Address Repossession of Vehicles
- Authorization for the City Manager to use funds within the
Refuse Rate Stabilization Fund to engage a consultant to
assist with possible franchise negotiations/renewal process
- Award of Contract for the 2017 Street Patching Project
- Award of Contract for the 2017 Street Cape Seal Project
After the Consent Agenda, the Council will move on to the
Regular Agenda. This is where you’ll staff reports prior to
each item to introduce it. Items on this month’s agenda include:
- Amendment to the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master
Plan for Class I/II Bike Lanes along Oak Grove and
authorization for design work
- Introduction of the Proposed Drone Ordinance Regulating
Drone Use in Atherton
- Consideration of Activities Related to the 2017 Earth Day
Event Planned for April
- Mid-Year Budget Report and Amendments
- Selection of new LED Street Light Design for the Series
Street Light Replacement Project
There are two high-profile items on the Agenda this month.
The first is approval of the Civic Center Project’s 100%
Design Development Plans and Cost Estimate. This is a
fairly significant milestone for this project. Moving forward
from here is development of actual construction drawings
in anticipation of bidding the project in the latter part of 2017.
There are a few change orders that need to be approved as
well to address professional services provided along the way
- some architectural design changes as well as project
management and engineering.
The Civic Center Project is the most significant project in
the Town’s history. There has been a tremendous amount
of effort that has gone into the design of the project thus far.
The effort is not only from professional staff and contractors,
but also the tireless volunteers that served on the various
committees, the public that engaged with comments and
suggestions along the way, and those in the community that
hosted community forums and outreach to help get the word
out and get the input in to affect design. Not to be forgotten
is the outstanding efforts of Atherton Now, the fundraising arm
for the project. The project would not be where it is at today
without the fundraising efforts and contributions from Atherton
Now. Once built, this project will represent the largest
public/private partnership undertaken by the Town.
You can follow the project’s progress and review the
100% Design Development Plans via the Town’s website.
But there is one hurdle left. Also to be considered by the
Council at the February 15 meeting will be whether to
Call a Special Election for June 2017 with an Advisory
Ballot Measure Regarding Funding for the Civic Center
Project. As successful as Atherton Now has been, the funds
raised are not enough to fully fund the construction of the
Town Center portion of the Civic Center. The Library,
Restoration/Renovation of Historic Town Hall (into to a multi-
purpose space for the Library), and the associated site work
is fully funded by dedicated Library Funds. However, the
funding source for the Town Center portion of the site -
City Hall, Police Department, Building Department, Public
Works, Planning, and its associated site work is restricted
to donations and funds allocated within the building facilities
fund.
After funding the majority of design costs for the project,
Atherton Now has a committed and funded additional amount
of approximately $4 million that can be allocated toward
construction costs. There is an additional $2.9 million in
building facilities funds. The total estimated construction
cost is approximately $21.8 million. The remaining construction
funds needed is $14.5 million (at 50% Design). To address
this shortfall, the City Council has identified a Funding Plan,
but that Funding Plan hinges on the ability to use available,
non-dedicated General Funds - something not considered
when the Town approved Measure L in 2012. So, the Council
is considering putting another advisory vote to the electorate
in June 2017 to affirm the possible use of available,
non-dedicated General Funds. Inclusive of Educational
Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF) during the life of
the construction project (expected 27-months), the Town
has approximately $12.2 million in available funds (not using
any Special Parcel Tax funds or mandatory reserves). The
remaining gap of roughly $2-3 million could be funded by
year-over-year revenues over expenditures or the use of
short-term borrowing against anticipated revenues.
On February 1, the Council committed that no new
project-specific taxes would be created to fund the project.
The full agenda packet for the February 15, 2017 meeting
will be available online on Friday, February 10. Check it
out...we’d like your feedback!
George Rodericks
City Manager
Town of Atherton
#AthertonTalks