Updated April 25, 11:45 p.m.–
Plans for a new city hall moved forward Thursday night as Citrus Heights council members unanimously approved a lease agreement for a temporary hall to operate at a 12,500 square feet facility on Auburn Boulevard, allowing demolition to begin at the existing hall location.
The approved 13-month lease agreement with Anton and Ilham Saca Revocable Trust will run a total of just over $190,000 and includes an option for up to three two-month extensions, according to a report to the council by City Facilities and Landscape Manager Chris Meyers. The new city hall is expected to be completed by July 2016, but Monica Alejandrez with the city manager’s office said the extension options allow for any delays in the process.
Located near Rusch Park in the Grand Oaks Shopping Center at 7927 Auburn Blvd., the temporary site was recommended by City staff due to it needing “the least amount of interior work,” its current compliance with ADA, and it being large enough to house the entire staff, according to Meyers. Other benefits mentioned included the building’s single-story design and the location being in a commercial area, with convenient access.
Meyers said the existing hall on Fountain Square Drive will close its doors to the public on July 9, reopening July 14 at the new temporary location. All city staff will be relocated to the Auburn Boulevard location, with the exception of maintenance staff and some IT, who will be housed at the Citrus Heights Community Center, according to Meyers.
Although the new city hall and related medical office building projects were approved by the city council on March 26, the California Environmental Quality Act requires a 30-day waiting period to allow for challenges to the proposal, according to Alejandrez, who said that period expires on Monday.
“We’re operating under the assumption that there may not be one,” said Alejandrez, referring to lawsuit threat made by a resident group opposed to the new medical office building project. She said staff “haven’t really seen anything” regarding litigation at this point, but stated the City can continue making plans in the mean time.
[Related: Council votes 5-0 for new city hall & MOB; lawsuit threatened]
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