A gloomy budget outlook for Hollister has sideswiped ambitions
to build a $15 million Civic Center, and officials now plan to
consider alternative venues for city departments once destined for
the centrally located facility.
Officials had conceived the Civic Center to house City Hall
operations and 10 currently dispersed departments at Fourth and
West streets. It would have been the most expensive building
construction in Hollister history. The plan’s centerpiece was
renovation of the former Fremont School that was purchased two
years ago for $1.65 million, according to city engineer Luis
Aguilar.
A gloomy budget outlook for Hollister has sideswiped ambitions to build a $15 million Civic Center, and officials now plan to consider alternative venues for city departments once destined for the centrally located facility.
Officials had conceived the Civic Center to house City Hall operations and 10 currently dispersed departments at Fourth and West streets. It would have been the most expensive building construction in Hollister history. The plan’s centerpiece was renovation of the former Fremont School that was purchased two years ago for $1.65 million, according to city engineer Luis Aguilar.
Funding for the project was excluded from the July 21 approval of the city’s $35 million budget and has delayed the project for a year. Furthermore, City Manager Dale Shaddox’s long-term economic forecast includes a possible need to scrap the Civic Center project altogether.
The city’s reserve fund has declined by 39 percent during the past three years, and Hollister will have to withdraw at least $700,000 from its General Fund in 2003-04.
The Civic Center’s overall design is 60 percent complete, and officials had planned on awarding a construction contract by the end of the year. The city has spent more than $130,000 on architectural consultant fees so far.
“Everything is put on hold at this point until we can find a way to replenish our General Fund,” said City Councilman Tony LoBue. “It (relocating offices) is not going to be on the forefront.”
Whether the Civic Center project ever finds a foundation, Shaddox wants to eventually relocate department offices into the downtown district.
“We need to do something about consolidating city offices,” Shaddox said. “It needs to be made convenient to citizens.”
He mentioned the Planning Department and Building Division offices at the top of Park Hill as examples of a location that is inconvenient and isolated.
One possibility for those departments or others, he said, would be relocating to the old City Hall that neighbors Hollister’s current headquarters on Fifth Street. The city still owns the building and currently leases the first floor to the YMCA. The nonprofit organizationis currently “looking for a new home,” Shaddox said.
He recently toured the old building – an 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot facility. The first floor was recently remodeled, but the second floor needs extensive renovation that could cost “several hundred thousand dollars or more,” Shaddox said.
Any potential alternatives to the Civic Center would “cost the city substantial funds,” he said. So it will likely take three to four years – or longer – before departments are relocated.
Aside from the old City Hall idea, Shaddox said he plans to further address the matter with the Council before publicly revealing other plans.
For now, officials are unsure about the future use of the former Fremont School, but Hollister may eventually sell the property, Shaddox said.
During the past two years, city engineering and Recreation Division offices have partially occupied the building.
“We’re just going to hold onto it for awhile,” Shaddox said.
Also, local veterans groups and the University of California Cooperative Extension are currently in the building. But those tenants will soon move into the recently renovated Veterans Memorial Building.
Shaddox said the Fremont School building is not up code for accessibility and fire safety. So the building’s use will soon be “discontinued” until more definitive plans are made.
Before this summer, Gilroy resident Patricia Guerrero had inquired about renting a room for an afterschool program. The city initially approved her request but later declined when the building’s code deficiencies became apparent.
“I really believe they should have this building open to rent out for things in the community,” she said.
Aguilar, who has been overseeing the Civic Center design process, will compile a report for the Aug. 18 Council meeting, at which time the city is expected to terminate contracts with architect Christina Perez and the project manager Harris and Associates, he said.
