Council Heeds Call to Keep City Hall Seating

• Public Outcry Overrules Proposed 50% Reduction

BY BILL KOENEKER

The Malibu City Council backed away from some aspects of the conceptual plans presented by its consultants for the new City Hall at a special meeting last week. It was agreed that another session would be scheduled.
The city has $1.7 million available in the City Hall designated reserve. The consultant LPA, Inc. is seeking fees of $518,500 to develop construction documents for the conceptual plan.
The cost of construction is currently estimated at $3.7 million. The estimate includes all of the interior improvements in the conceptual designs presented by LPA, as well as some exterior site improvements, council member were told. The city will need $2.5 million in addition to the $1.2 million remaining in the reserve after the appropriation for the construction documents, according to Administrative Services Director/Assistant City Manager Reva Feldman.
The council was also told the redesign of the theater from about 500 to 230 seats would be most appropriate for both the council chamber meetings and theater performances.
However, that is not the direction the council wanted to go. With Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich absent, the council directed the staff and consultants to bring back revised designs increasing the number of theater seats, review the location of the council office and possible relocation of the teen center.
The council’s wish list had included both a senior and teen center, banquet room, spare space for sheriff’s deputies and small city workout area with showers
In addition, the council directed staff to bring back the agreement for additional funding for the consultant LPA, Inc. and indicated it wanted to see funding options for the project.
Most of the discussion focused on the theater seating. Councilmember John Sibert said it was important to get the most out of the performing arts center, but the council and the staff should not lose sight that the number one function of the building and the theater is a City Hall.
Mayor Sharon Barovsky reminded her colleague the theater was permitted for 400 seats which is less that what is in the theater.
“What I’m hearing is you want one more shot at this,” said City Manager Jim Thorsen about a final concept plan. “Expanding the theater out will change the dynamics. The teen center should be re-located to free up the 1,000 square feet to recapture the additional seats in the theater.”
Councilmember Andy Stern said this was the time for the public to bring its concerns to the council. “Now is the time for public input,” he said, though the meeting took place on a Thursday morning.
Sibert wanted to know how the city would handle the costs and Barovsky said it was important to figure out the larger costs in reconfiguring the theater
“The theater has to be cut back. It is not permitted for a 500 seat theater,” she said.
Thorsen said the staff needed direction in financing the costs.
Barovsky revealed the city’s call for use of the performing arts center to generate some immediate revenue has fallen on deaf ears. The mayor said folks have called about use of the center, but have mostly complained about the price.
Stern acknowledged the council is confronted with difficult choices. “The problem is everybody has his or her interests. We will do our best,” he said.
Sibert wanted more details about the numbers for funding, but was told the staff would bring back revised costs and how they could be financed at the next meeting.
“We will come back with a design, add seats to the theater as close to 400 as possible, with a council office and keep the teen center,” said Feldman.
Barovsky wanted to know if the financing could be done with the certificates of participation or from the general fund.
Feldman, in her staff report, wrote if the city were to issue COPs, the estimate on the debt service associated with a $2.5 million issuance would be $175,000 a year. The COPs would be structured with call features that would allow the city to pay the debt in full prior to the thirty year debt service time period, she said.
Stern noted the costs are unknown at this time because of the changes the council was requesting at the meeting “They are just unknowns,” he said.
“We will bring it back to you at the next meeting,” added Thorsen.