HomeMy WebLinkAbout0493.092Octoher ~9, 1992
THE HONORABLE CITY COUN~IL
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
-.
Status Report on .illiams Rouse
Members of the council:
8
At your october 5, 1992 meeting Council authoriz.ed the Peninsula
conservation Center Trust Fund (pee Trust tund) to submit to staff
within 90 days a revised proposal for occupancy of the Williams
house on Homer Avenue. Staff was directed to vork with the PCC
Trust in order that a final option to lease package might be
brought back to Council. staff has had discussions ~ith PCC Trust
in an effort to identify any special issues that lI'.ight have arisen
as a result of the council's actions to date.
On balance, it appe.ars that they \Ilill be able to meet. without
difficulty, most cf the conditions set forth by the Council. As is
the case in every large project. some problems arise ~hen attention
tUrns to details and avay from larger policy issues. staff
attempts to resolve these detai 1 s within the context of the
Council's publicly expressed policies on the subject.
OCcasionally, working out the details reveals a need fer staff to
return to council to clarify the intent of the pollet directions in
order to achieve the Council#s ultimate objective.
The purpose of this report is not to convey to council the result
of negotiaticms 'With the PCC on each of the items referred by
Council to the PCC and staff for discussion. HO'oiever. at tr~is
point in the discussions only four points appear to need clarity of
Co~ncil intent. These are:
1. Rent --Staff's original reconDu?ndatioll is consistent -with
previous Council policy to lI'.ax-imize revenue frol'!l. City
faci.lities. However, the rental policy established by the
council makes allo~ances for uses where public benefit can be
shown~ Ultimately, the established rental rate, if any, is a
matter of some discretion~ Given that the Williams house does
not represent an investment of pUblic monies (it was a gift to
the City) and that public benefit organizations like PCC Trust
can better spend their funds on program, it can be reasoned to
set the rent at a nominal amount, say $1 per year.
CMR:49):92
;-::----""' ... ;:;FlOiIiil.lil· ....... "t~ •• .,_._-~----·
•
. ,"
I
"
/
Page Tva
2. Timing Both staff and pee Trust are concern~d about
schedules for completing the project. The Trus~ Fund has
indicated that it can provide the final conceptu.al design
documents ~ithin ~o days from this date; for its part 6t~!f
will make every effort to facilitate HRB review of the revised
design, to complete the lease negotiation:; 'With the PCC Trust,
and to finalize the lease documents and return to Council
within 120 days after receipt of thp. final conceptual design.
3. Porch O~ "loggia" area --Staff has ~et with PCC Trust design
and architectural representatives to discuss the need for
enclosing the porch. The discussion focus~d on whether
enclosure is absolutely necessary too the functioning of the
str-uctiJre, and if so, how that :might be done in the most
sensitive 'Way. The archi'te.ct to.as demonstrated that space
utilization and operational efficienciea depend on a floor
plan which inclUdes some enclosure of the porch and that such
an enclosure can be accomplished without detracting from the
historical or architectural qualities of the house. More
import~ntly, if the porch is not enclosed it is almost cert~in
that the functions anticipated by t~~e PCC cannot be
accommodated in the building. Historic Resource Board M~mber
Monty A."derson has briefly reviewed 'With staff a proposed
architectural solution which uses glass to enclose the area
and has given conceptual approval.
4. Tank Removal --Prelimi~ary reports indicate that tank removal
and subsequent cl~anup (if any) should not be difficult. PCC
has agreed to spend up to $25,000 in thjs regi!rd. To protect
both parties frOTh some unforeseen circumstances it might he
prudent to limit the City's expenditures to a "second II $25,000
(above that spent by the PCC) ~ If costs rise above. this
combined $50,000 limit, either party ~ould have the right to
insist on further negotiaticn or ur.ilateral withdra~al from
the project.
As noted above, this status report sets forth a summary of
discussions to date surrounding feur issues of conce:c:-n to the
parties as the details of this project are fleshed out, Staff
believes that Counc iI' 5 basic policy direction to award the
occupancy of the williams house to the PCC Trust is fur~hered by
moving in the direction indicated above~
ReCommendation
Given that all other conditions of the RFP and subsequent Council
discussions will be met, ~taff recommends that Council indicate its
response to the above requests for policy cl~rification so that
staff can continue to .... 'ork tOward fulfilling Council direction.
Respectfully submitted,
J~' Interi~ city Manager
CMR:493:9,
.-. ,~ :