10. 22-532 Action on a Written Petition (Council Policy 030) Submitted by Mary Grizzle on behalf of the Members of Reclaiming our Downtown are Requesting to Place an Agenda Item at a Future Council Meeting to Discuss and Vote on the Current Downtown Urban Planning Firm WRT to Study the following 4 Financial Benefits of Moving City Hall to a Location within the 8 Blocks of the Original Downtown (Lafayette Benton Monroe Homestead):
1. The financial benefits and construction savings of moving city hall to an 8+ story mixed-use (offices) building;
2. An updated and complete analysis of the advantages of selling the acreage used by city hall on its current location on Warburton;
3. The substantial increase in private investment after a city hall has been brought back to Downtown as evidenced by several other American cities studied by Reclaiming our Downtown;
4. Financial benefit of a "completed Downtown" to the tax revenue of Santa Clara
This group has spent over a year doing the work that this City should have done: Calling other cities that have the same issue: an aging City Hall. The volunteers did it for free. They did it because they want to understand where and how City Hall could be reborn that adds the most VALUE to the City and its citizens
I am asking you to put this on a future agenda and VOTE YES to study these critical ways to save and make this city money WHEN it's time to rebuild City Hall.
We are just asking you to “know what you don’t know.” The City is already studying the “best location for its next City Hall.” These folks have found Six American cities that have benefitted from moving their City Halls back to their Downtowns. If tonight, you pass or vote no on putting this on the next agenda, you are telling us that you don’t want to know. Voting “no” on putting this on the next agenda is voting yes for ignorance on what is the best location for our future City Hall.
Santa Clara has the special opportunity to develop its historic Downtown district. The Reclaiming Our Downtown citizen's group has conducted research on four American cities, and in each case learned that having City Hall in the Downtown district was a win-win. This is because economic vitality results from daytime business, dining, and shopping activities, which switches to after-hours dining and entertainment. Furthermore, the parking garage is effectively utilized during these periods, too.
This group has spent over a year doing the work that this City should have done: Calling other cities that have the same issue: an aging City Hall. The volunteers did it for free. They did it because they want to understand where and how City Hall could be reborn that adds the most VALUE to the City and its citizens
I am asking you to put this on a future agenda and VOTE YES to study these critical ways to save and make this city money WHEN it's time to rebuild City Hall.
We are just asking you to “know what you don’t know.” The City is already studying the “best location for its next City Hall.” These folks have found Six American cities that have benefitted from moving their City Halls back to their Downtowns. If tonight, you pass or vote no on putting this on the next agenda, you are telling us that you don’t want to know. Voting “no” on putting this on the next agenda is voting yes for ignorance on what is the best location for our future City Hall.
Testing this e-comment system with the city council. See email to read.
Santa Clara has the special opportunity to develop its historic Downtown district. The Reclaiming Our Downtown citizen's group has conducted research on four American cities, and in each case learned that having City Hall in the Downtown district was a win-win. This is because economic vitality results from daytime business, dining, and shopping activities, which switches to after-hours dining and entertainment. Furthermore, the parking garage is effectively utilized during these periods, too.