Six Mil City Hall

September 27, 2008 Officials size up City Hall cost City manager: Complex could be built with reserves, grants By KENYA WOODARD Staff Writer FLAGLER BEACH -- A proposed complex consisting of a new City Hall, the Flagler Beach Historical Museum and a community center at South Flagler Avenue and State Road 100 would be a point of pride for the city. It would also cost roughly $6 million to build it. The money to pay for the construction, however, wouldn't come from a boost in taxes, but instead from the city's reserves and state and federal grants, said Interim City Manager Bernie Murphy. Murphy provided city commissioners a detailed report on possible financing for the complex at a meeting Thursday. According to the report, it will cost Flalger Beach about $4.3 million to build a new City Hall. Costs for the museum and community center each are more than $950,000. A combination of money from the city's infrastructure tax and utility reserves, the sale of the existing City Hall and state and federal dollars could be used to finance the project, Murphy said. It would cost close to $5.3 million to build just the City Hall and museum while tagging on a community center bumps the price to $6.2 million, according to Murphy. Either scenario would not affect the city's tax rate, he said. Murphy urged commissioners to move forward with the project, saying it's ideal to build now in spite of upheaval in the economy. "We know our construction costs are going to be very competitive," he said. "This is actually a good time to do this." But building a new City Hall is a decision voters -- not the commission -- should be making, said Commissioner Ron Vath. Instead, commissioners should pass the matter onto voters in March via a referendum, he said. "It think it should be up to the people," he said.

Flagler Beach's latest exploration into a new City Hall began earlier this year when the commission ordered a study of the current building's spatial needs. That study concluded that in addition to City Hall, the site at South Flagler Avenue and State Road 100 also could house the Flagler Beach Historical Museum and a community center and that another option includes placing the buildings near the Wickline Center farther south on South Flagler Avenue. Last month, commissioners asked architect Henry Woodruffe to further develop plans at the South Flagler Avenue and State Road 100 location. An evaluation of the site -- which sits across from the new police station -- found that it is buffered by a small section of wetlands but is otherwise a suitable location for development, said engineer David King of Quentin L. Hampton Associates. Murphy's report and the site evaluation offer solid information in support of the project, said Commissioner Joy McGrew. The packed commission chambers at Thursday's meeting, however, is perhaps the best example of the need for a new City Hall, she said. Dozens of residents turned out to voice their opposition to a proposed new development on the Ocean Palm Golf Course, but the room filled quickly and many had to stand in the building's foyer, she said. "We need a proper place that allows people to come in and (give) their opinions," McGrew said. But using millions of dollars of the city's money to build a new City Hall may not be a good idea -- especially when other projects like the stormwater system have yet to be completed, Vath said. Flagler Beach resident Richard Price agreed, saying overfilled chambers are a rare occurrence and not a good reason to go forward with the project. "I'm not so sure that flies," he said. Commissioner Jane Mealy disagreed. "I would like to see us move on to the next step," she said. Commissioners decided to schedule town hall meetings in November and December to discuss the issue further.