Questions answered on the new Sandusky City Hall

SANDUSKY — Before embarking on an $18.5 million construction project, Sandusky officials reiterated they needed to build trust with community members."We want this process to be as transparent as possible," city manager Eric Wobser said during his opening statements at a public forum Wednesday inside the Erie County Office Building in downtown Sandusky.The meeting invited residents and stakeholders to ask questions about a relocation plan for City Hall's administrative, police and municipal court operations.Among the main points asked by community members with answers provided from officials: Q: What does the relocation plan entail?A: The $18.5 million plan, approved by city commissioners this past fall, involves:• By 2019, building an entirely new complex, or justice center, at an undetermined location for police and municipal court operations. Officials expect to select a site by summertime.• By 2018, moving administrative services into parts of three adjoining vacant downtown structures, including the former Calvary Temple church, on Columbus Avenue near Small City Taphouse.For administrative operations, the city plans on entering into a lease agreement with Marous Development, which owns and/or controls these longtime empty buildings. They formerly housed Western Security Bank, the Manhattan Clothing Co. and Crosby Shoes."This project will create a civic campus around Washington Park whereby citizens will have easy access, within walking distance, to City Hall, the Erie County (Office Building), the Erie County Courthouse, the Sandusky Library and the Social Security Office," according to a city statement.Marous representatives also vowed to commit an extra $5 million in private money so they can construct 18 apartments and three storefronts beside a new City Hall. The two funding streams, in public and private money, collectively make this a $23.5 million initiative.Seven years after signing a lease, the city could buy and own all space it would occupy. Commissioners should sign a lease by spring 2017.An artist rendering reimagines what the new Sandusky City Hall could look like. An $18.5 million publicly financed plan calls for renovating three adjoining buildings on Columbus Avenue and Washington Row near Small City Taphouse into a new administrative complex for city officials.Q: Why is there a lease arrangement in place? Why can't the city outright own these buildings to begin with?A: A signed lease agreement needs to happen so Marous executives could receive state tax credits for this project.In December, Marous secured $1.6 million in tax credits, which offset the local obligation. Marous seeks an additional $1.8 million in tax credits. The award should happen sometime this spring.Private entities, and not governments, can only apply for state tax credits. Marous, and not the city, would own the storefronts and apartments.A lease agreement, requiring signatures from Marous representatives and city commissioners, should happen sometime this spring. Once the lease is signed, then construction can begin.Q: What's wrong with the City Hall building on Meigs Street?A: The current 61-year-old structure presents many challenges for renovations, ranging from accessibility, security, adaptability and efficiency. Upgrading these shortcomings would be costly and most likely lead to an inferior product as opposed to building and relocating elsewhere.Q: After moving, what will become of the City Hall site on Meigs Street?A: An ongoing study aims to establish strategies to best develop this land, Battery Park and the Sandusky Bay Pavilion. Commissioners will likely make a decision on City Hall once the study ends, occurring most likely later this year.Q: What's specifically wrong with the police department and municipal court operations, located within City Hall?A: An analysis found the police department and court operations require about 15,000 additional square feet for various reasons, as indicated in city statements:• "Police were in need of additional space due to advances in DNA evidence and related technology; the need for a larger evidence room and storage; an increase in the number and type of narcotics crimes; increases in internet and cyber crimes; and desired advancements in reporting and statistical record keeping."• "The court was in need of additional space for storage and office space to provide for more efficient operations. In addition, renovating the existing facilities would create complications (such as the) building construction and layout, utility coordination, temporary facilities, office relocation, inefficient services, etc."An artist rendering reimagines what the new Sandusky City Hall could look like. An $18.5 million publicly financed plan calls for renovating three adjoining buildings on Columbus Avenue and Washington Row near Small City Taphouse into a new administrative complex for city officials.Q: How will this project be paid for?A: Officials vowed against raising existing or introducing new taxes, rates or fees to pay for the project. They also promised to maintain current service and staffing levels before, during and after construction.They'll fund the public portion of this project by shifting expiring debt — budgeted for other city buildings, which are almost paid off in full — toward the relocation plan.Q: With the move to downtown, how will officials appease all stakeholders, including business owners and residents, when it comes to parking?A: "We strongly believe there is ample parking within a two-block radius of the proposed site to accommodate both staff and customers," according to a city statement. "Parking options will include on-street (parking), the county parking garage and city-owned surface lots. The city has been and will continue to analyze parking on a weekly basis."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.The $18.5 million Sandusky City Hall relocation plan involves transforming three vacant buildings on Columbus Avenue into new administrative offices and a shared retail space.