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temporary quarters, demolition of the old City Hall, and site preparation have all been completed and below budget and the City is not incurring any additional expenses. Director Patterson added that staff is going to go back and work on this with the architects and come back with bids that will be acceptable to the Council and meet the budget. Councilwoman Steinfeld expressed her displeasure at the high bids, and the fact that now there will be an increase in staff time and staff will have to go back to the architect due to the expected redesign, and asked that staff provide the bidding breakdown to the Council. Councilwoman Steinfeld asked why staff was rushing this project at this time, and suggested staff look at other alternatives, such as buying or leasing existing buildings. MEMO 9/26/95 In response to Councilwoman Steinfeld's questions, Planning Director Patterson advised that the estimates from the architect were based on standard construction practices. Councilwoman Steinfeld requested this item be put on the agenda and Council set a Public Hearing for the public to discuss this issue. MEMO 9/26/95 Mayor Pro Tem Hartnett advised that the bids were scheduled to be rejected at the Council meeting of October 9, 1995, the Council Facilities Committee would review the status of the proposed new City Hall and bring a report back to the full Council for study and discussion, followed by recommendations from Council Members. MEMO 9/26/95 In response to Councilwoman Steinfeld's objections to a Council Committee reviewing this issue, Councilwoman Buchan, candidate for Council, and member of the Council Facilities Committee, assured everyone that the Committee had held staff s feet to the fire during the whole City Hall proposal process, adamantly insisted that staff stay within budget, and the committee was not convinced of anything without lengthy discussions with more than sufficient information from staff and consultants. The Committee brought back each issue to the Council for full debate. Councilwoman Buchan stated that the Committee should not be slighted for their long and hard work, and the Committee is just as disappointed as everyone else that the bids were not acceptable. The Committee now wants to proceed to find out what can be done, within the budget. Councilwoman Steinfeld stated the City Hall was the most public of buildings and there were at least six or seven better alternatives to building a new City Hall, not the least of which was to turn the police facilities into a City Hall and building an appropriate police facility on this side of the road. Councilwoman Steinfeld added that the Council was originally told the cost would be $5.5 million and now it appeared it will cost $11 million, and suggested that a ballot initiative on this issue might not be a bad idea. MEMO 9/26/95 MINUTE BOOK NO. 53 Page No. 338 Regular Meeting Minutes September 25, 1995 Page 2