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<br /> Mayor Hartnett stated that the two main issues are cost and design integrity. He stated <br /> that the bidding process that staff is fine tuning provides the best competitive bidding and <br /> quality work, and it was important to continue it. He advised that Council set construction <br /> costs at 7.5 million, and if there is an expectation that the design integrity is going to be <br /> fundamentally changed to accomplish that budget, then the Council, as the ultimate <br /> guardians, would make the decision as to what gets changed and what does not. Mayor <br /> Hartnett agreed with Councilman Claire that the interest from the Utilities Users tax set <br /> aside for the City Hall Project and not used yet, should be devoted to the City Hall Project. <br /> He advised that the market is heating up and for no other reason than market forces should <br /> there be additional price increases, and it was reasonable to use that interest for the City <br /> Hall Project. Mayor Hartnett requested that the process provide that fundamental design <br /> issues be brought to the Council in a very clear and timely manner. Mayor Hartnett said <br /> he didn't care what was inside the walls as long as it worked and the quality was there. He <br /> stated he wanted to know what the building would look like for $7.5 million. <br /> Councilwoman La Berge said a City Hall should represent beauty and dignity. It was not <br /> an office building, but a reflection of the pride people have in their community. <br /> Councilwoman La Berge stated the decision was not just for today but for the generations <br /> to come. "It is for our children and our grandchildren and great grandchildren, it should be <br /> a real legacy." Councilwoman La Berge agreed that the interest should be included in the <br /> City Hall Project since the source was devoted to capital improvements. Councilwoman <br /> La Berge said she could support cutting back on some of the exterior brick and change the <br /> steel interior to steel bracing. She asked that an attractive tile roof, landscaping and <br /> expansion area above the Council Chamber be kept in the design. <br /> Councilwoman Buchan stated that this was a very important session, to revisit the whole <br /> City Hall issue and have the new Council come together to set a course for this project. <br /> Councilwoman Buchan said that Redwood City is changing but working class values still <br /> sustain the community and that will never change. She expressed support for the <br /> following requests: keep the Council Chambers, landscaping, and attractive roof. <br /> Councilwoman Buchan added that she agreed with Councilman Ruskin that it was <br /> important to see what the proposed changes would look like and she agreed with Mayor <br /> Hartnett that she didn't care what was in the wall as long as it was of quality. <br /> Vice Mayor Howard stated that Redwood City was growing and diverse. She reaffirmed <br /> the goal set by Council to provide more and effective communications to the community. <br /> She said the design of one-stop shopping in a City Hall the City could be proud of would <br /> meet that goal. Vice Mayor Howard stated that there had been over 200 responses from <br /> the community choosing the design and the City didn't usually get such a large response <br /> like that when it does something in the community, and these people took the time to write <br /> comments saying "this is what we want to see complement our Library" to tie it into a <br /> Civic Center with the San Mateo County Museum and the downtown. Vice Mayor <br /> Howard expressed support for the expansion area and landscaping, but was open to <br /> changes to the rounded glass, roof changes especially if the steel bracing was to be <br /> changed, and changes to the brick, except at critical points. She added that she would have <br /> MINUTE BOOK NO. 53 Special City Council Study Session Minutes <br /> Page No. 462 December 4, 1995 <br /> Page 9 <br /> -- <br />