AgdaPkt 2005-04-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/ð-Z County Historical Association as a museum, it would be a community benefit if this unique asset could become a community gathering place for the people of the County. As a result of numerous public workshops and working with the city's urban design consultant, Freedman Tung and Bottomley, a preferred plaza design was selected for the site. The selected design includes the removal of the South Annex to the Courthouse, reconstruction of the Courthouse façade, including portico and steps, and the creation of a plaza that will serve as a community gathering place in the heart of downtown. To implement this vision, the City will invest approximately Nine Million Oollars ($9,000,000). The County agrees that it will grant an exclusive easement for the City's use of the space for the sum of One Oollar ($1.00) per year. The County will continue to own the Courthouse Block with the County museum as the tenant. The City will have full use of the newly created plaza and access to the buildings as well. This will be implemented through the Cooperative Agreement Between the "County of San Mateo and the City of Redwood City for Preservation of the Historic County Courthouse Block, Removal of the South Annex, Reconstruction of the Courthouse Façade and Creation of the Courthouse Plaza, and Grant of Easement and license" (Attachment #5). An easement area has been delineated and is included as an exhibit to the attached Agreement. The City will have an exclusive easement over the area as shown, and will have the right to manage the use of that space. The City will also have a license to enter upon the easement area, the interior of the Courthouse and other structures on the block, and other such areas of the block as are reasonably necessary to effectuate the vision. The term of the Agreement will be 55 years with provisions for four successive ten year renewal periods providing an effective agreement of 95 years. The Agreement will be automatically renewed without further action unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Either party may terminate the Agreement by giving one year notice prior to each renewal date. The decision to terminate the Agreement must be by majority vote of the governing body after a public hearing with 30 days notice to the other party. The Agreement becomes effective upon approval and execution by both parties. The demolition and removal of the South Annex, the first step in the construction process, will not occur until after the effective date. Analysis Redwood City will gain a usable, functional gathering place in the historic core of Redwood City. In addition to correcting what has been referred to as "an unfortunate mistake2" of the past and restoring this majestic building's front door, the Project is also expected to function as a traditional civic hub and complement 2 The building of the South Annex thai obscured the front of the Courthouse 2