LETTERS: Mixed views on a new City Hall


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  • | 5:00 a.m. November 19, 2013
A view from the balcony of the second floor, outside the city offices in City Marketplace (File photo)
A view from the balcony of the second floor, outside the city offices in City Marketplace (File photo)
  • Palm Coast Observer
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Before City Hall, don’t forget about the 5% interest from the loan

Dear Editor:

The Palm Coast city manager and finance director's explanation of the proposed new City Hall's financing implies taxpayers will save $250,000 a year by not paying rent at City Marketplace. They do not explain that the 5% interest that the taxpayers are now getting on the $5.8 million dollar loan from the Town Center Community Redevelopment Area is more than that rent. Since they are going to use the $5.8 million dollars to build City Hall, taxpayers will no longer be getting that interest.

It is all the Palm Coast taxpayer's money. It seems more like a minus than a savings. The other $1.1 million and $2.19 million dollars are separate issues.

Jean Sbertoli
Flagler Beach


Economic justification for City Hall is a ‘boondoggle’

Dear Editor:

If the city fathers insist on building a new City Hall, please don't insult the population of this city by trying to justify this boondoggle on the economics!

By cobbling together $9 million by canceling the Town Center Community Redevelopment Area loan for $5.8 million which earns 5% interest ($290,000 per year), using $1.1 million in “excess” funds paid to the building department for building permits, and taking the balance ($2.2 million) from taxes to be collected in the future on (you guessed it) the empty lots in the popular Town Center — our town fathers can provide us with the City Hall that they so desperately want to build.

The logic of this argument loses steam when you understand that the interest on the CRA loan of $290,000 per year exceeds the City Hall rent currently being paid ($250,000) by $40,000 per year.

The above leads me to ask the question:

"Why build a City Hall that we don't need with money we don't have when the interest earned from the outstanding CRA loan is sufficient to pay the rent on the current City Hall with $40,000 per year left over?"

I rest my case.

Pete Hull
Palm Coast


Take courage and build City Hall now

Dear Editor:

It makes sense to me for a variety of reasons that Palm Coast should proceed to build a new City Hall in Town Center. In looking at the important issues being discussed, I'm thinking of someone who wants to drive from New York City to San Francisco, and who wants to take a variety of roads along the way. If they sat in Times Square with perfect vision and could see all the traffic lights from there to the Golden Gate, and didn't want to go until all the lights were green, they would never start their journey.

If City Hall can be built with no tax increases, as presented, on land that's already set aside, it will be better than renting, and it will be good for economic development. It would be nice to have a City Hall to be proud of, instead of needing to find your way into city spaces shoehorned into a building designed for stores and offices.

Instead of castigating people who had the vision to plan and invest in Town Center, I think this is time to congratulate and thank them for their courage and foresight.

Others can spell out the details, but aesthetically, economically, fiscally, and environmentally, I support the concept and general plan that has been presented to City Council. I hope they'll have the courage to approve it, and the ability to be watchdogs for the bottom line as it proceeds.

W. Bruce Van Deusen
Palm Coast


Benefits outweigh the risks; build City Hall

Dear Editor:

Over the past few months, there has been a renewed discussion surrounding the construction of a new Palm Coast City Hall in Town Center. I have read the Palm Coast Observer’s reporting and letters to the editor about this prospect with great enthusiasm. Watching this process unfurl has been a showcase of community involvement and the democratic process, but now is the time that a decision should be made.

History and tradition has shown us that we construct government buildings, which are the hub of our governing activity, that represent the people and their community. Look at our nation’s Capitol Building or our state’s Capitol Building — even the Flagler County Government Services Building. They all are structures that represent the pride and spirit of the nation, state and county. Palm Coast currently has a building designed for retail activity and, while a fine commercial building, it does not generate any civic pride, nor does it represent the professional image our city should project.

While I understand that the last attempt at garnering community approval for a new City Hall was not successful, this time around many of the earlier concerns have been addressed and resolved. Financing this project will not require an increase of our current property tax. While the mechanics of paying for this can be somewhat confusing, the long and short is that this project has solid financing that is not a disguised shell game. As an added bonus, the city, thus the taxpayers, will save because there will no longer be any rent payments.

Because the building will be built to modern specifications and green standards, the maintenance and utility costs associated with the older, current facility will be dramatically lower. While difficult to measure, workplace efficiencies will be greater. Our city staff will simply be able to be more effective at doing their jobs.

It is my hope that as the process moves along, our council will authorize Mr. Landon to take whatever steps are necessary to making a new City Hall a reality.

Tom Grimes
Palm Coast

 

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