CC 04-30-19 #2 Proposed Capital Improvement Program Cm. Paul Written Comments1
Kirsten Squarcia
Subject:Feedback for Item 2 - April 30, 2019 Special Meeting - Capital Improvement Projects
‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: Darcy Paul
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 8:10 PM
To: Grace Schmidt, MMC <graces@cupertino.org>; Timm Borden <Timmb@cupertino.org>
Subject: Feedback for Item 2 ‐ April 30, 2019 Special Meeting ‐ Capital Improvement Projects
Comments of Councilmember Paul (feedback and recommendations):
Council needs to take on more oversight over the design and bidding process in order to bring estimates and costs for
major projects down. As part of this, we should be providing the public and Council the details of multiple bids for
construction estimates. Morgan Hill is adding significant amounts of space to its library facility for approximately $4
million, for example, which is a phased plan from an original budget of $3 million if it were paid for at one time. This
includes a new program room of almost 3000 square feet. Our estimates have seemed very high for civic projects. Also,
our initial design architects should be talking with users of the space that they're designing.
Prioritize and allocate funding for a library expansion to be funded from the City's current capital reserves. Proceed with
this project upon the conclusion of discussions with the Library Joint Powers Authority that would, together with a plan
for community‐based fundraising efforts, result in the net recovery of at least half of the estimated costs of the project
over the course of a longer term. Also ensure that we are making optimized choices for costs of the project.
Recommend bringing our current building up to seismic code. Recommend putting forward a plan for a new emergency
operations center at the Corporation Yard. Remove a new City Hall from our current capital improvements program.
Restore the funding of $3 million that we removed from other projects in late 2018 in order to proceed with the design
of a new City Hall. We can consider starting a building fund for City Hall in the future, perhaps at least five years after
current upgrades are made, but this would need to be brought back with a long‐term plan for paying for the entirety of
the project.
‐Darcy Paul
Councilmember
City of Cupertino