Report Prepared by: Frank Quintero, Director of Economic Development
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of a Supplemental Appropriation from Fund 074, Economic Development Opportunity Fund, in the Amount of $20,000.00 to Project 119063 to Secure and Complete the Abatement at 636 W. Main Street and Authorization for the City Manager or Designee to Take the Necessary Action(s) to Complete the Abatement
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff is asking Council to consider adding $20,000.00 to Project 119063 to secure the site and complete the abatement of all nuisance conditions including, backfilling a pit where the building once stood at 636 W. Main Street.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the Supplemental Appropriation from the unreserved and unencumbered balance of Economic Development Opportunity-Fund 074, in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 to Project 119063; and,
B. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments; and,
C. Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to take the necessary action(s) to complete the abatement.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or
2. Approve, subject to conditions as specified by the City Council; or
3. Deny the request; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by the Council; or
5. Defer action until a specified date.
AUTHORITY
City of Merced City Council Resolution 2018-20 Economic Development Opportunity Fund policy; Use of Fund. (1), Section F; and Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2019-2020 Adopted Budget
DISCUSSION
At the meeting of April 1, 2019, the City Council approved a Supplemental Appropriation in the amount of $120,400 to abate the substandard, dangerous, and nuisance conditions located at 636 W. Main Street (Attachment 1). The City secured Court approval to enter, inspect, and demolish the subject property.
Substantial progress has been made since the meeting of April 1, 2019, including structural engineering analysis and adjacent structure reinforcement. The subject building was demolished during the week of October 21, 2019. As remnants of the demolished building were cleared, the contractor discovered the building was sitting on a pit approximately 30-inches in depth which we believe was being used, in part, as housing for vagrants and those involved in illegal activities.
As demolition is being concluded, the open/unsecured pit, a nuisance and dangerous condition on the property, needs to be abated, by backfilling with the appropriate material, as a safety measure to prevent further use as a shelter for vagrants and those engaging in illegal activities and to complete the nuisance abatement project as a whole.
Staff is acquiring an estimate for services to backfill the pit on the subject site. Efforts are being made to expedite this final part of the project to meet the Court deadline of November 12, 2019.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
To backfill the pit, secure the site, and complete the project, staff is requesting a Supplemental Appropriation in the amount of $20,000.00 from Fund 074, Economic Development Opportunity Fund, to Project #119063. Sufficient funds are in the account to accommodate the requested Supplemental Appropriation.
With the project near completion, staff will present Council with a final cost breakdown of the abatement project within 90-days along with options to expedite cost recovery efforts.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Administrative Report to Council - Meeting Date 4/1/2019