Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager
 
 

Date

March 10, 2008

 

Agenda Item No.       25

Roll Call No.              08-

Communication No.  08-129

Submitted by: Donald M. Tripp,

                        Park and Recreation Director

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Setting date of hearing for the vacation of parkland on which the former Science Center is located and lease of the former Science Center building in Ashworth Park (Greenwood Building) at 100 45th Street to The Academy

 

 

SYNOPSIS:  

 

Set hearing approving and authorizing execution of a 20-year lease agreement with The Academy (a non-profit school currently operating at 924 Polk Blvd) for lease of the main level of the Greenwood Building at 100 45th Street and vacating the land on which the Greenwood Building is located and abutting “yard” areas which will be part of the proposed leasehold.  The Academy will construct improvements before occupying the Greenwood Building, including replacing the HVAC system and will be responsible for maintenance for the entire Greenwood Building.  The tenant may include the lower level of the building in its lease at a future date. Details on the planned end use and proposed lease agreement will be a topic at the City Council Workshop scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

 

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount: $ 52,000 (estimated annual revenue)

 

Funding Source:  2007-08 Operating Budget, Page 259, Property Maintenance, SP767

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

 

Beginning on October 17, 1970, the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) operated a science center facility in Greenwood/Ashworth Parks. The structure was built on City-owned property pursuant to a science and industry grant whereby the City of Des Moines provided SCI the land for the facility as long as it was used as a science center.  SCI was responsible for all maintenance and other expenses relating to the facility.  The SCI opened their new location at 401 West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway in the spring of 2005.  SCI vacated the facility in Greenwood/Ashworth Parks effective September 15, 2005, and all maintenance and other expenses were assumed by the City on that date.

 

In response to the Council authorization on July 25, 2005 by Roll Call No. 05-1831, City staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for use of the facility. Staff and a citizen review committee met on November 1, 2005, to review a single proposal submitted jointly by Polk County Conservation/RDG Greenwood Studio for the GreenWood project. Committee members included the following:

 

Christine Hensley                                  Des Moines City Council

Robert Mahaffey                                  Business Community Representative

Kristi Lund Lozier & Judy McCarty      Greenwood Historic Neighborhood Association

Clark Smith                                          Ingersoll Park Neighborhood Association

Amanda Bellis & Carey McGhee          Youth Advisory Board

Mark Cooper                                       Waterbury Neighborhood Association

Denise Holck                                        Salisbury Oaks Neighborhood Association

Dani Lin                                               Linden Heights Neighborhood Association

Susan Noland                                       Park and Recreation Board Member

 

On November 7, 2005, by Roll Call No. 05-2720, Council directed staff to begin negotiations for an agreement based on the conceptual plan as submitted.  Staff began negotiations with Polk County Conservation Board (PCCB) while still maintaining and covering all expenses related to the facility.  Although these negotiations continued over a period of almost two years, an agreement for the end use of the building with PCCB was ultimately not successful.

 

On October 8, 2007, by Roll Call No. 07-1992, City Council directed staff to begin negotiations with The Academy for the Greenwood Building at 100 45th Street.  As part of this action, the original RFQ Committee compromised of Council members Christine Hensley and Bob Mahaffey, representatives from the Park and Recreation Board and the Youth Advisory Board, and the Greenwood Historic, Linden, Salisbury Oaks, Ingersoll and Waterbury Neighborhood Associations. 

 

On January 3, 2008, The Academy presented a concept plan to the RFQ Committee which the representatives in attendance unanimously endorsed. Currently City Park and Recreation and Legal staff are negotiating the final terms of the lease agreement with The Academy for reuse based on the concept as presented.

 

On February 26, 2008 a presentation to the Park and Recreation Board outlining the concept for the end use and general terms as known was received and filed.

 

Staff continues to negotiate terms and conditions for the lease agreement and end use and will make a recommendation for approval at the Public Hearing to be held on March 24, 2008. Details on the plans and proposed lease agreement will be a topic at the City Council Workshop scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2008

 

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  October 8, 2007

 

Roll Call Number: 07- 1992

 

Action:   Receipt of report from Polk County Conservation Board and letter from The Academy regarding the former Science Center and authorizing City Manager to negotiate with The Academy for lease of the building.  (Council Communication No.  07-615)    Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

Date:    November 7, 2005

 

Roll Call Number:  05-2720

 

Action: Negotiation with Polk County Conservation Board (PCCB) and RDG Greenwood Studios to develop Intergovernmental 28E Agreement for reuse of the old Science Center Facility for conservation and art uses.  (Council Communication No.  05-623)  Moved by Hensley to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

Date:    July 25, 2005

 

Roll Call Number:  05-1831

 

Action:  Issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for reuse of the former Science Center of Iowa (SCI) in Greenwood Park.  (Council Communication No.  05-410)  Moved by Coleman to adopt, and add Council Member Hensley to the Committee.  Motion Carried 6-1.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):

 

Date:  February 24, 2008 Park and Recreation Board

 

Roll Call Number: 08- 022

 

Action:   Receive and File update on former Science Center in Greenwood Park

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: 

 

Presentation of information regarding the proposed lease agreement and end use at an upcoming City Council Workshop.  Public Hearing approving and authorization of lease agreement with The Academy at the March 24, 2008 City Council Meeting.

 

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.