In November, Troutdale residents will have the opportunity to vote on a ballot measure which, if passed, would restore the almost 100-year-old City of Troutdale City Hall. Recently the City Council approved submitting to the citizens a request to authorize funds to rebuild City Hall. If approved, the Bond Levy would provide up to $7.3 million.
The old City Hall building at the corner of East Historic Columbia River Highway and SE Kibling was built in 1923. It was originally built to be a combination City Hall and community gathering space. It served as the town’s City Hall until 2012.
Based on structural engineering assessments, the building official determined the building was unsafe due to identified serious foundation and structural failings. City staff vacated the building and city services were dispersed to multiple locations. The staff that had been in one location, are now in five separate facilities — some of that rented space.
Based upon the age of the building and the fact that it has been vacant for eight years, and has not been upgraded or repaired, the building will continue to deteriorate if not renovated. The City Council has considered various assessments, studies, reports and proposed plans received from structural engineers, developers and architectural firms regarding the Old City Hall building. Numerous public hearings have been held over the last eight years to consider various options. In April 2019, the City Council determined to put the choice of funding the possible reconstruction of Old City Hall to the voters in the form of a Bond Levy which, if passed, would provide up to $7.3 million.
The proposed project would demolish the two existing building additions on the south and east sides, constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, and then excavate and repair the original foundation and stop water infiltration. The additions would then be reconstructed.
The proposed project would also allow for repairs to the structural beams and other structural members and the building would be upgraded to improve support for wind, snow, earthquake, and ice structural loads.
If the measure passes, the electrical, heating, air conditioning, ventilation and plumbing systems would be replaced. The proposed project would remove some of the adjacent street parking stalls in order to provide ADA building access and designated ADA parking stalls. A parking deck on the City parking lot across the street would be constructed to offset the loss of street parking by adding approximately 19 spaces.
If approved, the proposed reconstructed facility would provide space for some of the prior City Hall departments to return to the building. Under the proposal, the building would be optimized to provide a City Council Chambers and Municipal Court Room, reception and cashier desks, and administrative space for City staff. The departments that would be located in the renovated City Hall would be some of those that the public frequently interacts with.
If passed, the Bond Levy would authorize the City of Troutdale to issue and sell General Obligation Bonds up to a maximum of $7,300,000 to reconstruct Old City Hall. If the measure passes, and the City were to issue the maximum amount of the Bonds authorized by this Measure, the tax rate would increase by approximately $0.28 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home in Troutdale assessed at $200,000 the estimated annual increase in property taxes would be approximately $56.00 per year, or $4.67 per month.
The overall tax rate in Troutdale is currently $17.48 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home in Troutdale assessed at $200,000 the current total property taxes are $3,496 per year, or $291.33 per month. If the Bond levy passed the annual property taxes on a $200,000 home in Troutdale would increase from $3,496 per year to approximately $3,552 per year.
If the measure does not pass, the additional assessment would not be made and the projects outlined above would not be completed. For more detail on the information that the City Council considered in referring this measure to the voters, you can review the April 9, 2019 Council Meeting Packet.
A version of this article originally appeared in the September/October 2019 edition of The Troutdale Champion.