May 14, 2007

Museum, city in bind on repairs

Director blames city for basement leak, seeks money from council; staff wants nonprofit to fund fix

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Drop for drop and dollar for dollar, plans for the Palo Alto History Museum may be more than the city bargained for, thanks to a leaky basement ceiling that could cost as much as $300,000 to fix.

The museum's board is asking the city to pay for the repairs at the historic Roth Building, and the city council will vote on whether to grant the request tonight. City staff is recommending the council reject it. The repairs are estimated to cost between $145,000 and $300,000, according to local contracting firm Vance Brown Builders.

"We think we have made a substantial investment in the building and now we think it's time for the nonprofit to make an investment as well," City Manager Frank Benest said, referring to the funds the city has spent fixing and maintaining other parts of the building at 300 Homer Ave.

In April 2000, the city bought the former Palo Alto Medical Foundation building for about $1.9 million with plans to use it for a public project. After some demolition and removal of non-historic portions of the facility in December 2003, the city sought proposals for possible uses.

The council accepted the museum's proposal in April 2004, and in July 2006 the city allocated $415,000 for maintenance and repairs until the museum could take over. The city will receive $1 per year in rent from the museum, a standard agreement between the city and nonprofits.

At least one council member wants to turn off the funding tap.

"Unless there is something new, I just don't think the city can afford to keep putting money into this," Vice Mayor Larry Klein said.

Karen Holman, the museum project director, said the much-needed repairs should be included in the maintenance agreement. And the basement leak, she said, began after the city demolished the rear part of the building.

"I'm not an engineer, but I can say that's when it started to happen," Holman said. "To balk at a comparatively minor expenditure, when the city has made a significant investment in the property, seems to me like the city is not following through."

The museum's board of directors has offered to oversee the repair process, but has not yet discussed the prospect of paying for it, Holman said. The museum already has $7.2 million in renovations mapped out. If the council rejects the request, the basement repairs will be added to that list, to be paid for through fundraising, Holman said.

According to a letter the board sent to the city, the museum is supported by more than 300 individuals, families and organizations, including Hewlett Packard, the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and the Palo Alto Historical Association.

"We are committed to creating a history museum," Holman said. "This community is different, wonderful and creative. But this story is nowhere being told. That needs to be captured."