City votes to renew Legion Hall lease

A unpopular proposal to abandon Veteran’s Memorial Building when the Community and Senior Center opens in January has been abandoned.

The City Council unanimously voted at the Dec. 9 meeting to direct City Manager Ken Frank to draft a new lease for the building owned by the American Legion Post 2222, although the space will no longer be needed for recreation department or seniors’ activities. The lease terms will be based on recommendations made by Frank at the meeting.

“I proposed we abandon Legion Hall, but that didn’t go over well,” Frank said.

Frank presented the council with proposed terms for a five-year lease that could be extended for five more years if both parties agree, but could be ended with a 90-day cancellation notice.

The city will pay the American Legion Post $2,200 a month, including a built-in cost-of-living increase after five years, with a maximum hike of 20% in the second five-year period for the use of the multipurpose room, storage areas and small offices on the upper level of the building

No Square Theatre has indicated an interest in sub-leasing the multipurpose room and storage space, Frank said.

“Mr. Frank saying we are interested is an understatement,” said No Square founder Bree Burgess Rosen. “We are giddy at the prospect of having the space. “

Burgess Rosen said the group will show respect for the historical building, once the city’s school house.

No Square will pay $2,000 a month for the sub-lease and be responsible for interior cleaning, maintenance and minor repairs.

The city also will lease the 700 square feet of office space for an estimated $1,500 a month.

Laguna Canyon Foundation Executive Director Karl Warkomski said he was approached about renting the office space and he is hopeful about the prospects.

“Our current office is 500 square feet and with four of us in there, it is a little tight, so I am hoping this will accommodate our needs,” Warkomski said.

However, the foundation is not committed and the council directed Frank to find a tenant willing to pay $2 a square foot a month.

The city will use the estimated $3,500 sub-lease proceeds to pay the American Legion its $2,000 a month and still have $1,300 to pay for water, trash collection, landscape maintenance and some minor repairs.

“If the council wants to allocate more money for repairs, one option is to take it from the art organizations account under the Business Improvement District,” Frank said. “Another option is to take it out of the city’s General Fund.”

All capital improvements costing more than $1,000 will be the responsibility of American Legion unless the city requires the improvement. Utility costs will be shard by the users.

The city will continue to pay the property taxes and fire and casualty insurance because it has a better rate than the Legion.

The city, lessees and the Legion will each carry $1 million in liability insurance, with the lessees and Legion naming the city as an additional insured.

“We want to thank the council and the public for their support and Ken [City Manager] Frank who has been a real work horse on this,” said David Connell, post commander.