Cop shop cost rises $6 million

But the Eiglers don't want to sell.

"That don't make any sense," John Eigler said. "We're not interested in selling the property. The only way they'll get it is through eminent domain."

But the city's last experience with eminent domain, finalized three years ago, may have left a bad taste in city officials' mouths after they shelled out $6 million for one downtown block at Fourth and Railroad avenues. Kinko's Copy Center and Aguirre International, an international consulting firm and art gallery, now rent their space from the city.

"I'm not happy with eminent domain," said Deputy Mayor Sue Lempert. "But I think we're dealing with more-reponsible people."

Mayor John Lee did not want to comment on the decision until after Monday night's meeting.

But since it appears the family doesn't want to sell, the city may have to explore alternatives such as relocating the corporation yard from its current location behind the police station on Delaware Street to city property near the wastewater treatment plant. That cost is currently estimated at between $23.5 million and $25.3 million, according to McHugh. But moving facilities from the corporation yard to a new location will add time to the project and will also increase its cost.

The city has wanted to replace its police headquarters for more than three years after it was discovered that the facility is not seismically sound. City officials also say the aging building is also not large enough to accomodate the city's expanding police force.

In November 1998, 78.2 percent of San Mateo residents voted to increase the city's hotel tax from eight to 10 percent to pay for the retrofit and remodeling of the city's six fire stations and police headquarters. At the time, city officials said a 42,400 square foot remodeled facility with a 7,500 addition would cost $9.3 million.

Last year, San Mateo Community Development Director Barbara Kautz told the city council that initial estimates were wrong and that the new police headquarters would cost up to $22 million. But McHugh said remodeling the current station was ruled out since temporarily moving police officers would cost too much.

For the past year, city officials have looked at alternatives such as moving the station downtown or to the current City Hall site on 20th Avenue. Size and location issues helped rule those sites out, McHugh said.

So for now, the San Mateo City Council must decide if it's better to wait up to a year and perhaps dole out more taxpayer money or go through an arduous eminent-domain process if a deal can't be worked out with the Eiglers. Neither alternative seems particularly palatable.

"The whole thing is unfortunate from the beginning. The entire project has been fraught with difficulties and it's a very expensive project for the city," Lempert said. "I'm not happy with this but sometimes we have to do things that don't make us happy. I'm really not enthusiastic about any of this."

The San Mateo City Council study session will be held at the Poplar Creek Golf Course at 5:30 p.m.

<