City Council Grants Another Extension For Church in Arcadia Project

City Council voted 4 to 1 last Tuesday to extend the rent subsidy to the Church in Arcadia for an additional 6 months following the lease expiration this month.

The church has been leasing space at to conduct services since the Redevelopment Agency purchased its old facility at 21 Morlan Place to facilitate the Rusnak expansion. 

The original agreement included the construction of a new church at Live Oak Avenue with payment of $2,000 per month for up to 18 months to cover costs for temporary relocation, according to the staff report presented by Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Jason Kruckeberg.

The allotted amount was then doubled to $4,000 in January of 2009 to pay for the church to lease space at Dana Middle as well as rent office space at 43 East Huntington Drive. After the expiration of the agreed upon terms in July of 2010, the Church requested an extension of 12 months to make up for delays from unforeseen circumstances, but the Council balked, choosing instead to grant the church a 6 month extension.

At last Tuesday night’s Council Meeting, David Dong, President of the Church in Arcadia and Architect John Peruzzi asked for another 12 month extension, once again due to unforeseen circumstances in the delay of the new church construction, and a waiver of building permit fees.

Peruzzi complimented staff’s and Council’s cooperation and professionalism in handling this project up until the meeting on Sept. 7, 2010 when the Council “acted like a scolding parent” telling the church that the deal was so good that money should be given back to the city, according to Peruzzi.

Peruzzi pointed out the inexperience of the church in such a deal and noted the risks they were taking by accepting the agreement to purchase the property.

“The Church committee had little understanding of what they would actually have to do, from financial control issues to programming the current life safety energy accessibility codes, life cycle costs, storm water pollution prevention plans and many other things they would have to learn about in order to make educated decisions about this project,” he said.

Dong also started by thanking Council for their help during this process but also pointed out lack of experience as a reason in construction delays. “We really didn’t know it would take this long and that much money,” Dong said. “We thought 18 months would be enough.” Dong also asked for assistance with a waive of permit fees.

Council denied waiving permit fees noting that any such deal should have been made years ago when the original contract was drawn up, but again met the Church half way and approved a new 6 month extension. 

Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Harbicht voted against the 6-month extension noting the city's "extended the payments we were making already. I believe they have run into problems and delays, but it’s not of the city’s doing.”

Council Member Roger Chandler reiterated Council’s general belief that the Church is truly making out on this deal. “I’m convinced that when you get through this Mr. Dong...you will have a fine facility and will be far better off than you were. I’m convinced of that."

To date the Redevelopment Agency has expended $88,314 leasing the Church's two facilities, according to staff reports.