For the past half century, Turlock has been home to an Army National Guard Armory but soon the National Guard will be pulling out of town leaving a 12,000 square foot building open for possible City of Turlock uses.
The Turlock City Council will consider on Tuesday appropriating $23,400 out of the General Fund Reserve balance to complete environment assessments of the property, located at 1040 Flower St. and adjacent to the Soderquist Baseball Field.
The City of Turlock has been home to the National Guard Armory since 1960 when the City granted the State a 99 year lease of a 5 acre parcel for the purpose of constructing an armory. In 1967, the City requested a lease back of an used portion of the property for recreational purposes. This area is where the Soderquist Baseball Field was built.
On June 10, the City received notice from the State Military Department indicating their intent to end the lease early, effective Dec. 31. The National Guard unit currently assigned to the Turlock Armory is being permanently relocated.
According to the lease agreement, the State Military Department must remove all improvements upon ending the lease - which would include demolishing the existing building and 25,000 square feet of parking lot. As the State would rather not pay to demolish the building, City staff performed an initial evaluation of the facility and determined it has the potential to be used for City related services or activities.
City staff found that the facility looks to be in stable condition, however, in need of modernization throughout. To move forward with the evaluation of the property, City staff is recommending Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments be performed at a total cost of $23,400.
On Tuesday, the City Council is also expected to:
• Receive an update on the Special Event Permit Application process from City Manager Gary Hampton;
• Consider approving closures of portions of Canal Drive, Main Street, Center Street, Crane Avenue and Minaret Drive from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 for the Turlock High School Homecoming Parade;
• Consider approving the purchase of 42 self-contained breathing apparatus and associated equipment from Cascade Fire Equipment, for a cost of $392,361; and
• Consider approving an agreement between the City of Turlock and Turlock Gospel Mission for support services and case management for the City's Diversion Program, at a cost of $34,596.
The Turlock City Council will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday to consider the above items in the Yosemite Room at City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.