Hacienda de las Flores on Donald Dr. Photo Andy Scheck

A group of Moraga residents gathered at the Town Council meeting on September 9 to express their concern over the move of Town staff back into the Hacienda de las Flores. The issue was not on the agenda, so the residents spoke during the public comment period.
Town Manager Mike Segrest had announced earlier this summer that staff presently located at 329 Rheem would return to the second and third floor of the Hacienda while the town plans for the retrofit of the Rheem building, finds the money to do the work and the complete construction.
Some residents are concerned by how long that transition period would be since there was no published timeline. They believe that the Hacienda's sole function should be recreation. These residents were further alarmed by the request by staff for funds to repair portions of the Hacienda.
The staff move itself was not discussed during the Council Meeting, but staff sought approval for the work at the Hacienda. According to Town Engineer Jill Mercurio, most of the construction is needed to repair the damage done by the fire that affected part of the building in March. "We took that opportunity to update some of the systems that had long needed maintenance, such as the alarm and the electrical," added Mercurio. Segrest said the work that was requested to accommodate the return of staff is minor and reversible.
The budget to execute the repairs was approved unanimously. As for the move itself, Mayor Dave Trotter promised the residents that a hearing would happen shortly, possibly as soon as the next Council meeting on September 23.