The Coos Bay City Council isn’t happy about the price, but has agreed to lease offices in the Hub Building for $17,695. It will serve as the temporary home for the Visitor Information Center while the existing facility is expanded.

The 10-month lease starts July 1 and runs through the end of April 2010. City Manager Chuck Freeman said the city plans to sublease some of the space to the Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau for $200 a month.

Councilors Jon Eck, Joanie Johnson and Gene Melton all said they thought the rent was a bit high.

The city attempted to bargain for a better rate, said Economic and Community Development Manager Joyce Jansen. She noted a previous tenant paid $1,930 a month for the 1,822-square-foot space.

“We are paying a little less than fair market value,” she said.

Another option discussed Tuesday was renting space in the North Point Realty Building. It would cost $950 a month, compared to $1,695 in the Hub building, but the space is smaller and less visible.

Councilor Mark Daily argued in favor of leasing the Hub building space. He noted the purpose of refurbishing the visitor center is to put Coos Bay in the best light possible and renting a nice space does just that.  

“I think it puts a good foot forward,” he said.

Eventually everyone voted to approve the lease except Eck, who insisted the city look elsewhere.

In other business

The Urban Renewal Agency has approved new guidelines for applicants seeking Virtual Business Incubator grants. Businesses can only qualify if the owners live within Coos County, attend training on developing a business plan and promise to submit a report on how the grant benefited the business after a year. A business owner must repay the grant if she moves the business outside city limits and grants will only be awarded on a one-time basis for a maximum of $7,500.

The agency has approved 24 grants, including two Tuesday to Atlas Edge Staffing Services and Hush Hair.