POCATELLO — The Pocatello City Council approved a $203,000 feasibility analysis with VCBO Architecture to consider moving city hall to a new location in historic downtown in a 3-2 vote.

The city is considering relocating city hall from its current location at 911 N. Seventh Ave. to 150 S. Arthur Ave. in Historic Downtown Pocatello, also known as the Old Federal Building.

The relocation would move approximately 80 employees within the city’s administrative departments to the downtown location. If a move occurred, the city anticipates — but has not confirmed — that law enforcement and emergency services departments would occupy the vacated space at 911 N. Seventh Ave.

The reasons behind the potential move include downtown revitalization, increased foot traffic and consumer spending, property value appreciation near the government facility, enhanced infrastructure use, long-term cost savings and support for mixed-use development.

The feasibility analysis will consist of three components — a locational analysis comparing the economic benefits of the existing city hall site and the proposed downtown site, case studies of the economic effect of four comparable cities that have relocated their city hall within the last 10 years, and a financial comparison of three reuse scenarios for the existing city hall location should a move occur.

The first scenario proposes maintaining ownership of 911 N. Seventh Ave. and converting former administrative space to other city functions, such as data storage and law enforcement.

The second would maintain ownership of 911 N. Seventh Ave. and lease the 61,361-square-foot space to private tenants.

The third scenario would be to sell 911 N. Seventh Ave., the current location of city hall.

According to a locational analysis provided by Stantec, a Utah-based engineering consultant, a downtown city hall would generate daily local spending, strengthen downtown’s role as an economic driver and civic center, act as a catalyst for private investment and redevelopment, support small businesses and event-based activity and deliver stronger long-term fiscal returns.

During the regularly scheduled city council meeting, the Council questioned Brent McLane, the city’s planning and development services director, who provided insights into the feasibility analysis and spoke to the viability of the project.

The Council then deliberated at length, noting potential issues with parking, the current condition of city hall, general accessibility, financial considerations and other factors. Council members Hayden Paulsen, Ann Swanson and Stacey Satterfield voted yes while Dakota Bates and Brent Nicols voted no. Corey Mangum was absent.

The city expects the analysis to take approximately six months to complete. Once finished, the Council will vote on whether to move into phase two of the project.