Union Oil Building / Responsible Energy Council lease
Summary
The Responsible Energy Council will lease most of the Union Oil Building's second floor for about $2,200 a month to archive and preserve the city's oil museum collection, filling a gap left when the California Oil Foundation folded. The building stays active and the city gains revenue plus preservation expertise it lacks in-house.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed May 5, 2026.
Impact analysis
Roughly $2,200 a month (about $26,000+ a year) in new building revenue, offsetting utilities and upkeep.
History researchers, residents, and anyone who wants the Union Oil Building's unique collection preserved and accessible.
The collection remains unmanaged at city expense, and the building's activation is delayed.
Mentions & discussions (3)
City Council Regular - May 5, 2026
The Responsible Energy Council will lease most of the Union Oil Building's second floor for about $2,200 a month to archive and preserve the city's oil museum collection, filling a gap left when the California Oil Foundation folded. The building stays active and the city gains revenue plus preservation expertise it lacks in-house.
City Council Regular - Feb 4, 2026
Two speakers urged the city to resume negotiations with the REC, which offered to pay rent and professionally curate the oil museum's deteriorating collection at its own expense after the council tabled the deal two weeks ago.
City Council Regular - Jan 21, 2026
The city tried to sign a five-year license with the Responsible Energy Council to preserve the historic oil-museum collection, but contract concerns and Leap Lab's late objections led to a 3-1 tabling — and REC withdrew its offer, leaving the artifact preservation unresolved.
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