"The ideas being outlined today are aimed at achieving greater operating efficiencies for our respective government units while also benefitting all the taxpayers of Fort Wayne and Allen County," the Commissioners said in a letter accompanying their proposal.

The Commissioners' presentation contained the following points:

• The County proposes joint ownership in the City-County and Renaissance buildings, with equity exchange in buildings once the City purchases Renaissance.
• Fort Wayne's public safety agencies would locate in Renaissance along with those segments of the Allen County Sheriff's office currently housed in the Kidder Building on Lima Road.
• The City could also move some ancillary offices, such as City Utilities and Neighborhood Code Enforcement, to Renaissance.
• The City would retain all other administrative offices in the City-County Building.  

"We believe this proposal gives the City the ownership stake it desires while allowing it and the County to consolidate their respective operations more efficiently," the Commissioners' said in their letter.  "It brings together City and County law enforcement agencies in a facility that addresses their respective space needs.  Most importantly, this plan is advantageous to City and County taxpayers because it reduces the major renovation and relocation costs both sides would have to bear if the City were to move its entire administrative offices to Renaissance and the County had to fill the vacant space in the City-County Building."

Mayor Henry announced last month his proposal to purchase the Renaissance building at 200 East Berry Street for use as a city hall.