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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 091107 Special Meeting Approved October 9, 2007 saw 1918 19 CITY OF ATASCADERO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING ATASCADERO CITY COUNCIL City Council Town Hall Meeting Downtown Streetscape, Phase II MINUTES Tuesday, September 11, 20079 5 00 p m Mayor Pro Tem Brennler called the meeting to order at 5.03 p m ROLL CALL Present: Council Members Beraud, Clay, O'Malley, and Mayor Pro Tem Brennler Absent: Mayor Luna Others Present: Deputy City Clerk Grace Pucci Staff Present: City Manager Wade McKinney, Public Works Director Steve Kahn, Community Development Director Warren Frace, Fire Chief Kurt Stone, Police Chief John Couch, Deputy Public Works Director David Athey, Redevelopment Specialist Marty Tracey, Deputy Public Works Director Geoff English, Deputy City Clerk Victoria Randall and Interim City Attorney Robert Schultz. CC Special Meeting Minutes 09/11/07 Page 1 of 4 Approved October 9, 2007 DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PHASE II ■ Description. Request for input and approval of projects developed in response to the ongoing public input process ■ Fiscal Impact: Funding for the Streetscape project is allocated from Redevelopment Agency funds, Wayfinding funding, and CDBG funding The City General Fund will not be impacted by this project. The amount of funding to design and construct all the projects exceeds the funding allocated to the projects per the two tables below Staff will develop more precise cost estimates, based on actual design documents, after the City Council accepts the proposed projects and design elements We will then bring a report to council on the final design and costs Based on this information Council can decide which projects to build ■ Recommendation. Council approve Streetscape, Phase II projects and elements, and direct staff to start the design process [Public Works] Deputy Public Works Director David Athey gave the staff report and answered questions of Council PUBLIC COMMENT Eric Greening discussed the following issues 1) lighting should be from behind or at ground level as you approach the pedestrian under crossing, 2) when it is windy and rainy the bus shelter design will not provide shelter from the winds, and without rain gutters runoff from the roof will splatter the floor of the shelter, 3) important to get more input from bus users before any final decision is made on the shelters, and 4) spoke in favor of traffic calming Greg Ravat made the following suggestions 1) Traffic Way and Palma should be the first priority because of pedestrian safety, and the need for landscaping to cool the street, 2) the bus shelter should have three sides for protection from the elements, and 3) the arch design appears to be three or four story's high and out of scale, he would like something more in proportion with the street. Joanne Main, CEO Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the area of EI Camino Real at Rosario near the Police Station, and asked if there was any discussion regarding abandoning the on ramp to 101 at that location She stated it is dangerous to enter into businesses on the west side of EI Camino Real at this location and suggested either allowing a u-turn at that location or a round about. Steve Martin, Executive Director Atascadero Main Street, reported that the Board of Directors was appreciative of the time taken to gather their input and have placed the Rosario / EI Camino Real, and Palma / Traffic Way intersection projects as their first priorities Additionally they would like to see the street light project done this year Lon Allen spoke in favor of the entry arch sign stating he liked the concept and that it would add to the downtown CC Special Meeting Minutes 09/11/07 Page 2 of 4 Approved October 9, 2007 Bobbie Nunez commented on the advantages of a pointed rather than rounded median at Palma and Traffic Way so that people could not make u-turns there She also spoke of the 76 corner that Cal Trans owns and asked if they were considering putting in a corner park, and if so, she encouraged the use of public art at that location Chuck Ward offered the following suggestions. 1) use larger shade trees rather than small trees, 2) add fixtures to the lampposts for flags or banners, 3) add a cable that would span the street for banners announcing special events, etc and 4) the entry arch should be designed to fit in with the city's overall design scheme Bobbie Nunez stated she thought the streetscape projects were great. Mayor Pro Tem Brennler closed the Public Comment period. Council Comments Council Member Beraud 1 Must consider the scale of the archway, she likes the design as pictured but suggested putting up poles to get an idea of how high it will be 2 Agrees with flag holders on lampposts and a cable for banners 3 The design and lighting of the pedestrian tunnel is important. Would like to see side lighting on the walls and improvements inside the tunnel 4 She is comfortable with either Colony Square or the Creek for the location of the archway sign, however the scale of the sign would make a difference Council Member Clay 1 Likes the idea of the archway sign and would place it at the creek bridge where it was before The sign could be scaled down if needed 2 Could agree with a banner going across the street. 3 Likes the idea of changing the lighting on the bridge to be like it was in the past. 4 Would like to see lighted crosswalks at Virginia Plaza for safety 5 The pointed roof design of the bus shelter will cause runoff; he suggested if the back is sealed people wouldn't get wet. He would like to see the roof designed like the dome at city hall 6 In favor of large trash cans 7 Agreed with an acceleration lane at the Rosario on-ramp to US 101 8 The area around the on and off ramps on Traffic Way is unsightly and could be improved Council Member O'Malley- 1 Safety must be the first priority the pedestrian tunnel is a problem and should be towards the top of the list. 2 Street lighting is a safety issue and will enhance the business district, so it should also be a priority 3 After safety should look at what has the biggest impact on the revenue feedback loop, such as Wayfinding and lighting to help downtown CC Special Meeting Minutes 09/11/07 Page 3 of 4 Approved October 9, 2007 4 It would be easy to get a copper rain gutter for the bus shelter, and it would add a nice detail feature 5 There should be electrical outlets near the light posts to help during events. 6 He has access to one of the original lampposts from the creek bridge and suggested taking a casting to incorporate in the design scheme 7 In favor of larger trash cans and more of them 8 Likes the design of the entry arch, but is concerned about scale It would be helpful to have a scale model or other mechanism for visualizing it. 9 The Colony Square location for the entry arch sign would be good if it benefits businesses in the area, and moving it closer to Highway 41 would also be good for the visibility of the sign Mayor Pro Tem Brennler- 1 Agreed with illumination at the pedestrian tunnel entrance 2 Must try to alleviate the rain issue at the bus shelter 3 U-turns for the median would be a violation of traffic law 4 Agreed with the flag and banner holders 5 He has a problem visualizing the size of the archway sign and thought a computer visualization program would be a good tool 6 It is important to move forward and get this done 7 He is partial to the Colony Square location for the archway sign There was Council discussion regarding their recommendations to staff • There was Council Consensus for gutters on the bus shelters, banner signs, outlets on the lampposts, and more trashcans and of a larger size. There was Council consensus for the staff recommendation of Colony Square for the location of the archway sign, with input on the scale of the sign. (Clay supported the creek bridge location) MOTION By Council Member O'Malley and seconded by Council Member Clay to adjourn the meeting Motion passed 4.0 by a roll-call vote. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Pro Tem Brennler adjourned the meeting at 6.25 p m to the regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council at 7.00 p m , September 11, 2007 MINT S PREPA Y Pucci, Dep y City Clerk CC Special Meeting Minutes 09/11/07 Page 4 of 4