Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout5A - Municipal Building Plaza Development - East SideCITY OF BOULDER PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM MEETING DATE: June 26, 2006 (Agenda Item Preparation Date: June 21, 2006) AGENDA TITLE: Municipal Building Plaza Development - East Side PRESENTERS: Jan Geden, CPRP, Director, Parks and Recreation Department Alice Guthrie, Parks and Planning Superinteadent Maureen Spitzer, Landscape Designer Lisa Green, Parks Supervisor Executive Summary: The city of Boulder Pazks and Recreation Department is proceeding with the development of a plaza on the east side of the Municipal Building. This proposal replaces an eazlier, phased approach that was not pursued due to wst and maintenance issues. The project has been reviewed by the Civic Center Task Force and the Downtown Design Advisory Boazd. The concept plan and perspective sketches will be placed on display in the Municipal Building lobby when they are finalized. The conceptual plan for the east side of the city of Boulder Municipal Building provides a public plaza space that will include images that have meaning to Boulder's Sister Cities. Staff is coordinating with Boulder's Sister Cities on this project. The images will be incorporated into the plaza in the form of Sister City stones or squazes. The design will also include seating areas, entry columns on the east side neaz Broadway, lighting and low-water landscaping. The plan will incorporated a gift of cherry trees from Boulder's Sister City Yamagata, Japan. Fiscal Impacts: Budgetary: The project will be completed in fa112006/spring 2007 and is estimated to cost $325,000. Funding for the project has been identified in the 2006 and 2007 Civic Pazk Complex fund (a portion of which has been reserved for this purpose over a number of yeazs) and in the Lottery fund. In addition, underground utilities (water and sewer) will be replaced at the same time as the plaza construction using funds provided by Facilities and Asset Management (FAM). AGENDA ITEM # ; PAGE_1_ Other impacts: Very little additional maintenance will be required for the proper upkeep of this landscape. The Pazks and Recreation Department is optimistic that volunteers and/or sponsors will be found to assist with the maintenance of the flower and shrub bed areas, and the turf areas wi11 be smaller due to the addition of the plaza azea. Water use in the area will be reduced. Board and Commission feedback: The concept plan has been reviewed by the Civic Center Task Force (CCTF) on June 6 and the Downtown Design Advisory Board (DDAB) on June 14. The CCTF and DDAB supported the entry column features and generally supported the choice of materials for the plaza and landscaping. Comments from the CCTF are listed below and have been incorporated into the design: 1. Add railings to the southwest comer of the p"roject azea to prevent cut through traffic. 2. Confirm that the lighting for the "sign wall" and entry columns meet the lighting code and deter pigeons from nesting on the fixtures. ~ 3. Add center arm rests to the benches to discourage transients. 4. Coordinate with FAM to replace the underground utilities at the same time as the plaza construction. 5. CCTF supported the proposed design of the entry column features and Sister City images. The staff Arts Commission Liaison will update the Arts Commission at their July meeting. Comments from the DDAB that aze listed below do not necessarily represent a consensus among the DDAB members. 1. DDAB expressed concerns about the path leading to "nowhere" (asial design leading to the east face of the Municipal Building where no entries currently exist). In response to this, trees were relocated away from the historic building entry to allow entry doors in the east fa~ade to be considered for a future project. 2. DDAB commented about the lack of trees in the plaza, wondering if this will be a hot place only utilized during festivals. The purpose of the plaza is to provide a ceremonial and decorative space honoring the Sister Cities and to accommodate small events. The plaza is small (38' x 38 ) and it is felt that trees in this area would limit the usability of the space and add to the maintenance costs. In response to this comment, benches were added to the west end of the plaza, where the "sign wall" casts heavy shade in the late afternoon and early evening. The tree canopy shading the benches on the north and south sides of the plaza was also increased. 3. DDAB suggested providing soft surface trails through the cherry tree groves and spreading more seating into these azeas. This idea could be accommodated at a later date after the cherry trees have developed a canopy and a higher level of mainienance funding has been identified. AGENDA ITEM # ; PAGE_2_ Public feedback: There has been no public heazing on this project. A Weekly Information Item (WIP) was sent to Council on March 22, 2006 and placed on the city's website. Staff received no comments from Council members. Staff has met with members of the Sister City Alliance to review the project. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends proceeding with construction of the plaza and landscaping. Analysis: The plaza azea will be completed in 2006, with irrigation and landscaping completed by city staff by early second quarter 2007. This proposal replaces an eazlier, phased appzoach that was not pursued due to cost and maintenance issues. The current proposal provides public plaza space that will include images that have meaning to Boulder's Sister Cities. The images will be incorporated into the plaza in the form of Sister City stones or squares. Christian Muller, the city's consultant on the project, has solicited information from the six sister city groups in order to create appropriate images. The materials used for the Sister City squares will be water jet cut stone and bronze. The proposal includes low water landscaping and irrigation. Plant materials from the Plant Select~ program will be included in the design. This program is a cooperative effort between Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and the Colorado landscaping industry to select, produce and promote low-water use plants that are well-adapted to our region. Pazks and Recreation staff is collaborating with the city's Water Conservation group to provide education to the public about the low-water plants used. A bronze plaque will identify the location of a time capsule that was buried near the Municipal Building in 1959. Shielded LED lighting will down-light the "sign wall", provide low level lighting at the ramps, and backlight images in the entry columns neaz Broadway. Underground utilities (water & sewer) will be replaced at the same time as the plaza construction in coordination with FAM. Staff is coordinating with the City Manager's Office on the process for formally naming the plaza and on a groundbreaking ceremony in mid-August, which would involve the PRAB. Attachments: A. Plan view B. Perspective sketch looking West C. Perspective sketch looking Northwest D. Perspective sketch looking Southwest AGENDAITEM# ;PAGE 3 Attachment A O ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAPIE O TRENCH GRATE O ENTRYCOIUMN ` ` :~ / / ~`Y ~. ~/ ~e~*' `~ ~ !g`~~. 5 ^.: • /' i / /~ ~~ . % O SpUARE PL1ql1E FOR TIME CAPSIILE a ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Attachment C ~ ~~ ,~ ~ ^ , . _~~~N -Y_ '~~ ~ +~~. .~~' `~'., :~~. !~'=~~ ~ ~ ~'~''~ !