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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-03 Downtown Beautification Improvement Ad Hoc Committee Agenda PacketMinutes Downtown Beautification Improvement ad hoc Committee March 27, 2014 Gresham Room, Ashland Public Library 7:30 a.m. Attendance Dawkins, Hammond, Jensen, Friend, Seffinger, Thompson, Beam, Lemhouse (Council liaison), Seltzer (staff liaison). Robertson (park liaison) Absent: Kencairn, David Guest Dave Kanner (City Administrator) Call to Order Vice Chair Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:35 am. Public Input Neil Stewart passed around a list of Plaza enhancement suggestions. He also presented a model of the Plaza and addressed each enhancement. He recommends replacing the existing trees with London Plane Sycamore trees. He recommends expanding the pavement along the businesses of North Main across from the Plaza to 12 feet. He suggests adding a fountain to the center of the Plaza. He recommends free standing planters and circular seats around each tree. He suggests removing the concrete seat walls and replace the area with groundcover and bushes. He also recommends building a stage four feet off the ground. He volunteers to design and build the improvements and the city would just pay for materials and labor. David Sherr distributed material he would like included in the record. He then explained his proposal for a slight redesign to the fountain in front of the Black Swan which include sealing the stone per Jim Oleson, raising the water basin and planting flowers in the center. Staff update on short list projects Seltzer referred to the information she provided to the committee for each of the short list projects: 1)Remove the asphalt on Lithia Way between Pioneer Street and Oak Street. Motion by Hammond: Move approval to recommend to the City Council to remove the asphalt, install irrigation, install top soil, order tree grates and wait to plant the tree until October, plant annuals or some other temporary plants to provide color during the summer months. Second by Dawkins, all in favor. Motion passes. Robertson explained the best time to plant trees is in the fall. The committee will want input from the Tree Commission on the type of trees to plant. Dawkins suggested the committee should consider trees in large planter boxes vs planting in ground. 2) Welcome Signs Motion by Dawkins: Move to recommend to the City Council to move forward with three Welcome to Ashland signs to be placed at three locations: RR trestle, Ashland Street and Siskiyou Boulevard at Tolman Creek Road. Seconded by Beam. Motion passes. a Friend clarified that these signs are "temporary" with the idea that in the near future more artistic styled signs will be installed. The Public Art Commission could have a request for proposals prepared by September, a decision on an artist by March and installation possibly by June of 2015. It was noted that the charge of the committee was to focus on the downtown area and the signs are not downtown. The committee feels that the signs are the "front door" to the downtown and should be included. 3) Lighting at pathway from New Theater to Main Street Motion by Dawkins: Move to recommend to the City Council to install a second Sternberg light. Seconded by Jensen. Motion passes. The committee asked staff to connect with the property owner of Earthly Goods to begin discussion about possibly adding LED lights to the building and the possibility of a mural or other decorative element to the wall. 4) Improve right of way at the corner of Lithia Way and Pioneer in front of Stop and Shop. No action. Staff will get a survey of the area. Kencairn offered to provide sketches of what could be done to that area. Comments were made about providing seating in front of a business would not necessarily be welcomed by the business. Staff explained there is a need for a retaining wall because of elevation changes but it doesn't have to be a seat wall. 5) Improve landscape maintenance at city parking lots. Robertson explained with the Park Commission ban on the use of urbicide, it is very difficult to maintain those areas. It was suggested that new and denser plants be installed, soil amended to inprove plant growth and crowd out weeds. Also suggested was contracting with outside service to do the maintenance. They can spray. Also suggested was sending a communication from the committee to Parks Commission to consider lifting the urbicide ban in some locations including the median along Siskiyou Boulevard and city lot landscaping. Criteria Time constraints did not allow for a full discussion about criteria. Committee members were supportive of the draft criteria put forward by Stef Seffinger. Next meeting a eg nda 15 minutes for public input 15 minutes for discussion about criteria 60 minutes to discuss Plaza projects Meeting adjourned at 9:00 am. N a) an a March 26, 2014 The following is offered by Stef Seffinger as a springboard for criteria discussion. Suggested criteria for evaluating downtown projects: Rating scale 1-5 with 1 being does not meet criteria and 5 best meets criteria CRITERIA 1. Increases aesthetics of downtown to draw both citizens and tourists to increase commerce and enjoyment of downtown. 2. Increases safety of downtown 3 Provides better access and pedestrian traffic flow 4. Environmentally sensitive to changing climate and water use 5. Maintenance costs for project are reasonable 6. Public support for project 7 How well does project fit in with master plan for downtown. 9W, C) an a April 3, 2014 Downtown Beautification and Improvement ad hoc Committee Plaza Improvement 1. Previously identified Plaza projects: o Free standing planters o Moveable tables and chairs o Replace pavers o Trellis over seat walls on Plaza o Add denser (pedestrian -unfriendly) plants to planting beds on Plaza In addition, based on the model presented by Neil Stewart: • Replace the existing trees with London Plane Sycamore trees. • Expand the pavement along the businesses of North Main across from the Plaza to 12 feet. • Add a fountain to the center of the Plaza. • Add free standing planters • Add circular seats around each tree. • Remove the concrete seat walls and replace the area with groundcover and bushes. • Add a stage four feet off the ground.