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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-14-078 - Intersection Mural Painting Feasibility Staff Rport I r rc'.�► t .R Infrastructure Services Department wmkitchener.ca REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: August 11, 2014 SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, Director of Transportation Services, 519-741- 2200 Ext. 7038 PREPARED BY: Justin Readman, Director of Transportation Services, 519-741- 2200 Ext. 7038 Barry Cronkite, Transportation Planning Project Manager, 519- 741-2200 Ext. 7738 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 10 DATE OF REPORT: July 18, 2014 REPORT NO.: INS-14-078 SUBJECT: Intersection Mural Painting Feasibility RECOMMENDATION: That an intersection mural painting pilot project be initiated at the intersection Wilhelm and Ahrens Street subject to the conditions outlined within the attached Terms of Reference; and further, That staff report back approximately one year after the installation of the mural with recommendations and a policy, if applicable, for subsequent installations. BACKGROUND: In 2014 Staff was approached by the Mt Hope — Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association regarding the installation of a mural within the intersection of Wilhelm and Ahrens Streets. Staff suggested that the neighbourhood association contact their local councillor to determine appropriate steps to investigate this further. Subsequently, Council approved the following motion at the June 30, 2014 Council meeting: WHEREAS given the interest in neighbourhoods to do traffic calming where the intersection may not otherwise qualify in the near future through the City's priority list; and, WHEREAS neighourhoods are willing to take an active leadership role in designing and painting of an intersection with daily traffic flow less than 2000 vehicles; 16 - 1 THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that staff be directed to report back to August 11, 2014 Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting on the feasibility of a policy that would allow for Painted Intersections in low traffic volume inner neighbourhood intersections, with a one-year pilot to be implemented at the intersection of Wilhelm and Ahrens Streets. REPORT: There are several similar policies and programs across North America, most notably in Portland Oregon, Boulder Colorado, Minneapolis Minnesota, Calgary Alberta and Halifax Nova Scotia. Many of these municipalities cite similar requirements in terms of material type and process. However, goals for these projects vary between municipalities. Some are initiated to build community while others are developed to improve sense of place or safety in the area. Research indicates that, while perception of these types of programs on overall traffic conditions is generally positive, limited data exists in terms of before and after vehicular speed and collision statistics to draw definitive conclusions. The piloting of this type of treatment will allow for the collection of adequate data to more properly assess the viability as a traffic calming tool for lower volume intersections that would typically not meet warrant criteria for the City's formal traffic calming program. TYPICAL CRITERIA Other jurisdictions require traffic volumes of less than 2,000 vehicles per day to mitigate premature fading of the intersection mural. The combined volume at Wilhelm and Ahrens street is less than 1,000 vehicles per day, well within this typical volume requirement. In terms of neighbourhood consultation, most jurisdictions require sign-off on the four corner property owners as well as 80 percent of residents along the adjacent blocks to the next cross street. This appears to be a reasonable requirement to ensure that the community supports the concept and the process. The design of the mural should be relatively simple and not cause driver confusion. With this in mind, numbers, words, traffic symbols, logos or advertising will not be permitted in the design. The City's Public Art Working Group has recommended that an artist/facilitator work closely with the representative/group to achieve desired results and ultimately an acceptable design. It is assumed that the artist/facilitator would be commissioned to work with the community to develop a design, as well as facilitate the program on the day the mural is painted. It is recommended that the final design be reviewed by City staff, including members from Transportation Services, Planning, Public Art, and Legal/Risk Management prior to installation. 16 - 2 The procurement and funding of all materials and permits will be the responsibility of the representative/group leading the project. It is anticipated that materials will cost approximately $1,000 and that permits and staff time to install and remove traffic control are $500. City staff can direct the representative/group to potential grant or funding opportunities; however, it will be the responsibility of the representative/group to apply for any grant/funding opportunities. The materials used must be approved by and acquired through the City of Kitchener. Road paints come in a variety of colours and may be mixed to create additional colours. Any paints used must contain appropriate amounts of silica to ensure proper traction when applied to the road surface. Typically, events such as this require insurance in favour of the municipality, but it does not apply with this pilot project because neighbourhood associations are insured and covered by the City for liability purposes. Additional details and processes are outlined within the attached terms of reference. In terms of the pilot project, staff will collect before and after traffic data (volume, speed, collisions). In addition, staff will consult with the event organizer and survey residents along the affected blocks to determine lessons learned and improvements to the process, should an official policy be developed. This information will be reported back to committee following completion of the one year pilot project. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: This initiative falls under the Community Priority of Quality of Life. "Work with partners, including all orders of government, to create a culture of safety in our community" and "that the city highlights arts and culture as a factor critical to the health of the community". FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: It is anticipated that this pilot project will have minimal impacts in terms of staff resource time. All materials and permit fees will be the responsibility of the representative/group installing the mural. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: This project was brought forward by the Mt Hope — Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association. The neighbourhood association was notified that this report will be presented to Council by way of a letter indicating meeting details and an attached copy of this report. Pending approval of these recommendations by Committee/Council, the terms of reference will be forwarded to the Mt Hope — Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association. The event organizer will be responsible for the design, either with or without the assistance of a facilitator, and the design will be subject to approval by the 16 - 3 proposed staff review committee. Following design approval, the organizer will be responsible to obtain the appropriate number of signatures from affected residents, as per the requirements of the attached terms of reference. INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of the council / committee meeting. CONSULT — This project was presented to the City's Public Art Working Group on July 14, 2014. COLLABORATE — The City and the Community will collaborate on the intersection design to ensure that the community developed design meets appropriate requirements (as stipulated in the terms of reference). ENTRUST — The community is responsible for overall delivery of the project. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO Infrastructure Services 16 - 4 Terms of Reference The following outlines the process and general parameters to be followed for the intersection painting pilot. The event organizer is fully responsible for funding and all permits and approvals. Materials are anticipated to cost about $1,000. Fees associated with the road closure will also be funded by the applicant. The approximate cost road closure permits and road closure set up and take down is $500. There are many organizations that offer grants to support your project. City of Kitchener staff can assist with outlining available grant opportunities in advance of the application submission. If an artist is not available within the neighbourhood then the organizer should consult with City of Kitchener Staff to determine whether a facilitator (with mural design/implementation experience) should be utilized. The organizer must show that they have informed the participants and neighbours of the following through their signature letter: (see example letter below) • Painted streets will fade significantly over a one year period • The City of Kitchener reserves the right to remove the artwork at any time for any reason • The City of Kitchener reserves the right to do any road work that may result in changes to the surface and/or artwork • 100% of neighbours who live on the corner of the intersection to be painted must sign an agreement letter in support of the project and design. • 80% of neighbours living within one block from the intersection must sign an agreement letter in support of the project and design. • Signatures of agreement must be submitted one month in advance of the proposed painting day • No logos, advertising, words or traffic symbols may be included in the design. The design of the mural must be submitted for approval to the City of Kitchener Staff team in advance of the organizer seeking resident signatures. This ensures that only a City reviewed and approved final design is distributed along with the signature letter. The City of Kitchener Staff Team is made up of staff from Arts and Culture, Transportation Services, Planning and Legal/Risk Management. They ensure that applications are complete and meet the requirements for a safe and effective Mural painting project. MATERIALS • Residents must use approved traffic paint in order for their painting to withstand weather, car and plow wear and tear. • Residents may be required to add silica, a fine sand, in their paint in order to increase traction. 16 - 5 PAINTING DAY • Any temporary tents over 645 square feet erected on site require a building permit • Tents cannot be anchored into the street. ROAD CLOSURE for painting day • Permission is given only to streets or intersections with a traffic volume of less than 2000 vehicles per day because of wear on the artwork. • No streets with GRT bus routes will be considered. • Road closures must allow for pedestrian traffic. • Emergency vehicles must have access to the area during painting day. BYLAWS and regulations • All provincial and municipal By-laws and statutes are applicable including, but not limited to, noise control, no open liquor, and no dogs off leash. Creating a site plan A site plan will help you organize volunteers and materials. It also helps the City of Kitchener know that the site will be safe and accessible for pedestrians and emergency vehicles. The site plan is due two months before the painting event. A professionally produced plan is not compulsory, however in all cases it must be legible, drawn to scale and contain the following information: • Location of curbs and sidewalks • Location of any tents, tables, chairs or objects • Painting supplies location • Welcome and information tent • Sewer grates and/or manhole covers • Painting design in relation to curbs and tents including unpainted buffer zones with related measurements to the curb • Barricades (Sample Signature Letter) Dear Neighbour, As you may know, our neighbourhood has been designing a piece of artwork to be painted on the street intersection of (Street 1 and Street 2). Please see the attached design created by your neighbours. We are asking for your agreement in using this design. We also ask for your agreement with the street closure dates and times. Emergency vehicles will still be able to get to you at all times during the street closure. The project will be painted only if 80% of the residents on Street 1 and Street 2 give their signed support for the design and street closure dates. 16 - 6 You are invited to participate in painting during the one day event on Date (Rain Date Date). We will be closing four blocks during the event. These include Street 1 (from Street to Street) and Street 2 (from Street to Street). The street will be closed from X am to X pm. Please make note of the below details about the project: • Traffic paint has a relatively short life span. Painting can fade significantly within the first year after the project. • No encroachments will be permitted as part of the event. An encroachment is a fixed structure that is placed on the right-of-way, including the sidewalk, street or grass area between the street and sidewalk. • No residents will be permitted to gather in the intersection unless a block party permit has been approved. • No one is allowed to move manhole covers. • The City of Kitchener retains the right to do any road work that may disrupt or destroy the artwork after it has been painted. • The City of Kitchener reserves the right to remove the artwork for any reason at any time. Your signature indicates that you have read and understand the above details of the project and that you support the design and street closure. Printed Name Signature Civic Address 16 - 7