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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-08-037 - Highway 401 Entrance Feature-ER Office iL REPORT REPORT TO: Community Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: April 20, 2009 SUBMITTED BY: Terry Marr PREPARED BY: Terry Marr WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: April 14, 2009 REPORT NO.: CAO -08 -037 SUBJECT: HIGHWAY 401 ENTRANCE FEATURE RECOMMENDATION: That city council support the Highway 401 sign committee's recommendation that council chooses Option B (Pride Signs) from the four signs presented to the public and further that only one sign be lit and further that both signs be installed in the spring of 2009 at a cost of $292,518. BACKGROUND: In 2005 Council approved $200,000 for staff to proceed with a detailed design and specific site selection for two entrance features to be located on the 401 (CSD -04 -165). At that time city council also confirmed that the City of Kitchener clock tower logo should serve as the overall theme of the entrance features. In 2007, staff divided the project into two phases: (1) the design phase and (2) the implementation phase. The design phase is being headed up by the corporate communications and marketing division (Terry Marr) and a staff team of creative individuals from across the Corporation — Kathy Weiss, director of business development; Cheryl York, arts and culture co- ordinator; Ted Potworka, operations supervisor horticulture; Mike Seiling, director of building; Brian Page, supervisor site development; and former employee Grant Nixon landscape architect. The second phase of the project (implementation) will be coordinated through the Design and Development Section of CSD and the Site Development Section of DTS. After staff conducted further research into this project, in February 2008, during budget deliberations city council agreed to increase the budget for the entrance features to $350,000. REPORT: Since February 2008, staff has: ■ confirmed the city's clock tower logo should be the main focus of the entrance feature; • identified potential locations (in consultation with the Ministry of Transportation); • researched budget impacts for similar projects completed by other municipalities; • issued an RFP and received submissions; • conducted a public consultation on 4 potential designs for the new entrance features; • had an electrical engineering firm review each submission and provide recommendations and pricing related to the lighting options; and • worked with the MTO on site plan approvals. Location of Entrance Features: Prior to the commencement of a public consultation process on 4 short - listed design options, city staff met with MTO representatives to confirm the preferred locations for the entrance features on both the east and west bound 401 were acceptable. The locations are, one on the eastbound traffic side of Highway 401 on the bank of the Homer Watson cut -off. The westbound sign would be on the bank of the flyer -over at the Highway 8 (Exit 278, the first Kitchener exit). Motorists continuing past Kitchener would see a sign on their right while those taking the Highway 8 or Homer Watson cut offs would see a sign on their left. .Sign to go here i.% p,raxi� at fy) on emba nrn exit 401 Eastbound location at Homer Watson Public Consultations on Design Options: 401 Westbound location at Highway 8 From August 28 — September 17 a public consultation process took place to allow residents, business owners and people who work in Kitchener to have input into the preferred design of an entrance feature sign for the City of Kitchener. During the public consultation four potential entrance feature designs were presented to the public. A total of 1,422 votes were received and of those 1,182 people live in Kitchener and 240 either work or own a business in the city. 924 of the votes were received online. Below is a tally of the votes received for each design option: Design B received 832 of the 1,422 votes or 58.51 per cent of all votes cast. An illustration of design B is attached to the back of this report. Design A Design B Design C Design D # of votes received 358 (25.18 %) 832 (58.51%) 113 (7.95 %) 119 (8.37 %) Design B received 832 of the 1,422 votes or 58.51 per cent of all votes cast. An illustration of design B is attached to the back of this report. Recommended Design Option: Staff concurs with the results of the public consultation to chose design option B as the design for the new 401 entrance feature, however, this is not the only reason for the committee recommending Option B. The committee feels that: ■ the design is the most aesthetically pleasing of all the signs; ■ the sign will not be dated looking in years to come; and, ■ the design meets MTO policies and guidelines and the city's logo guidelines. Pride Signs description of their proposal was: "As a vibrant, confident and diverse community located in the heart of southwestern Ontario, the City of Kitchener plays host to a broad spectrum of travelers who've come to appreciate the extraordinary blend of heritage, hospitality and progress. Whether travelling for business or pleasure, motorists will be struck with the elegant simplicity of the signs key elements. The historic clock tower, symbolic of functionality and design, rests within the ellipse foundation, communicating the region's commitment to its developing role as a progressive global community. The iconic Freeport (King Street East) Bridge, set before the timeless architectural aspect of the main structure, further embodies the city's commitment to preserving its rich heritage." It should be noted that the city received a petition signed by 92 people to have the phrase "Welcome to Kitchener, Home of World Champion Fitz "The Whip" Vanderpool on the highway 401 entrance feature. The committee does not support the petition for the following reasons: the wording does not comply with MTO policy which indicates that the sign can only feature the name of the municipality. as much as we respect Mr Vanderpool's accomplishments, there are several deserving Kitchener citizens who would also deserve recognition if we were allowed to provide such recognition in this manner. The petition received by city staff did not contain addresses and as per corporate procedures we can not verify that the petition was signed by Kitchener residents. Mr. Vanderpool was advised of staff's response to the petition and recommendation to council on October 8, 2008. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The approved budget for the signs is $350,000. The following table summarizes the proposed costs by each company for two signs. It should be noted that the costs included landscaping but some did not include lighting and none included costs associated with tying into power supplies. Each company made it clear that these prices were estimates. The companies agreed to meet with staff to refine costs if necessary. Option B was refined due to the committee's recommendation. Lighting: The sign committee retained Mighton Engineering to review each company's lighting proposal (of those that included some lighting which was all but Option A) to confirm the levels of illumination will be sufficient for our signs, to investigate possible power sources and any possible costs associated with tying into those sources and to ensure our lighting expectations are met. The committee had requested that each proposal include solar lighting, however, after receiving Mighton Engineering's report, the committee has eliminated this feature. This was eliminated because: - logistically it would not be feasible. The size of the solar panels required would be immense; - winter snow plowing would most likely cause major damage to the panels. Snow plows travelling along Homer Watson (toward Cambridge) and along the fly -over at Highway 8 could throw stones and debris onto the panels resulting in damage and the need for replacement; - possible theft of the battery supply. (The Wellington County sign had both the solar panels and batteries stolen in broad daylight) The committee is recommending that only the Highway 8 sign be lit. The committee is recommending this for several reasons: 1. The committee feels that the Homer Watson location is extremely well lit via MTO lighting. Cost to light this sign would entail an additional $119,624 and the sign committee feels this is unnecessary, 2. Lighting both signs will entail a budget over expenditure of $62,142 (lighting the Highway 8 location only can be achieved within budget), and 3. The Highway 8 location is the main gateway for vehicle traffic into Kitchener and an unlit sign will be quite dark at night time. With the exception of car headlights casting light, the sign will not be highly visible due to the background of the sign being comprised of black granite and virtually no MTO lighting nearby. Therefore, the sign committee strongly believes in lighting this location to make the Highway 8 sign noticeable and visible to serve as a prominent gateway entrance feature, Total Costs Including Lighting: The total cost for two signs, with only the Highway 8 sign lit, including extending the power supply across Highway 401 and other associated costs, is $292,518. To light the Homer Watson sign would cost an additional $119,624 which is not within budget. The estimated cost of the electrical power consumption for one sign is $100 per year. Sign A rock Sign B (Bridge Graphic) Sign C (triangle) Sign D lass Cost $2807000 $2277018 $190- 2307000 $2007000 Lighting: The sign committee retained Mighton Engineering to review each company's lighting proposal (of those that included some lighting which was all but Option A) to confirm the levels of illumination will be sufficient for our signs, to investigate possible power sources and any possible costs associated with tying into those sources and to ensure our lighting expectations are met. The committee had requested that each proposal include solar lighting, however, after receiving Mighton Engineering's report, the committee has eliminated this feature. This was eliminated because: - logistically it would not be feasible. The size of the solar panels required would be immense; - winter snow plowing would most likely cause major damage to the panels. Snow plows travelling along Homer Watson (toward Cambridge) and along the fly -over at Highway 8 could throw stones and debris onto the panels resulting in damage and the need for replacement; - possible theft of the battery supply. (The Wellington County sign had both the solar panels and batteries stolen in broad daylight) The committee is recommending that only the Highway 8 sign be lit. The committee is recommending this for several reasons: 1. The committee feels that the Homer Watson location is extremely well lit via MTO lighting. Cost to light this sign would entail an additional $119,624 and the sign committee feels this is unnecessary, 2. Lighting both signs will entail a budget over expenditure of $62,142 (lighting the Highway 8 location only can be achieved within budget), and 3. The Highway 8 location is the main gateway for vehicle traffic into Kitchener and an unlit sign will be quite dark at night time. With the exception of car headlights casting light, the sign will not be highly visible due to the background of the sign being comprised of black granite and virtually no MTO lighting nearby. Therefore, the sign committee strongly believes in lighting this location to make the Highway 8 sign noticeable and visible to serve as a prominent gateway entrance feature, Total Costs Including Lighting: The total cost for two signs, with only the Highway 8 sign lit, including extending the power supply across Highway 401 and other associated costs, is $292,518. To light the Homer Watson sign would cost an additional $119,624 which is not within budget. The estimated cost of the electrical power consumption for one sign is $100 per year. OTHER: It should also be noted that the MTO plans possible changes to the Highway 8 interchange in 5 — 10 years. Plans could include a realignment of the flyover and upgraded lighting. At this time the MTO can not commit to what the changes could be and if they will affect our sign. COMMUNICATIONS: The public consultation process was advertised in the local newspaper, on the city's website, in Your Kitchener and at a display located in the Duke Street lobby of city hall. The public could cast a vote at the display, by mail through a ballot in Your Kitchener or on -line. A further communications plan will be implemented regarding council's choice of sign and for the "unveiling" of the signs. CONCLUSION: The Highway 401 committee supports the public's choice in choosing Sign 6 (Pride Signs) as the new entrance sign feature for the City of Kitchener. The committee is recommending that subject to MTO final approval, two signs, one lit and one unlit, be installed in spring 2009, at a cost of $292,518. Terry Marr Manager Marketing & Creative Services ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jana Miller 1 Preferred Design Option: U 2 CA C CL C: 0 "D a� Z Cr3 11 5.7 2 En 0 9 E -0 R m 44 GL C Cb CL 0 C n VP j�i E V CL M. =3 w ..d — M U 44 JU -3 ID LL lD CY, ;V: