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03-15-88SpMtg434 MARCH 15, 1988 A Special Meeting of the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Doak S. Campbell in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 7:05 P.M., Tuesday, March 15, 1988. Roll call showed: Present - Commissioner Richard J. Dougherty Commissioner Mary McCarty Commissioner Jimmy Weatherspoon Mayor Doak S. Campbell Absent - Commissioner Marie Horenburger ~ Also present were - City Manager Walter O. Barry and Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Kurtz Mayor Campbell called the meeting to order and announced that this meeting has been called for the purpose of (1) Atlantic Avenue Beautification Project (Downtown) discussion and consideration of a contract with Sasaki Associates, Inc. 1. Mayor Campbell stated the Commission had looked at a plan last week and there was some discussion but no consensus at that time with regard to both the timing and the exact nature of the plan. There have been discussions going on this past week with the various parties involved. The City Manager reported they have taken the project and looked at the concerns which were expressed with regard to turning lanes, the signage issue and the condition of the one-way pairs and arrived at a proposal which is the least dramatic change downtown, i.e., the maintenance of the roadway as it is, the maintenance of the turning lanes as they are, the installation and construction of nodes at inter- sections, and the expansion of the nodes at various places. This is essentially taking the project on the street that we will own in June and building down to that portion of the project that the DOT owns, and will continue to own, and then negotiating with the DOT subsequently. It is certainly within the budget that has been established and it is believed it can be designed and built within this fiscal year, especial- ly because much of the work will be sidewalk work, some minor drainage and some additional concrete at the intersections. He stated this work would start at 5th Avenue and proceed westward to Swinton Avenue. Gerry Church, City Engineer, elaborated further from renderings of the Atlantic Avenue corridor, explaining that this plan retains the existing pavement in place where it is; the modes are developed where there is essentially no parking right at the intersections and would be landscaped. The traffic would be left with three lanes, two thru lanes and the turning lane. The total construction cost for this modified design, i.e., concrete sidewalks (rather than unit pavers), cross walks, nodes, street lighting (intersection and pedestrian), landscaping and irrigation, furniture and signage is $952,000. Add to this the design fee and redesigning this portion and the total project cost would be 1.1 million dollars; this would provide for the treatment from Swinton Avenue all the way over to the Intracoastal. Mr. Church advised the intent is to start with a basic treat- ment in terms of the sidewalk (unit pavers to provide a band and defini- tion) and allow options for enhancement of the sidewalks and cross walks by adding unit pavers. They would like to try and match what is in place; quite a few properties have expanded the sidewalk and put in tiles and these will be left as is. Upon question, Ian Nestler, Sasaki Associates, stated it is hoped that from Swinton Avenue to 5th Avenue might be able to be done as a fully unified contract during this season. Upon question by Mr. Dougherty, the City Manager clarified that the project as designed is 435 from Swinton to the Intracoastal; the project that the City will be able to construct this year is Swinton to 5th Avenue because DOT will not be transferring title to Atlantic Avenue east of 5th Avenue. Anything east of 5th Avenue will not encroach on the' roadway. Upon question by Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Church clarified that the cost for improvements from 5th Avenue to the Intracoastal would be $350,000; this is included in the 1.1 million dollar total cost. Mr. Dougherty questioned what was deleted to take it from 2.3 million to 1.1 million. Mr. Church stated the road has been left in place; basically, they are not expanding the sidewalk an additional six feet on both sides and they don't have the expanded intersection treat- ment at the nodes. They are only building approximately half the sidewalks, the landscaping is cut by half, the lighting is essentially the same and the nodes are significantly reduced. Mrs. McCarty stated her concern is if we go with this project what impact will there be in beautification; will it really make a difference. For 1.1 million dollars will we see a real difference? Mr. Nestler advised you will see some differences but he could not charac- terize it as a dramatic difference. In this scenario, there will not be room to provide planting adequately on the sidewalks and allow people to walk comfortably or provide street furniture; there will be heavier planting at the intersections. Mr. Nestler advised that the proposal before the Commission this evening is the proposal coming from the City, not the consultant. Given the limits and the parameters of what the City wants to accomplish, they would do a quality job; however, you get what you pay for. Mrs. McCarty stated she would like to see a little more than trees at intersections after four years of talking and antici- pation. The City Manager advised there will be room for furniture, significant amounts of additional landscaping, improved signage, under- ground street wiring, decorative lamps, etc., and didn't believe the Commission should sell this project short. It can also be added to. Upon question as to whether there would be any delay due to the redesign, Mr. Nestler stated it would be difficult to say at this time; however, he felt that that phase could certainly be implemented this year, but they would have to sit down and review what is being proposed with the contractors. There was discussion between Mr. Dougherty and Mr. Church with regard to any work to be and or not to be done on the street itself, i.e., resurfacing, milling. Mr. Weatherspoon commented, for the record, that before any final design was undertaken by Sasaki, the Commission should have approved it; he does not recall them coming before the Commission with a conceptual design of what was presented last week. Hopefully, this will not occur with other beautification projects. He complimented staff in making this a more realistic project and bringing it within our proposed budget. Upon question by Ken Ellingsworth, Chamber of Commerce, the City Manager advised that this plan provides for underground wiring and irrigation. Vince Canning, President of the Atlantic Avenue Association, stated they are vitally interested in downtown Delray and its survival. He preferred the concept the way it was presented last week; perhaps they can't go all that way, but they do need something and they need it now. He urged the City to do something and do it this year. Ernest Simon, President of the Chamber of Commerce, stated he echoed what has been said by Mr. Canning. He urged the pursuit of Phase I with all speed, asking for a completion date by Thanksgiving. Mrs. McCarty questioned the elimination of the left turn lane at 3rd Avenue. The City Manager stated he had conversation with the City Engineer and they are satisfied that if the option selected is to leave this lane in that it can be done. Billie Linville of Sun Bank stated the bank is all in favor of the 2.3 million dollar project; they want the City to be beautiful but not as a trade off to being -2- 3/15/88 436 functional. People are going to have to be able to get through the town; if the left turn lane is eliminated, there is no north-south throughway at 3rd Avenue and there will be a real traffic problem there. Connie Tuttle, Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, Robert Currie, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board, Tom Lynch, Chairman of the CRA, Joan Weir, Main Street Coordinator, and Betty Matthews, representing the Beach Property Owners Association, all spoke in favor of the original plan, the majority indicating that to go with the second plan is doing almost nothing and that a real change is needed. Lonnie Cook, Hand's Office Supply, spoke in favor of approving the compromise phase; the removal of left turn lanes would seriously deter traffic from progressing east or west on Atlantic Avenue. They also need as much parking on Atlantic Avenue as possible. Jim Johnson, architect and formerly a member of the Mayor's Task Force, stated he has listened to a lot of input from the citizens over the past four years during the planning of this project. They want to have a major impact with the idea of having the people going through to go around the downtown, so that the people who want to shop on Atlantic Avenue can get there without a lot of traffic congestion. They wanted to encourage people to use the.one way pairs. He also commented that a left turn lane coming from the east so as to go south on 3rd Avenue would solve all the circulation problems that he could foresee, and believed the consultant could work this into the plan. It is impor- tant to have the additional sidewalk area for landscaping; otherwise you are not going to make that major impact and much of a difference. Mayor Campbell declared a recess, the time being 8:05 P.M. The meeting was reconvened, the time being 8:45 P.M. The City Manager reported that following discussion, he recom- mends that the City proceed with the plan that was recommended last week with the following changes: They not include a phasing to the project, i.e., that they bid the project in one bid item; that they provide a performance bonus to the contractor that states unequivocally that the contractor must be out of the ground between 5th Avenue and Swinton Avenue before December lst; that a left turn lane be designed at 3rd Avenue, recognizing the uniqueness of that intersection; and that the City urge the designer to work with staff and move with all due speed to accomplish this so they can be in the ground as soon after June as possible or as soon after the City receives title to Atlantic Avenue. In addition, there will also be a substantial penalty for failure to perform. The City Manager stated that 5th Avenue to the Intracoastal will be a part of the project, realizing that the installation of amenities depends on the acquisition of title or design permission by the DOT and may be delayed until 1989. Mr. Dougherty moved to adopt the City Manager's recommendation, seconded by Mrs. McCarty. Upon roll call the Commission voted as follows: Mr. Dougherty - Yes; Ms. McCarty - Yes; Mr. Weatherspoon - Yes; Mayor Campbell - Yes. Said motion passed with a 4 to 0 vote. Mayor Campbell declared the meeting adjourned at 8:47 P.M. ATTEST: MAYOR -3- 3/15/88 437 The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach and that the information provided herein is the minutes of the meeting of said City Commission of March 15, 1988, which minutes were formally approved and adopted by the City Commission on ~~ !~; /~ . City C~ erk NOTE TO READER: If the minutes that you have received are not completed as indicated above, then this means that these are not the official minutes of City Commission. They will become the official minutes only after they have been reviewed and approved which may involve some amendments, additions, or deletions to the minutes as set forth above. -4- 3/15/88