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1998-02-03 Workshop0� OKELrc O . T07 t t OA10' I�1 CALL TO ORDER: - Mayor: February 3, 1998, City Council Workshop, 5:00 p.m. CITY OF OKEECHOBEE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SUMMARY OF COUNCIL DISCUSSION Mayor Kirk called the February 3, 1998 City Council Workshop to order at 5:00 p.m. JAGE 1 OF 3 II. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF ATTENDANCE - City Clerk. Clerk Thomas called the roll: Mayor James E. Kirk Present Council Member Noel A. Chandler Present Council Member Lowry Markham Present Council Member Robert Oliver Present Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Present City Attorney John R. Cook Absent City Administrator Robert J. Bradshaw Present Gityy Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Present Deputy Clerk S. Lane Gamiotea Present III. DISCUSSION - Mayor. A. Hear from a representative of the Genesis Group, Inc. Mr. Robert Fennigan with Genesis Group introduced himself to the Mayor and Council as the Project Landscape Architect for the Regarding the Street Scape portion of the Community Downtown Street Scape portion of the Community Development Block Grant Reporting that his company has been working on Development Block Grant, Downtown Renovation- Mr. this portion of the project for the last year, and has completed the construction plans. As such we are prepared to issue plans to Bob Fennigan. W.G. Mills, Inc. on the Street Scape pending Council approval. There are a few remaining ustrings that need to be tied together." One is the outcome of the parking situation. Genesis Group understands this has been an issue for the community and thought what we would do tonight is briefly go over what we have done in completing the construction documents. (Holding up a large drawing he continued) This is atypical block in which case you see the preservation of angular parking along South Park Street, that has not been altered. The feature landscape element which will be included in the Street Scape is the majewel date palm. The reason we have chosen that was because it has some degree of size to it but allows a view through it Business activities will not be compromised, and allows for some degree of shade but also gives some representation of size so that it creates some visual impact. In response to Council Member Oliver's questions, Mr. Fennigan replied that the tree at planting they would have about twelve to fourteen feet of clear wood, then would have the foliage right at the bottom and then above. FEBRUARY 3,1998 - WORKSHOP - PAGE 2 OF 3 _119/ III. DISCUSSION CONTINUED A. Hear from a representative of the Genesis Group, Inc. Continuing with his presentation, Mr. Fennigan stated, in terms of parking, to get Street Scape in along the streets and improve Regarding the Streetscape portion of the Community the appearance of the downtown area you must have places to put it There are a total of two hundred thirty-one parking spaces Development Block Grant, Downtown Renovation- Mr. in an eight block area along South Park Street and a half block direction to the South. After the implementation of the Street Scape Bob Fennigan continued. there are two hundred four parking spaces with the bulk of the impact being on South Park Street (going from one hundred twenty-four spaces to one hundred three). The parking on the side avenue's will be modified. Council Members stressed to Mr. Fennigan that his plan as presented would not work due to the existing parking problems. They requested Mr. Fennigan modify the drawings by deleting the mid block islands. The corners were also discussed. The revised corners are bigger because they have added ramping to meet handicap compliance. Mr. Fennigan stated he was confident they could accomplish meeting or close to the same parking count the City currently has now by eliminating the mid block islands. Commenting further that South Park Street may lose a few spaces but in the overall context of things one must consider that the visual improvements that are going to take place are going to far outweigh the loss of a few parking spaces. He also requested to look into putting some street tree's in the sidewalk itself if they must eliminate the mid blocks. And cautioned, the more the Council diminishes the green opportunities the more the visual impact is diminished. In terms of paving that will take place, the majority of the sidewalks where they are in disrepair, they would be renewed with inter- locking, decorative pavers, we have designed a special paving detail for that which would incorporate different colorations of pavers in a specific pattern unique to Okeechobee. Concerning lighting, which is an important element, a very economical to maintain metal fixture has been chosen (a picture of the lamp was distributed). Something of an eclectic style, black in color. Additionally banners would be incorporated to identify the downtown area. The last string that needs to be tied is the completion of the specifications. Genesis Group is anticipating to have them completed by Friday and everything would be ready to issue to the contract Monday, February 9. Council Member Markham then approached the subject of the funding. Mr. Fennigan stated the previous administrator had instructed his company to design the Street Scape with everything and the City would do as many blocks as funds allowed and then apply for another grant to finish the eight block area, with this proposed plan, he felt that the City had the funds sufficient to do three or four blocks. After the contract is negotiated with the contractor some value engineering will be done to maximize on cost savings for example the lightfixtures. Council discussed the available funding at length and that doing only a few blocks would not be the appropriate approach to take. FEBRUARY 3,1998 - WORKSHOP- PAGE 3 OF 3 III. DISCUSSION CONTINUED A. Hear from a representative of the Genesis Group, Inc. Mr. Fennigan was instructed to go back and come up with options for the Council to discuss that would allow for Street Scape Regarding the Street Scape portion of the Community along the entire length of the eight blocks, either just the lights and pavers or tree's. Fred Fox will need to verify there would not Development Block Grant, Downtown Renovation- Mr. be a problem with doing it this way. Mr. Alan Nelson suggested another type of palm tree be used due to the high cost of Bob Fennigan continued. majewel's. Administrator Bradshaw was instructed to make sure the business and property owners in the grant area were notified of when the workshop will take place and that Mr. Fennigan will be presenting these revised Street Scape options. IV. ADJOURN WORKSHOP - Mayor. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, he/she may need to insure that a verbatim record of th eeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which appeal i to be based. ATTEST: JAMES E. IdIRK, MAYOR BONNIE S. THOMAS, CMC, CITY CLERK There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Kirk adjourned the February 3, 1998 Workshop at 5:45 p.m.