CC Minutes - 04/09/01 Work Session

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Redesign Broadway Mr. Farmer placed the recommendations regarding the Broadway redesign in context by noting the steadily changing climate in downtown since the work done by the North End Scoping Group and staff's effort to time the effort appropriately. He said that there appeared to be some council support for reopening the street. He noted options for the redesign, which ranged from a typical street to a street with more pedestrian amenities and restricted auto access. Mr. Farmer said there was also disagreement expressed by the ad hoc committee and residents about which sections of Broadway were to be opened, and issues raised about the need for traffic calming if the entire street were opened to address the traffic impact on the neighborhood to the west. He anticipated that the issue of reopening the street could go to a vote in September if the council wished. Ms. Bettman noted her interest in traffic calming to protect the neighborhood west of downtown. She wanted the issue on the next ballot with an identified funding source. She had hoped staff would return with a funding recommendation based on some of the suggestions made by councilors, such as a parking tax on lots outside of downtown or a combination of assessments and systems development charges. Ms. Bettman preferred to consider the expenditure in the context of the budget process so it could compete with other important needs. She requested an analysis of a parking tax outside of downtown as a funding mechanism for downtown improvements, including the improvements to Broadway, and an analysis of whether the improvement could be funded with systems development charges and assessments. She also requested other staff suggestions for funding sources. Mr. Kelly noted his support for opening Broadway between Charnelton and Oak streets. However, he needed more information than was included in the packet materials to proceed. He added that he preferred a September vote to a November vote. Mr. Kelly opposed spending $100,000 on design work before a vote. He requested staff suggestions about a lower level of funding that would permit the City to develop a design that would give the voters a conceptual idea of what they were voting on. Mr. Kelly suggested the proposed zoning overlay needed to happen in concert with the Broadway opening to ensure that redevelopment that occurred would fit the council's concept for downtown. Mr. Kelly said that when the public was asked to vote, it should be told how the project would be paid for. In response to councilors' comments, Mr. Farmer said that staff proposed an approach that did not get into detailed design, but provided enough information so that people would know, for example, the impact on trees. He said that staff proposed to divide the street into cells and identify the cost of each cell. The $100,000 proposed also funded a public participation process. Ms. Nathanson expected the project to be a collaboration between departments and not merely a Public Works street project. She thought it was important the project be sensitive to urban design issues because of the downtown location. She had questions about the street design, saying it should not be designed in isolation as a single, showcase project. Ms. Nathanson asked about the theme, and if the City would be starting over and then need to retrofit other streets to match the new design. If there was an awning program, how did the street relate to that program? How did the landscaping on the street related to the landscaping on East Broadway or other "great streets" identified in the visioning process? She emphasized the importance of designing the street in context of an overall vision. Mr. Pap~ said that the City should develop a preliminary design with less money, and get it out to the voters for review prior to a September election. He thought the voters should be asked if they supported reopening Broadway between Charnelton and Oak streets.