2005-06-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development, provided a power point presentation on the status of the East End Mall development, including the mall extension, Transit Center and amphitheater. Mr. Lynch asked about staff' s confidence level about the amphitheater opening the end of July, and if there are any contingencies we need to be concerned about. Mr. Aubrey Watts, Director of Economic Development, said that work on 7th Street will not be completed until August, but he is confident that the amphitheater can open the end of July. Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch about 7th Street and parking access at the Recreation Center, Mr. Watts said he will provide that information at a later date. PUBLIC HEARING/APPROPRIATION: $3,811,706 - TRANSIT CENTER (FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS) Mr. Watts explained that the Transit Center is proposed to be 1,200 square feet, will house the Visitors Bureau, a coffee shop and newsstand, and will be completed in October of 2006. He said Council is being asked to appropriate State and Federal grant funds which will enable awarding of the final contract. The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Caravati made a motion to approve the appropriation of $3,811,706 for the Transit Center, and Ms. Hamilton seconded the motion. Mr. Schilling said that the information provided indicates that the bid prices are over budget. He said when these unused funds were first brought to Council' s attention they were recommended to be used for Transit Center improvements but later were recommended for transit improvements. He noted that the $600,000 in unused funds from VDOT are being used to make up the difference in the cost of the development. He said we are not required to use these funds on the Transit Center and he would prefer to use them elsewhere where they are needed more. He suggested that the designers be told to reduce the cost by $600,000. He said he finds it problematic that the free speech monument has held up work which impacts businesses and the public's enjoyment of the mall. He suggested approving the appropriation without the $600,000 and directing that the work go forward, with the free speech monument work required to be done around the other work so as not to cause further delay. Mr. Lynch said he agrees with both of Mr. Schilling's comments. He said he is also concerned with the monument holding up the amphitheater, and was concerned to hear about this at the last minute. He said Council would probably not have agreed to hold up the work. He agreed with the concern about the cost escalating and feels it would be better to have a series of transit centers, which ultimately would be a better use of money. He said cost control seems to have slipped. He suggested that the design and programming for the northern extension be changed to reduce cost. He said he would also support shrinking the lobby for the Visitors Center. He said this is really more of a transit destination rather than a transit center. He said he has not heard from staff that we can still have other transportation centers or if staff has a credible plan about how to move traffic down Main Street. Mr. Caravati asked if the monument delay was due to fund raising, and Mr. Watts said he is not sure. He said lighting has held up construction, but it appears the lighting is now in. He said the monument lacks a detailed design. He said he will provide more information to Council. Ms. Hamilton said she shares some of Mr. Schilling and Mr. Lynch's concerns. She said she could also think of a lot of things to use the money for. She said she does not think it is just a matter of redesign as that could end up being more expensive. She said she will support the appropriate.