2008-06-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 Corner. He said WIFI is a good investment. He would leave the planter in front of the Omni alone, and would generally do less. He said we can clean and reuse the bricks. He said he thinks we can save $2 million total. He said we should explore the side streets and should deliberate more about them. Dr. Brown said he agrees with much of what Mr. Huja said, but he disagrees that we have the chance to reuse the bricks. He said reusing the bricks and having a tight time schedule are incompatible. He said he has a little concern with the bricks that large on sand wobbling. Mr. Huja said the bricks will be stable. Dr. Brown said he agrees about the side streets. He said he is not keen on trying to make the mall uniform. He said the current newspaper stands are okay, and he does not want to have vendor carts and cafes the same. He said he does not think we need art. He said we need drinking fountains, but not more decorative fountains. He said if we have a big one there should be a public process prior to making that decision. He said he th would like to hear from people after the June 30 presentation. Ms. Edwards expressed concern with the lighting and fire truck access, and said she would like to hear more about how that can be worked out. Mr. Taliaferro recommended looking at communities who have used the pavers on sand, and the impact of vehicles on them. ndth Mr. Shinstock said more durable bricks are proposed for the 2 and 4 Street crossing. He said he is not aware of other communities who have these pavers. Mr. Norris said he agrees with Mr. Huja and his general perspective. He said we have a good thing going downtown, and he thinks the current plan has unnecessary bells and whistles. He said the crossings were major changes to the mall. He said it would be th helpful to have a functional breakdown for the June 30 meeting. He agreed the work should be done all at once. He said he does not find the sister city plaza at all compelling. He agreed with Dr. Brown about the newspaper stands, and is not convinced about the café collards. He said he would like to hear from café owners if they think the proposal is positive. He said he does not find the new decorative fountains compelling. He said he could support a fountain in front of the Omni if funded privately. He supported the drinking fountains. He agreed with the 4” x 12” bricks if we can find them. He does not support public art on the mall. He said he thinks the mall at Water Street is fine. He supported keeping the lights the way they are now and improving side street access. He said he would like to salvage more trees. He said doing partial side streets would be great. He said he thinks a children’s play space would be compelling. He said it would be fine to find another use for the bricks elsewhere. He said the current bricks are not designed as pavers. He said we can save money and have a simpler project. Dr. Brown said he agrees with Mr. Norris on the sister city plaza, but disagrees about the play area. Mr. Taliaferro said he would like to keep it as close to as it is today, make as few changes as we have to, preserve the original design and save money. Ms. Edwards said that given the problem of childhood obesity, a play area would be a timely addition. She expressed concern about the sister city plaza. She supported improving the infrastructure and rehabilitation. Mr. Huja summed up what he heard the majority of Councilors support: planters at side street entrances; do not widen west end near Omni; no new decorative fountains; use existing lights; do not do permanent café enclosures; use 4” x 12” bricks; no uniform newspaper boxes; no sister city plaza; keep trees as they are; do not change tree grates; no more public art; yes to WIFI length of mall; use granite; install drinking fountains; keep drainage runnel design; do all at once; detailed functional cost list to be provided; leave alone planter in front of Omni; and do not cut or replace trees except dead ones.