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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—April 12, 2010 3 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Proposal to Purchase Two Gateway Signs from SignArt USA for a Cost Not to Exceed $10,500 to be Located at the Southwest Corner of County Road E and - Lexington Avenue Intersection and the Southeast Corner of the Highway 96 and Round Lake Road Intersection Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated the City has looked at installing one or more gateway signs at entry points to the City. This project was added to the Economic Development Commission (EDC) work plan in late 2008. They have prepared a gateway sign design concept and identified potential locations for gateway signs. Before a final recommendation was made to the City Council, the opportunity to partner with the Arden Plaza redevelopment to construct a more substantial gateway sign was presented to the EDC. The developers agreed to construct a base for a gateway sign at the southwest corner of Lexington Avenue and County Road E as part of their overall project. The Arden Plaza property was going to pay for the sign base and installation. The Arden Plaza redevelopment was anticipated to start in the fall of 2009; however, the construction has been delayed and a new schedule is not yet available. With the undefined time line for the proposed gateway sign associated with the Arden Plaza redevelopment, the EDC reviewed alternative gateway sign options at their March 17, 2010, meeting. The EDC recommends the gateway signs be located at the southwest corner of County Road E and Lexington Avenue and the southeast corner of Highway 96 and Road Lake Road because these are primary entry points to the City, particularly for businesses, and because there is space to construct the signs without the need for easements. Councilmember Grant pointed out that there were different designs for the gateway sign included in the Council packet. He asked if the sign being proposed by SignArt is the one that does not include "Welcome to" and if this would be the design they would move forward with. The signs are designed with the ability to be moved. He asked how the signs would be reused and where. Community Development Director Lehnhoff stated the design that SignArt is proposing does not include the "Welcome to" as presented in the other examples. He explained the signs would be bolted to the footings. This would make it easier to move the signs in the future without damaging them. The EDC considered several areas they considered to be locations for a gateway sign. These locations include: County Road D and Cleveland Avenue, Lexington Avenue and County Road 96, County Road E2 and Cleveland Avenue, I694 and Red Fox Road, and along Highway 51. The signs were not designed with the intention they would be temporary but rather with the idea that the City may want to move them in the future, which is the case with the one proposed for the corner of Lexington Avenue and County Road E. Councilmember Grant asked if the design proposed by Arden Plaza could be incorporated into the sign proposed by SignArt. The stonework makes the sign more attractive. Community Development Director Lehnhoff clarified this option had not been explored by the EDC.