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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2E, Gateway Signs EN HILLS Request for Council Review 2E ----------------- Prepared By: Jill Hutmacher, Community Work Session Date: December 19, 2011 Development Director Gateway Signs Discussion Topic: 1. What are the City Council's preferred 2012 sign locations? 2. If the City Council chooses to move forward with a sign on the triangle parcel in 2012,are any other improvements desired? 3. Does the City Council prefer a stone or brick base? 4. Does the City Council want to direct staff to obtain estimates for sign work? Supporting Documents: 1. Memorandum dated December 19,2011,from Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Director. 2. Attachment A—April 18, 2011, Work Session Meeting Minutes. 3. Attachment B—Potential Gateway Sign Locations. 4. Attachment C—Gateway Sign Designs. f ' EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: December 19, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Director ; SUBJECT: Gateway Signs The City Council and the Economic Development Commission have been working on Gateway Signs for several years. The installation of gateway signs is a Council goal for 2012. The estimated time to complete the goal is three years. At the April 18, 2011, work session meeting(minutes included in Attachment A),the City Council reviewed previous sign proposals. The majority of Councilmembers supported a high- quality, masonry-base sign at a cost of up to $25,000. Councilmembers supported the installation of between four and eight signs over the next few years at the priority locations identified by the EDC (location map included in Attachment B): • Highway 96 at Round Lake Boulevard • Highway 96 at Lexington Avenue • County Road E2 at I-35W • County Road E at Highway 51 • County Road E at Lexington Avenue(Arden Plaza) • County Road D at Cleveland Avenue • Lake Johanna Boulevard at the Roseville border(triangle parcel) • Lexington Avenue at the Roseville border The CIP designates $65,000 for gateway sign installation in 2012 which assumes two signs at a cost of$25,000 each and a sign at Arden Plaza for a cost of$15,000(the developer has agreed to pay for the sign face). Based on discussions with the EDC and Councilmembers, staff recommends that two of the three 2012 gateway signs be installed at: • The triangle parcel at the intersection of County Road D and Lake Johanna Boulevard and • Arden Plaza at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and County Road E City of Arden Hills December 19, 2011, Work Session Meeting Page 1 of 2 Staff requests Council direction on the location of the third 2012 gateway sign. Discussion Questions: 1. What are the City Council's preferred 2012 sign locations? 2. If the City Council chooses to move forward with a sign on the triangle parcel in 2012, are any other improvements desired? Per the City's agreement with Presbyterian Homes, the site will cleared and seeded. In the past, the triangle parcel has been used for a farmers' stand. Does the City Council wish to see that use continue, and if so, should the site be improved with parking or additional landscaping? 3. Does the City Council prefer a stone or brick base (sign designs included in Attachment C)? 4. Does the City Council want to direct staff to obtain estimates for sign work? City of Arden Hills December 19, 2011, Work Session Meeting Page 2 of 2 Attachment April 18, 2011 Work Session Meeting Minutes December 19, 2011, City Council Work Session Meeting ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—APRIL 18, 2011 10 E. Communications Committee Subcommittee Proposal (continued) Mayor Grant agreed. Councilmember Holden questioned if the website had a counter on each page. She recommended City Planner Beekman be contacted regarding this ability. Ms. Mitchell was uncertain as to the numbers. Mayor Grant suggested the City break down the emails into two or three categories to begin with. Councilmember Holden noted this was the recommendation of the Committee and invitations to this information would be sent first to insiders in the City. Mayor Grant and the Council recommended the Staff proceed with the Committee's request. F. Gateway Signs Mayor Grant stated that the City has been discussing Gateway Signs since 2000. The signs were minimal as was the expense. Since that time, new Gateway Sign designs were being discussed at all four corners of the community in eight different locations. He reviewed the proposed design noting it was similar to the Park signs with brick or Kasota stone. Mayor Grant stated he would like to see Gateway Signs installed this year. This was a budgeted item for 2011 and would make a positive statement for the community. He was uncertain as to the expense for each sign, but if it were $10,000 per sign this would be an$80,000 expense for the City. Mayor Grant recommended the City invest in a high quality Gateway Sign. This would make a statement to those entering the city limits. He did not want the Council to go cheap in this area. Councilmember Holden noted the Economic Development Commission (EDC) recommended the eight sign locations. Councilmember Holmes asked if the Council was going to proceed with a brick Gateway Sign or post. Mayor Grant stated that he would like to see the City proceed with a brick Gateway Sign as this would raise the quality of the sign and appear a more permanent structure. Councilmember Holden questioned if the signs would vary based on the sign location and space available at the differing intersections. Mayor Grant stated the signs could be scaled down from 12 feet to 10 feet based on the sign locale. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—APRIL 18,2011 11 F. Gateway Signs (continued) Councilmember Holden suggested a gateway sign be constructed similar to Shoreview's at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Highway 96. She stated this didn't have to be the same scale, but should be similar in design. She didn't want the City's sign to pale in comparison to Shoreview's. Mayor Grant agreed this sign would have to be larger in scale. He asked if the Council could agree on a budget or design for the gateway signs. He noted one Gateway Sign was $12,000 which included installation. Councilmember Holmes felt the City should not place a Gateway Sign at Lexington Avenue and Highway 96. She did not want the City to try and compete at this location. She questioned how many signs would be erected each year. Councilmember Holden was fine with$20,000 per sign. Mayor Grant stated he would support the $20,000 per sign as well. He indicated the Council budget would dictate how many signs could be installed each year. He recommended a design be chosen and put out for bid. A location could be determined at a later date. Councilmember Holden noted the EDC meets on Wednesday and could discuss the location further. Councilmember Holmes questioned the benefit of the Gateway Signs. She was not convinced the City needed to expend funds on such signs. Councilmember Holden stated a great deal of surrounding communities had Gateway Signs which provided those entering the City with a landmark. Mayor Grant added that the signs would create City-wide branding with a new logo for the community. He questioned if Councilmember Holden would support a sign price of$25,000. Councilmember Holden indicated she would -go up to $25,000 per sign but did not want to exceed $200,000 for the total gateway sign expense. Councilmember Werner suggested the most visible intersections be fitted with signs first. Councilmember Holden stated the EDC had a recommended a list of priorities. Councilmember Holmes did not support this sign expenditure. She would prefer spending the money on a trail in the community. Councilmember Werner explained he wanted to see a quality sign placed at the City's key intersections. However, this would be a great expense for the City. He recommended only four signs be installed and that each be tailored to the site. He noted he would support a high quality sign in the range of$25,000. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—APRIL 18, 2011 12 F. Gateway Signs (continued) Mayor Grant reiterated that the signs would be completed over time and not all at once but felt that at least six signs were necessary. Councilmember Holden explained that the City had been budgeting for the GatewaySigns since 2001 and$10,000 was set aside each year. Mayor Grant noted he would speak with Councilmember Tamble regarding this issue further. C. Update of Revised Arden Plaza Proposal—Continued until May This item was continued to the May work session. D. 2010 Community Development Department Year-In Review Councilmember Holden requested the year-in-review be presented at a Council meeting for public comment. City Administrator Klaers stated this information was included in a recent newsletter. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session meeting at 8:15 p.m. Patrick Klaers David Grant City Administrator Mayor Attachment Potential Gateway Sign Locations December 19, 2011, City Council Work Session Meeting Proposed Gateway Sign Locations E ff CD Potential ,. .w Gateway — , Sign Locations mm 6 ib Qt awnrww I � 6 `7 cy . m ��r -ARVEN rHiLLS � Attachment Gateway Sign Designs December 19, 2011, City Council Work Session Meeting { a � . .. � ��■�■�■AAAIII'. t � � t {E, E '00 A. RAC p r' Y 3 r � t t r } r :K r P r ?� ` » o d- § ] \ LU§ ■ . Q f§ §� ®|f, . 2 r LLz e ©© © tam 9 � w § z IL �E i [ f 2n1 ||| � \ \ [ y K % � \ 5 . . . / z § \ / � \ } . j 2 ~ 7 ( \ C)L ) § 9 2 E �Q z ? %< coj \ u $ iiz z \ < { % *4 aL g_j _ _ \ /< > � .V! 2 o u z ez S »a O za 5- CE �± $ l f