Select Park Monuments' Scope and Cost for The Draw - 2013 Parks Capital Improvement

On February 5th, 2013, the Park and Recreation Commission met with City Council in a joint work session for the purposes of a preview of the 2013 Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Consensus was generally that most projects should move forward as discussed within the CIP document.

However, considerable discussion ensued regarding the two park monuments (signs) for The Draw.  The conversation may be summarized between two views:

One shared by a couple Council members was that park signage need not cost several 10's of thousands of dollars.  Another position iterated was that these are indeed way-finding monuments, and are also expected to be in service for many decades - and should be constructed in a manner that befits the 3 million dollar investment that represents the 7-acre park's construction cost.

(It may also be noted that the entrance monument at Central Park cost approximately $50,000 in 1997, which included landscaping.)

 

The purpose of this case* is to further or finalize the discussion on the scope and cost of the proposed 2013 monuments for The Draw.  If there is strong consensus on the monument choices (and cost expectations), Staff may place the case authorizing the 2013 Capital Improvement on a near term City Council consent agenda.  It should be noted that due to the need to prepare a 'proof' for some of the materials used, and getting the project into the queue for production together with installation, the monuments would need to be ordered soon to be in place before the concerts begin on June 20th. 

Attached to aid in the discussion:

• PDF exhibit showing the two monument or sign locations for The The Draw, and three 'choices' for each monument
• The COR sign design framework approved by City Council in December 2012
• COR sign plan
• The Draw Event Series schedule

Relative to the first attachment, Staff requested three estimates with illustrations from sign maker Archetype of Minneapolis (based upon the approved COR sign guidelines), and those elevation views also show the plan view above it, and the cost to the right of each version.  These three quality/cost 'levels' may be described as the 'base' level, an 'intermediate' scope and cost, and the more 'premier' scope with stone.  Staff will point out additional details and considerations at the meeting.



*Additionally, as similar monuments are proposed within The COR at Sunwood Drive, Bunker Lake and Armstong Boulevard's etc., seperate from park way-finding, it may be usefull to generally revisit expectations (costs) for future community gateway signs and kiosks.  

The funding source is presently shown as $20,000 within the 2013 Parks CIP from the Park Improvement Trust Fund.  (The present balance of the Park Trust Fund is approximately $2,442,000.)

Staff generally concurs with the March 14th, 2013 recommendation of the Park and Recreation Commission which is as follows:

For The Draw monument/sign near Ramsey Boulevard:
~ The intermediate version with two-color aluminum fabricated base (versus stone base) at an estimated $19,750

For The Draw kiosk monument in between the parking lot and the amphitheater:
~ The Kasota and Dolomite stone based version at an estimated $35,540

Additionally, the Commission recommended that each monument be examined for solar lighting (versus an electric service) as a viable option which staff is investigating.

Furthermore, Staff is investigating what additional cost there would be structurally, to add a flag pole if one was desired for the Kiosk.

Consensus recommendation for Staff to proceed on a scope and cost for the two monuments and way-finding signs for The Draw, based upon discussion.