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Home My WebLink About6/5/2013 - STAFF REPORTS - 5.B. Jay Thompson From: Bond Shands <bond.shands@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 8:37 PM To: David Ready Cc: Steve Pougnet; Chris Mills; Ginny Foat; Rick Hutcheson; Paul Lewin;Jay Thompson Subject: Bicycles on Bridges - an afterthought? Attachments: Ramon Road &Vista Chino Bridge Aesthetic Design Concepts.pdf Dear David, I was surprised by the attachments that accompany item 5b on next week's City Council meeting agenda. It's titled "5.b. Accept the proposed aesthetic design concept for the Ramon Road bridge widening proiect by artist Philip K. Smith and the aesthetic design concept for the new Vista Chino Drive bridge roiect by artist Heath Satow". The item is a resolution together with several pages of images depicting designs for the two bridges. I've extracted several of those image pages and have attached copies to this message. The seven pages of attached design images all have at least one feature in common. None include bicycles, bicycle lanes or other non-motorized vehicles. The images are filled with roadways, automotive vehicles, walkways and pedestrians. But no recognition that bicycling and other non-motorized transportation forms will be affected by the bridge work. However, I'm confident if California statutes require support for bicycling, etc., that such will become part of the finished bridges. My concern is that the images reflect yet another in what seems to be a never-ending lack of recognition that bicycling, etc., are routinely forgotten when it comes to depicting transportation access features. It's not deliberate but simply reflects we have not yet reached a point where the absence of bicycling would be quickly noticed as a serious omission. I feel the design artists have proved that so few have life experiences that make them aware of bicycling as an equal alternative form of transportation and thus fail to include such images in their work. And, if a picture is truly worth a thousand words, the absence of an image in a picture surely represents no less than a thousand word failing. In my view, and I hope you and the City Council will agree, is that ally transportation issues need to including bicycling and other non-motorized transportation forms as part of the discussion. So,what is it I am requesting. Only that you ask your commissioners, designers and others to recognize your commitment to bicycling issues and that appropriate recognition by all should be general Palm Springs city policy. Thanks again for all your bicycling support. Bond Bond Shands - Coachella Valley - www.DesertObserver.com 2490 Oakcrest Drive South-Palm Springs, California 92264 Phone: 760-459-5059 1 Email: bond.shands(a gmail.com Of 0/05/201 3 t Jay Thompson From: Bond Shands <bond.shands@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 5:29 PM To: David Ready Cc: Michele Mician;Jay Thompson;Vicgainer-aol.com; Brett Klein; Paul Lewin Subject: Re: Bicycles on Bridges - an afterthought? David, I appreciate the reply but it appears the response ignored or side-stepped my major point. It was that transportation documents, including images, should not be considered appropriate or complete if only part of the spectrum is presented. The bridge designs included images of users and street surfaces but nothing about bicycles or bicycle lanes. Artwork in official documents used to support actionable issues needs to be honest and complete. So, I find the responses rather meaningless with respect to my actual concerns that the images represent a failure to be inclusive of all users. It was hoped my email would result in agreement about the importance of including bicycling in all transportation discussions in which they play a part or will be affected. The response leaves me questioning whether my effort achieved its intent. Bond At 01:31 PM 2013/05/31, Esteemed Correspondent Brett Klein wrote, as follows: fantastic. thanks David for the quick response and confirming our NMTP progress within the city. We'll be sure to talk to this recap whenever the question comes up regarding the 'rails' and'facade' design, and we'll look forward to seeing the NMTP elements in the next round of drawings/details. Have a great weekend. Brett On Fri, May 31, 2013 at 1:19 PM, David Ready <David.Readv(a,oalmsprings-ca.gov>wrote: Brett/Bond, To assist in clarifying the bridge design sketches, here is an email excerpt from Public Works(Savat K. —Assistant Engineer); "The Non-Motorized transportation plan (NMTP) is considered on the two bridge projects. What the artists are showing only focuses on the artistic design of the bridge rails. The drawings, attachments, and renderings the Artists are providing do not have enough detail to show the true lane and bicycle lane configurations as the artists are not focused on those details. In addition, we are still in the environmental stages and details of the design, as it progresses,must include the NMTP as per City, State, and Federal guidelines. I can assure you that these projects will not overlook these requirements." FYI i David DAVID H. READY, Esq., Ph.D., CITY MANAGER City of Palm Springs Tel: (760) 322-8350 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Fax: (760) 323-8207 Palm Springs, CA 92262 TDD: (760) 864-9527 www.palmspringsca. gov David.Readyknalmsnringsca. gov ************ End Of The Original Message(s) ************ z �Z 0 V N CgOFOtRa`P CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT DATE: June 5, 2013 NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED AESTHETIC DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE RAMON ROAD BRIDGE WIDENING PROJECT BY ARTIST PHILIP K. SMITH AND THE AESTHETIC DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE NEW VISTA CHINO DRIVE BRIDGE PROJECT BY ARTIST HEATH SATOW FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: Public Works and Engineering Department, Public Art SUMMARY This action is to approve the recommendation by the Public Arts Commission to accept the aesthetic design concepts for the Ramon Road bridge widening project by artist Philip K. Smith and for the new Vista Chino Drive bridge project by artist Heath Satow. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Approve the recommendation to accept the aesthetic design concept for the Ramon Road bridge widening project by artist Philip K. Smith 2. Approve the recommendation to accept the aesthetic design concept for the new Vista Chino Drive bridge project by artist Heath Satow STAFF ANALYSIS: Both bridge projects are funded by Caltrans Highway Bridge Program (HBP) funds, where construction items are eligible for reimbursement if it meets Caltrans Local Assistance Guidelines. Construction costs for bridge aesthetic or architectural treatment shall be no more than 5% of construction costs. In addition, "unusual architectural treatments" must be approved by Caltrans in order for funds to be eligible for reimbursement as they typically are not eligible. The City is taking the necessary steps to bring its case of fund eligibility to Caltrans by seeking direction and approval from the Palm Springs Art Commission, the Cathedral City Arts Commission, the Cathedral City Council, and the Palm Springs City Council, whereby allowing the public opportunities to comment on the aesthetic design concept before seeking approval from Caltrans. A timeline of key events and approvals is as follows: ITEM NO. `J b City Council Staff Report June 5, 2013-- Page 2 Approve the Public Art Commissions Recommendation to Accept Aesthetic Design Concepts for the Ramon Road and Vista Chino Drive Bridge Projects September 25, 2012: The Palm Springs Public Art Commission subcommittee met at City Hall. The meeting discussed the preliminary aesthetic options. The goal was to set one preferred option with all necessary modifications. It was recommended that artists be brought on board to work with the project teams for both bridges in creating an aesthetic design. Once a selected option had been chosen it would be fine-tuned and presented to the full Palm Springs and Cathedral City Arts Commissions for approval. October 18, 2012: A joint meeting of the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission and Cathedral City Public Arts Commission was held at Palm Springs City Hall. Each commission offered comments and direction on how to proceed with the aesthetic design. March 14, 2013: The City of Palm Springs Public Arts Commission approved the designs presented from both artists and gave direction to proceed with the aesthetics for the Ramon Road and Vista Chino Drive bridge projects. The motion was unanimously approved— a simple and elegant aesthetic treatment that includes colored post modules spaced approximately 10 feet on center that rotate 6 degrees in relation to the previous post. The elements are 9 feet high and four sided, allowing two sides to be painted one color, while the remaining two sides are painted another. Given the post are module's radius of 9 degrees and a rotation of 6 degrees (post to post), the effect is a colorful array that appears to move gently back and forth. These post arc modules continue across the entire bridge, embedded within the 42" high decorative bridge barrier which displays a simple design depicting 'movement'. Pedestrian lighting provides subtle illumination along the interior sidewalk. The Caltrans Type 80 barrier which separates traffic from the sidewalk will consist of a smooth finish with openings at the ground plane to further emphasize the rhythm created by the colorful post modules. March 21, 2013: The designs were presented to Cathedral City Public Arts Commission and the bridge aesthetic design concepts were approved unanimously. May 22, 2013: Cathedral City City Council voted to approve the aesthetic design concept for the Ramon Road and Vista Chino Drive bridge projects. Some concerns were expressed by a Councilmember regarding the design and safety aspects, which were addressed. A motion to approve the design concept was approved with 1 abstention. 02 City Council Staff Report June 5, 2013-- Page 3 Approve the Public Art Commissions Recommendation to Accept Aesthetic Design Concepts for the Ramon Road and Vista Chino Drive Bridge Projects FISCAL IMPACT: The cost to include the aesthetic treatment, if approved by Caltrans, will be paid for with Caltrans Funding (88.53%), and local share (11.47%). Coachella Valley Associated Governments (CVAG) will pay for 75% of the local share, whereas the City of Palm Springs and Cathedral City will split the remaining 25% of the local share for the Ramon Road bridge. Palm Springs will pay most of the 25% local share for the Vista Chino bridge. Savat Khamphou Jennifer He ning Assistant City Engineer Arts and Special Projects Coo for David Barakian David H. Ready, ger Director of Public Works / City Engineer Attachments: Concept Proposal 03 PUBLIC ART PROPOSAL RAMON ROAD BRIDGE AND VISTA CHINO BRIDGE Akft i proposals by: Phi lip K Smith, III Heath Satow w PKS3com w w.publiac Iplumcom Q I Ss LO z O a z c �4 �/` _ , , s i t,`1`, .,4�,_. ,,- -�.__ ....� '" ,-ice i_ ;�.; t ' `" �__ _ � ` `� �; . { �- 4 + _ F 5 ` v „ 4 t , !� �f y v t INITIAL CONCEPT RAMON ROAD BRIDGE PKSIII + TKD Associates Inc 0 m 0 ,I' 11 _� *arc — ,. . �. �-. r 'i;�(�i��(I�I�IiI(�((�II�I tt((___ ' �` ; ;"� ( � r � .� ; 1�` �� ' � ` i 1 ' ' 1 i 0 ! s � s q o � � �� 1�; 1 -� � � rt,. - _ i - _ i`� .S 1 ��.'3'1 Sh� C ✓1.,1 }� �, � � Y 'mod=�i 2 .� 5� . ..._.. n INITIAL CONCEPT VISTA CHINO BRIDGE Heath Satow + David Evans and Associates, Inc. N \\ �� \'. `�\11 ��iV� \� ' •� _. . r ��: �►!�/i ��, '-�� i� `�� `.� `` � c `\\ \+\ /, /, , , :ex-: l fu \ I r.' ,�:- !_�