SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Authorize a Community Aesthetic Features Agreement between the City of Clearwater and the Florida Department of Transportation for a local identification marker (city logo) on a new pedestrian overpass at Harn Boulevard and US 19 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same; repeal Resolution 19-11 and adopt Resolution 21-25.
Body
SUMMARY:
As Clearwater redevelops and grows, opportunities arise to increase public recognition and community pride in the city. Branding and wayfinding enhancements to transportation facilities and infrastructure are important components of these goals and also serve to guide customers and visitors to their destinations. As a southern gateway into the city, the pedestrian overpass of US 19 at Harn Boulevard to be constructed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) offers this type of opportunity.
In 2016, the City contracted with MERJE, a nationally recognized firm with extensive community wayfinding experience, to develop a wayfinding and signage master plan for the US 19 Corridor which was presented to City Council in October 2016. The US 19 Corridor Wayfinding & Signage Plan identified two primary city gateways on US 19 and included the installation of City Gateway signage on two pedestrian bridges - Duke Energy Bridge and a proposed bridge north of Harn Boulevard - as priority projects.
FDOT requires the City to enter into a Community Aesthetic Feature Agreement (CAFA) that provides for the design, installation and maintenance of the Sign. City Council passed and adopted Resolution 19-11 approving a CAFA for this signage. However, during their review process, FDOT requested minor modifications to the CAFA, including the addition of certain notations to the design intent drawings produced by MERJE, which have now been addressed. Proposed Resolution 21-25 repeals and replaces Resolution 19-11 and authorizes the updated CAFA.
As shown in the CAFA, the sign will feature the city logo with the tag line “Bright and Beautiful, Bay to Beach” underneath, and will be illuminated. Additionally, the bridge will utilize the same blue color that was used at the US 19 overpass at SR 60/Gulf-to-Bay. The agreement provides FDOT with the design, evidence that the City will be responsible for maintaining the sign, and establishes a deposit of $15,000 that the City will pay to return the bridge to its originally designed condition if the sign needs to be removed.
By adopting Resolution 21-25, City Council is approving the Community Aesthetic Features Agreement (Exhibit A) and the information contained within.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in capital improvement project 315-92842, City Wayfinding, to fund this agreement.
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: