NEW BUSINESS  9.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

Starting in 2014, staff began working with the New World Symphony (NWS) and negotiating with their concessionaire, Thierry Catering, for a concession operation in Soundscape Park. Funding in the amount of $800,000 was approved in the Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2016/17.  The Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Department was in the process of hiring a consultant to move forward with the design and construction of the concession building with an estimated completion date in the spring of 2018.

This matter was discussed at the January 11, 2017 Commission meeting at which time NWS raised concerns regarding the concession building and the additional restrooms.  NWS advised the City they had other suggestions for improving the amenities at Soundscape Park.  Staff was directed to discuss this matter further with representatives from NWS and to provide an update at the March 1, 2017 Commission meeting.

City staff met with representatives of NWS on February 7, 2017.  Following is a summary of the items discussed:

• NWS does not want a food and beverage concession operation in Soundscape Park.  They would prefer to look at engaging restaurants in the vicinity rather than adding another vendor and structure.
• NWS does not want restrooms in Soundscape Park.  They propose utilizing a portion of the former Oolite space to create public restrooms to serve Soundscape Park.
• NWS wants to close the existing restroom building in Soundscape Park and convert it to a storage building.
• NWS wants to close Lincoln Lane, making it pedestrian only, and to bring the road surface level with the Soundscape Park grade.
• NWS does not like the current plan for trees on Drexel Avenue.
• NWS requested approval to install additional speaker towers within Soundscape Park.
• NWS wants to create additional viewing areas within Soundscape Park outside of the current viewing area of the wallcast (i.e., portable screens, permanent display, etc.).
• NWS suggested possible simulcasts and/or information pieces along Lincoln Road, using kiosks or other methods of transmission, in order to incorporate Soundscape Park and NWS along Lincoln Road to bring the three together.
• NWS requested the City consider installing public restroom stalls along public streets (similar to London, Spain, New York, etc.).

This information was subsequently presented at the March 1, 2017 Commission meeting.  The Commission voted in favor of not proceeding with the food and beverage concession and referring the remainder of the issues requested by NWS to the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC).

At the May 19, 2017 NCAC meeting, NWS staff presented four recommendations for improved amenities that would create a higher level of user experience at SoundScape Park (Attachment 1).

These recommendations are noted as follows:

1. Restroom/Storage Facilities - Relocation or reimagining of restroom facilities to also include additional storage space in the existing facility or Pennsylvania Garage.
2. Retail Space/Bike Center- Creative use of retail space located in Pennsylvania Garage, possibly a Bike Center such as the facility located adjacent to Millennium Park, Chicago.
3. Lincoln Lane Closure and Leveling- Activate and create an exciting southern edge for park in coordination with James Corner Field Associates Lincoln Road Master Plan, including leveling Lincoln Lane Road South to create pedestrian and bike access only.
4. Audio and Video Systems- Expand listening and viewing areas to create outdoor “Living Rooms” and pop up video screens

On May 19, 2017, the NCAC passed by acclamation a recommendation to have staff evaluate the cost impacts of improving the proposed amenities at Soundscape Park and subsequently send the evaluation to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) for consideration. On June 7, 2017, a resolution of the Mayor and City Commission was passed accepting the recommendation of the NCAC at its May 19, 2017 meeting to have staff evaluate cost impacts of improving the amenities at SoundScape Park and subsequently sending the evaluation to the FCWPC.

ANALYSIS:

On Friday, August 4, 2017, staff from Tourism, Culture and Economic Development, Parks and Recreation and Capital Improvements Projects met with NWS staff to begin analyzing the costs of the proposed amenities. The following table and attachments represent estimated costs for each of the suggested recommendations:

 *The proposal indicates the cost of the video systems would be the responsibility of NWS

City staff has expressed concerns regarding the proposed amenities making use of the Pennsylvania Garage space, specifically the restroom facility and retail bike center. Relocating the restroom facilities to the Pennsylvania garage would create a distance and disconnect from SoundScape Park, potentially causing a security and accessibility issue. In addition, the City is currently in the process of securing a tenant for the ground floor retail space of the garage, which will be prime real estate with the opening of the Convention Center. By building restrooms in the lower level, parking spaces that are vital to a negotiating a lease agreement with a potential tenant would be lost.

Regarding the potential use of the Pennsylvania Garage retail space as a bike center, the Transportation Department is currently installing 53 self-service, vertical bicycle parking racks in the 17^th Street parking garage.  There will be 24 bicycles in the NE corner of the garage, and there will be 29 in the southwest corner of the garage.  Each vertical bicycle parking rack holds one bicycle.  Transportation will also be installing up to 5 u-racks at each of these two locations. In the future, a self-service bicycle repair station will be at each of these two locations.

CONCLUSION:

Administration seeks direction from the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee regarding staff evaluations of the cost impacts for improving the amenities at Soundscape Park.