Council Item of Special Interest: Visual Improvement Program

September 8, 2020 City Council Workshop Presentation Overview • Background & History • VIP Project Examples • Grant Recipients • Program Administration & Funding • Challenges • Proposed Project • Next Steps

2 Background & History • Dates back to late 1980’s • 50% grant reimbursement program • Private property commercial rehabilitation • Eliminate/prevent blight • Encourage capital investment

3 Visual Improvement Project Examples

Awnings

4 Visual Improvement Project Examples

Exterior Painting

5 Visual Improvement Project Examples

Large Plazas

6 Visual Improvement Project Examples

Signage

7 Grant Recipients

• 64 Plaza • Heavenly Village • Metro Music • B&M Bumper & Hitch • Jim's Motors • Off the Cuff Venue, Cuff • Bead Museum Kitchen, Hawker Food Center • Kathy's Corner • Bears and More & Zang Asian Bistro • • Diamondback Collision • La Piazza Al Forno RSI Enterprises • • Downtown Alleyway Lighting • La Santisima Simply Dental • Star Theatre • F&R Glendale Plaza I • Maddy Cakes Properties, LLC • Sunbright • Supreme Art Design • F&R Glendale Plaza II • The Astrology Store Properties, LLC • Antique Treasures, • The Clock Makers • Glendale Center Plaza LLC Gatehouse Antiques & • The Open Door • Harrian Law Firm Westside Furniture • The Spicery • Levine's

8 VIP Program Administration & Funding • Marketing Department (FY2007-10) • Office of Economic Development • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocations – FY2011-12 through FY2018-19 – $461,594 – $184,645 unspent (old action plan years)

9 VIP Program Challenges • Requires working capital • Contractual and regulatory requirements (HUD) • Prevailing wage requirements impact cost • Last private property project July 2017 • Last public infrastructure project June 2018 • Old funding needs to be expended

10 Proposed Project – Café Lighting • Originated from feedback • Department Roles: from Downtown – Economic Development Stakeholders group (sponsor/champion) – Engineering (technical • Eligible project for advisor and project FY2018-19 CDBG Funds management) ($100,000) – Community Services (funder/regulatory • Required feasibility oversight) analysis and scope – Transportation (eventual development owner)

11 Concept Examples

12 Proposed Location

13 Project Benefits & Feasibility Benefits: Feasibility Assessment: • Addresses stakeholders’ • Lights must be metered expressed need • Must not hang below 16 feet • Focuses on safety and • Cannot attach to decorative beautification pedestrian lights • Provides an area benefit for • Taller streetlights need to be community evaluated for strength/load • City controls timeline and capability maintenance • Will require engineering and • Project is scalable (could be design consultant expanded in the future) • Ongoing maintenance cost

14 Estimated Project Costs

$106,250 One-time Construction: • Structural Engineering & Electrical Engineering • Installation Cost (prevailing wage requirement) • Assumptions – No unusual or extensive electrical submetering – Tie into city-owned electric sources – Standard fixture attachments without modifications – No Engineering Admin or Arts Fees – 25% Contingency $2,000/year Operations & Maintenance: • Managed by Transportation Street Lighting Program

15 Estimated Project Timeline

Project Phases: • Phase I – Technical Analysis • Phase II – Design PSA proposal (potential Council action) • Phase III – Design Structural and Electrical • Phase IV – Design Review and Approval – Requires Utility Company review and approval (cannot control this timeline) • Phase V – Bidding project • Phase VI – Construction Contract (Council action) • Phase VII – Construction

Estimated Timeline: • 5-8 months • Target completion – April 2021

16 Council Direction • Is there consensus to proceed with the project? • Next Steps: – CDBG Plan Amendments • Modify approved use in 3 plan years ($184,645) • Physical improvement projects • Public area benefit – After project completion, seek Council direction regarding proposed investment for any residual funds

NOTE: FY2018-19 $100,000 allocation allows for this use, project launch can begin prior to adoption of CDBG Plan Amendments

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