6. Civic Precinct Master Plan 4 Addressing Current Square Design Recommendation: That Community Services Committee recommend to City Council: That the January 19, 2015, Community Services report CR_1784, be received for information. Report Summary This report provides an update regarding festivals concerns with the Civic Precinct Master Plan and options for improved asthetics, programming and activation for Churchill Square. Previous Council/Committee Action At the April 24, 2013, City Council meeting, the following motion was passed: That Administration report back to City Council through Committee before the end of 2014 on the following: 1. Meet with the festival groups and business owners to understand and negotiate their concerns about the current square design. 2. Options to improve aesthetics of the area surrounding the square, and programming and activation. Report Overview At the April 16, 2013, Community Services Committee meeting, a number of festival groups expressed concerns with the Civic Precinct Master Plan. The Civic Precinct includes the area from the sidewalks east of 99 Street and west of 100 Street from 104 Avenue to 101A Avenue. As a result of the concerns, a consultant was contracted to interview festival and arts organizations to discuss the plan and to identify changes to ensure the space meets their needs in the coming years. Festival Groups • The six guiding principles identified in the Civic Precinct Master Plan (Attachment 1) are generally supported; however, the festival groups do not believe the current principles capture the contribution festivals make to the vibrancy of the square. An additional principle could be considered that makes a stronger statement about the use of the precinct and the square for major festivals and one-time major events. • Concerns from festival groups primarily related to the following three principles: ROUTING – Community Services Committee, City Council | DELEGATION - R. Smyth January 19, 2015 – Community Services CR_1784 Page 1 of 6 Civic Precinct Master Plan - Addressing Current Square Design o Principle 1: Amplify Civic Identity The festivals do not support being limited to programming their events strictly on the ceremonial spine on 99 Street from 101A Avenue to north of the City Hall Parkade. To be successful, festivals identified the need for a focused, central space that allows for audience and performer interaction and movement, similar to what the Square currently provides. Administration is still interested in creating a consistent visual identify along the spine, as intended, to create a pedestrian-focused street linking the future Royal Alberta Museum on the north end to the existing central performing arts centres and to the Stanley A. Milner Library and Centennial Plaza on the south end. Doing this work does not commit festivals to using only the ceremonial spine for programming. o Principle 2: Balance Everyday Activity and Special Programming The plan proposed a reorganized event layout citing 99 Street as the main festival space with some spillover onto the Square. The useful area identified for festivals along the proposed ceremonial spine in reality is less than what is described in the Civic Precinct Master Plan. The Provincial Law Courts require unobstructed traffic flow around the building so closure of 99 Street north of 102A Avenue is not possible while the Law Courts reside in the current location. Once the LRT line on 102 Avenue is operational, the ceremonial spine on 99 Street would be split into two parts, cutting the south portion of the street off from the main activity. Festivals cited public safety concerns and would discourage festival programming and activities in locations that require extensive crossing of the LRT tracks on 102 Avenue. o Principle 5: Evolve a Green City Centre and Connect to the River Valley Festivals identified concerns with the additional trees proposed on and around Churchill Square as these could inhibit audience movement between distinct spaces, rendering the proposed spillover space from the ceremonial spine ineffective for festival use. The placement of the trees also creates challenges when placing stages, sound and light systems, and other structural components necessary for successful festival and event production. Business and Arts Institutions • The businesses leasing space from the City around the Square are largely supportive of the principles of the Civic Precinct Master Plan. They favour efforts aimed at increasing the number of people coming year-round to the Square and creating inviting, green spaces. They would like any redevelopment plans to consider their businesses as part of the Square activities. • Other business groups interviewed identified concerns with the plan, mainly pertaining to Principles 1 and 5. • The Stanley A. Milner Library's concerns include the potential that festival activity on the 99 Street ceremonial spine south of 102 Avenue could block access to Page 2 of 6 Civic Precinct Master Plan - Addressing Current Square Design their loading bays. The library is also opposed to rows of trees separating the front face of the library and Churchill Square, as stronger integration with the Square is desired and will be considered in their future plans. • The Citadel Theatre is concerned that activity on the ceremonial spine could block access to the parkade and the restaurant, as well as general access to the Theatre. Renovations to the Theatre call for a new grand entry on the north-west corner of the building facing the square, enhancing the Theatre's presence on 99 Street. • As a number of arts organizations in the precinct area have master plans that may impact the overall future use of the Civic Precinct, more discussion is needed to ensure plans integrate with the surrounding outside space and vision for the area Options to Improve Aesthetics • Temporary enhancements have been considered to improve the look and feel of the Square. Bistro tables, chairs, umbrellas, fire pits and patio heaters have been purchased for everyday use as well as during some festivals and events. Garbage and recycling receptacles are also being replaced to provide a consistent look. • In advance of the LRT completion, there are two opportunities to improve function and form of the Square. • The first project involves the existing tiles around City Hall, including City Hall Plaza, which need to be replaced with a new surface. This maintenance and rehabilitation project will consider options that decrease overall maintenance costs while maintaining the look and feel of the space. The project will allow City Hall Plaza to extend onto the 102A Avenue road closure area and integrate visually with Churchill Square. Improving the barrier free access between the Plaza and the Square will also be a consideration along with other changes to improve the appearance of 102A Avenue as a pedestrian zone. Minor enhancements, taking into account input from festival and event producers, may also be considered within this project, including better access to power and water on 102A Avenue. Design for the tile replacement and work on 102A Avenue will begin in 2015 and will be funded through the Building and Facility Rehabilitation composite. • The second project involves replacing the turf in the East Gardens, as considerable resources are needed to maintain the grass and paving stones that currently exist. The turf is not practical for the types of activities held on the Square when combined with inclement weather and large numbers of people. Rehabilitation of this space will require further consultation with festival and event producers, however it should coincide with utility work required for LRT construction as the area will be disturbed during this time. A portion of the funding for this project will be considered through the Parks Conservation composite while the area disturbed by LRT utility relocates will use LRT funding. Improved Programming and Activation Page 3 of 6 Civic Precinct Master Plan - Addressing Current Square Design • Principle 2 speaks to the need to balance everyday activity with programming while Principle 4 addresses the need to develop measures to animate Churchill Square. The Civic Events section of Community Services continues to explore ways to increase programming for everyday users while looking to attract new visitors. • Since 2010, funds have been provided to the Edmonton Arts Council to program arts and cultural activities on Churchill Square, focusing on those days when no large festival or other civic event was taking place on the site. The goal of these activities is to animate Churchill Square throughout the year, to engage diverse Edmonton artists and performers, and to support the identity of Churchill Square as a major civic gathering place. • Examples of Edmonton Arts Council programming include: o daily activities including ping pong tables, giant checkers and chess games, basketball hoops and balls, buskers and street performers o regularly scheduled group events including light saber training, Zumba, BBoys breakdancing, street hockey, Swing and Skate, Tuesday and Thursday music days o augmentation of special events • Churchill Square has also been used to host and support some of Edmonton's major events such as the 2010 Grey Cup Festival, the 2014 International Triathlon Union Grand Final Opening Ceremony, 2014 Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's Symphony in the City, the 2014 Oil Kings Memorial Cup celebration, and the 2013 and 2014 Tour of Alberta overall race finish. • As of September 2014, Sir Winston Churchill Square, Centennial Plaza, and City Hall Plaza have hosted a total of 461 festivals, events and programs: eight major festivals, 180 general events and 273 Edmonton Arts Council programs. The Square is very popular and many new events consider the space as a location option. The Square continues to experience significant growth in attendance at City hosted events such as the "Movies on the Square" summer program, which saw between 5,000 and 7,000 people attend every Tuesday night in August. Annual events such as the Chili Cook Off and the Downtown Business Association's annual Holiday Light Up also continue to bring Edmontonians onto the Square.