HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-08-11 City Council (31)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 13
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Planning and
Community Environment
DATE:
SUBJECT:
August 11, 1997 CMR:355:97
DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS MASTER
PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INITIAL SET OF
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
REQUEST
The purpose of this report is to forward for City Council approval the Downtown Urban
Design Improvements Master Plan (Attachment 1) and the initial set of proposed
improvements identified to be installed in fiscal year 1997-98. Also attached for Council’s
information is the Financing Options supplement (Attachment 2).
RECOMMENDATIONS
In regards to the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan, staff recommends
that City Council:
1. Adopt the Negative Declaration with a finding of no significant environmental impact
(Attachment 3);
2. Approve the initial set of proposed improvements, including a maximum of 230 boxes for
newsracks, based on the findings and conditions (Attachment 4) except for Condition 3 on
page 2 of the attachment regarding public toilets; and
3. Authorize staff to return to Council with a Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) for
$17,000, at the time of award of construction contract, to increase the amount available to
install newsracks.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan will implement needed streetscape
improvements identified in the downtown Urban Design Guide for the purpose of keeping
CMR:355:97 Page 1 of 8
the Downtown a vibrant and desirable place for pedestrians and retailers. The Plan will
establish a maximum number ofnewsrack boxes (230) for the Downtown Study Area. These
improvements are consistent with the Urban Design Element of the Comprehensive Plan,
Policy 5, "Encourage rehabilitation of aging retail areas to keep them economically healthy."
BACKGROUND
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project is a capital improvement project (CIP)
for implementing improvements to downtown public spaces identified in the Downtown
Urban Design Guide that was adopted by the City Council in 1994. The 1996-97 phase of
the CIP was preparation of a schematic design plan and feasibility study. It has culminated
in the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan and an associated document,
"Financing Options for Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project," that has been
reviewed by the Finance Committee of the City Council.
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project began in April 1996. The design
consultant, the urban design firm of Wallace Roberts and Todd, conducted three public
workshops between April and September, 1996, and also met seven times with a six-member
Steering Committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce during the development of the
Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan. Several members of the project
Steering Committee are also members of the Downtown Parking Structure Committee and
of the Newsrack Working Group, providing coordination with the newsrack ordinance being
prepared by the City Attorney’s Office and with the parking structure feasibility study being
prepared by the Transportation Division.
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan and Phase 1 improvements were
reviewed by the Historic Resources Board (HRB) on April 16 and the Architectural Review
Board (ARB) on April i7, 1997. The Planning Commission review and the ARB final
review of the Master Plan and Phase 1 improvements were on May 14 and May 15, 1997
respectively. The minutes of those meetings are attached to this report. The staff report that
was prepared for the Planning Commission and ARB final review is attached to this report
and includes a description of the project (pages 3-6) and a discussion of three issues that have
been identified during the development and review of the Master Plan: 1) providing an
adequate number ofnewsracks while meeting other design goals (page 6); 2) loss of parking
spaces and loading zones as a result of providing widened sidewalks at selected locations to
improve pedestrian circulation (page 7); and 3) provision of possible future public toilets in
downtown (page 8).
This report transmits the actions of the Planning Commission and the Architectural Review
Board, and reports on efforts made by staff since the Planning Commission and ARB
meetings to work with representatives of local newspapers to identify additional locations
CMR:355:97 Page 2 of 8
for newsracks in the downtown. It also summarizes City response to issues raised by the
Planning Commission and/or ARB regarding public toilets, downtown maintenance, and
expansion of the recycling program.
DISCUSSION
The Planning Commission recommended adoption of the negative declaration and approval
of the Master Plan and Phase 1 improvements, 5-1; with Commissioner Bialson voting no
and Commissioner Beecham absent. The Commission’s approval included two amendments:
1) a unanimous motion was passed, to recommend inclusion of public toilets in the first
phase of improvements planned for fiscal year 1997-98, with at least one toilet to be provided
in one of the downtown public parks or plazas and with the type and cost of the toilets to be
determined; 2) a second motion to provide more locations for newsboxes in addition to the
132 shown on the Master Plan passed 5-1, with the additional locations to be worked out in
a discussion among staff, the newspaper interests and other interested parties. (See
Conditions #3 and #4 in Attachment 4.) Commissioner Bialson voted against this motion
and the main motion because she preferred that any additional newspaper boxes be located
on side streets or on Hamilton or Lytton Avenues in order not to overcrowd University
Avenue. A motion by Commissioner Byrd to use a substantial amount of the funds allocated
for the first phase of the downtown improvements for providing public toilets failed 1-5.
Architectural Review Board Action
ARB unanimously recommended adoption of the negative declaration and approval of the
Master Plan and Phase 1 improvements. The ARB approval included several conditions.
(Conditions of project approval that were added by the Architectural Review Board or by the
Planning Commission are shown in italics in Findings and Conditions, Attachment 1.) The
ARB supported the Planning Commission recommendation to accelerate the provision of
public restrooms into Phase 1 and added the recommendation that the design and locations
of the proposed facilities be subject to ARB approval. The ARB was unanimous in not
supporting use of portable toilets in downtown.
The ARB action also included forwarding to the City Council for its consideration two other
recommendations related to the downtown, but not specifically part of this project. They are:
1) that the City should engage with PASCO or an alternative vendor to expand the recycling
program to include pickup of recyclables, including newspapers, in the downtown public
areas, with the recycling program to include an educational component; and 2) in order to
protect the substantial investment being made in the downtown improvements, the City
should allocate an annual downtown maintenance budget for ongoing maintenance and repair
of furnishings, art work, and other public infrastructure.
Financing Option Supplement
Attached is the February 1997 Financing Options Supplement prepared by Pacific Group in
conjunction with the Master Plan. The Supplement was provided previously to the Finance
CMR:355:97 Page 3 of 8
Committee during the 1997-98 Budget process. It is provided for information only, and no
action is required.
Providing Locations for Newsboxes
To provide a basis for the number and location ofnewsboxes to be accommodated in the new
Master Plan, staff documented the location and name of all publications being distributed in
newsboxes on the downtown streets on July 16, 1996. The total number ofnewsboxes in use
on the streets in the project area on that date was 234, including about 20 that were not being
used or were abandoned. In making this count, large double or triple size boxes used for
Sunday papers were counted as two boxes, since they will occupy the space of two. boxes in
the new newspaper racks. The base count included 36 boxes of the Palo Alto Daily News
and 14 boxes of the Palo Alto Weekly. These two newspapers, together with newspapers and
other publications that are not free, occupied 178 of the boxes, while free circulars and
advertisements occupied 56 boxes. It should be noted that since this survey, additional boxes
have been added, and the current estimate is over 300 boxes.
In providing locations for 132 newsboxes in the Master Plan, the design team referred to this
base data and located new newsracks in what appeared to be the most popular locations,
while at the same time meeting other safety and design goals, with most boxes placed along
University Avenue and some on side streets or on Lytton or Hamilton Avenues. According
to distributors of free circulars, some of their publications can be distributed two to a box.
If one newsbox were provided for each two free circulars and advertisements, then the 132
newsboxes proposed in the Master Plan would equal approximately two-thirds of the
newsboxes on the downtown streets in July 1996.
Following the Planning Commission and ARB meetings, staff met in the field with
representatives of the two local newspapers to consider where other locations for newsboxes,
in addition to the 132 shown in the Master Plan, could be provided while not compromising
other safety, clearance and aesthetic issues. These issues include retention of the existing
amount of bicycle parking and seating, leaving the sidewalks clear for pedestrian circulation,
maintaining pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular sight distances and providing an uncluttered
appearance. Possible locations for an additional 72 boxes were identified, including 56 more
boxes on University Avenue and 16 more boxes on side streets and Lytton and Hamilton
Avenues, raising the total number of newsboxes to 204. The proposed location of these
boxes is shown on the attached plan (Attachment 7). It appears likely that another 26 boxes
could be located in outlying areas on Hamilton and Lytton Avenues. The 98 additional
locations would require ARB review.
Staff is recommending that the number of newsboxes in the downtown area be established
at 230. Staff believes that this number will provide a reasonable opportunity for those
publications currently located in the downtown area or those that have expressed an interest
in being located in the downtown area, while accommodating other desired uses of the public
CMR:355:97 Page 4 of 8
sidewalks in a manner that limits disruption to pedestrians and minimizes safety hazards.
The 230 newsboxes is consistent with the number of boxes located in the downtown area as
of July 1996. The locations of the boxes have been picked to provide the maximum number
possible at the most desirable locations, while giving due consideration to the various
competing uses of the sidewalks as previously described.
The cost of adding the 98 additional newsboxes was not included in the original budget for
Phase 1. Cost estimates to install the boxes vary depending on where they are located.
When boxes are located within the corner areas at the four main intersections on University
Avenue where the metal rail framework with decorative metal panels are part of the Master
Plan, there will be only a nominal additional cost of adding the metal shelf on which the extra
four boxes will sit (approximately $200 per 4-box module). However, if the boxes are added
in locations where no rail framework is planned, (for example, at the Ramona/University
corner next to Yosh) then the estimated cost to construct and install the rail framework with
artist-designed metalwork is approximately $1,000 per 4-box module.
Of the 72 possible new box locations identified in the field, 44 of these would be in the latter
cost category, requiring 11 new 4-box modules at $1,000 each, for a total of $11,000. An
additional 26 boxes located in outlying areas on Lytton and Hamilton will all require
additional rail framework, at a total cost of $5,000-$6,000 for five or six 4-box modules.
Thus, adding approximately 98 more boxes than the 132 boxes shown on the Master Plan
would be expected to cost about $17,000. The $17,000 will result in a scaling back of other
proposed Phase 1 improvements such as lighting and sidewalk widening, unless the Council
allocates additional funds. Staff is recommending that the Council increase the budget for
the project by the $17,000. If Council agrees, a Budget Amendment Ordinance would be
required at the time the construction contract returns for Council approval.
Public Toilets
Although the provision of public toilets was not included in the scope of the Downtown
Urban Design Improvements Project, strong support for such facilities was expressed at the
public workshops and public hearings held during the development and review of the project.
Consequently, the Master Plan identifies seven potential locations for public toilets, should
the City Council decide in the future to provide public toilets in the downtown. These
locations are: public parking lots T and H; future sites for public parking garages at lots S
and R; and Civic Center, Cogswell Plaza and Lytton Plaza. Because of the additional study
required on toilet location, type and size, and the existing contract scope of services for the
preparation of the Downtown Urban Design Improvements construction documents, staff
does not recommend that the toilets be included in the Downtown Urban Design
Improvements Project. Toilets should be considered separately as outlined in CMR:311:97
-- Approaches to Improve the Quality of Life in the Downtown Area and discussed by the
Policy and Services Committee at their July 8, 1994 meeting.
CMR:355:97 Page 5 of 8
Downtown Maintenance
Because of very heavy use of the downtown streets, sidewalks and plazas, particularly on
weekends, maintaining an acceptable level of cleanliness in this area at all times is a
challenge. In response to the Council’s concern for improved cleanliness, the Public Works
Department has taken several steps to increase the level of maintenance. Sidewalk pressure
washing services have been expanded to be pro’~ided once a month from May through
October. In July 1997, the sweeping service level was increased to seven days a week. The
"Green Machine," a power-operated machine for sweeping the curbs and sidewalks, was
recently purchased, allowing for more frequent sweeping of all sidewalk areas. It is also a
scrubber, so dirt and spills can be cleaned up quickly. City Public Works crews also have
been emptying all downtown trash receptacles on Sunday mornings, since PASCO does not
provide this service, and weekend activity generates a considerable amount of debris. The
Public Works Department has developed a maintenance budget for upkeep of the downtown
area that estimates the Phase I improvements will increase the downtown maintenance
budget by $32,320 annually. Future phases will add an additional $16,400 not including
Lytton Plaza and any recycling containers as requested by the ARB. These costs will return
to the Council with the 1998-2000 budget.
During the development of the Master Plan, design decisions were made to provide for a
relatively low maintenance. For example, the proposed trash receptacles have no hinges or
other moving parts which tend to break, are constructed of heavy-gauge steel, have a top
which is designed so that carelessly placed trash is likely to fall into the opening, and have
design and color intended to camouflage dirt and spills. Except for one new type of special
light fixture for the main intersections on University Avenue, all lights in the downtown will
be one of three types of lights already in place and stocked by the City, thereby simplifying
the maintenance of lights. The ornamental tile proposed for the concrete corner walls will
use a special ceramic tile fired at very high temperatures for added strength that has been
used successfully for walking surfaces, and it will be placed only on the tops of the walls
where it is less vulnerable to damage. The ornamental metalwork is being designed in such
a way that it can be produced within budget in bronze, which requires no maintenance, rather
than a more elaborate design in a cheaper metal that would require painting. The intent is
to provide improvements that will withstand heavy use over a long period of time without
adding significantly to maintenance requirements.
Expanded Recycling Program
The City is currently in contract negotiations with PASCO, and consideration of expanded
recycling services in the downtown could be included in those discussions. Because of these
ongoing negotiations, consideration of an alternative vendor at this time would not be
appropriate.
FISCAL ,IMPACT
CMR:355:97 Page 6 of 8
As of July 1, 1997, $750,000 has been allocated for implementation of the Downtown Urban
Design Improvements Project. Of this amount, $250,000 is a public benefit contribution for
downtown improvements from two Planned Community zone projects, and $250,000 has
been allocated from the General Fund in each of the past two fiscal years. Staff recommends
Council augment the budget by $17,000 for the cost of the additional newsracks. Staff will
include a request for additional funds at the time the construction contract returns to Council.
It is expected that the Phase 1 improvements identified in the Master Plan can be
implemented for $750,000. Implementation of additional elements of the Master Plan is
contingent upon future allocation of funds by City Council or additional private funding.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
An environmental assessment has been prepared, and the Negative Declaration of no
significant environmental impact is attached to this report.
ATTACHMENTS/EXHIBITS:
Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project Master Plan
Financing Options for Downtown Urban Design Improvements
Environmental Impact Assessment
Findings and Conditions
Minutes of the ARB meeting of May 15, 1997
Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of May 14, 1997
Planning Commission and ARB Staff Report, May 14 and 15, 1997
Revised location map for newspaper racks
Letter from Joseph Baldwin
Letter from Trina Lovercheck
Letter from the Chamber of Commerce
Letter from the Palo Alto Daily News
Letter from the Palo Alto Weekly
Location Map
PREPARED BY: Virginia Warheit
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
CMR:355:97 Page 7 of 8
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
COURTESY COPIES:
Downtown Improvements Project Steering Committee:
Roxy Rapp Jim Baer
Julia Chert Warren Thoits
Kathleen Haney Tom Richman
Barbara Gross, Downtown Marketing Committee
Susan Frank, Chamber of Commerce
Joe Baldwin
Trina Lovercheck
Bill Johnson, Palo Alto Weekly
Dave Price, Palo Alto Daily News
Newsrack Working Group:
Ronna Devincenzi
Karen Cabello
Terrence Kandle
Gary Rader
Jim Pavelich
Elizabeth Bishop
Duane Bay
Tom Lilledahl
Miles Harrington
CMR:355:97 Page 8 of 8
ATTACHMENT 1
MASTER PLAN
Downtown Urban Design Improvements
City of Palo Alto
Department of Planning and Community Environment
WALLACE ROBERTS & TODD
DRAFT
April II, 1997
CONTENT
Introduction
I.I
1.2
1.3
Goals
2,1
2.2
2.3
Background and Process
Use of the Plan
Scope of the Study
Downtown Urban Design Improvements Plan
Street Tree Management Guide
Implementation and Financing Report
A District, Not a Corridor
A System for Movement and Parking
AQuality Environment
Downtown Public Spaces
3. I Sidewalk Spaces
University Avenue Major Intersections
University Avenue T-intersections
University Avenue Sidewalks
Cross-street Sidewalks
Hamilton and Lytton Sidewalks
Gateways
3,2 Parking Lots and Alleys
Parking Lot Entries
Parking Lots
Alley System
3.3 Parks and Plazas
Lytton Plaza
Cogswell Plaza
Hamilton Avenue at City Hall Plaza
7
8
36
4O
4 Downtown Design Elements
4. I Furniture
Benches
Trash Receptacles
Tree Grates
4.2 Bike Parking
Bike Racks
4.3 Newsracks
4.4
Comer Rail Support
"D" planter Rail Support
Basic Rail Support
Signage
Parking Directional Sign
Parking Lot Entry Sign
Alley Sign
Street Names
4.5 Lighting
Basic Street and Parking Lot Light
Basic Intersection Light
University Avenue Intersection Light
Pedestrian Acorn Light
Alley Lighting
Accent Lighting
Paving
Landscaping
Street Trees
Shrubs, Perennials and Vines
4.8 Public Art
Metalwork
Tile
Lytton Plaza
Information Kiosk
51
52
55
56
58
63
67
67
7O
iv
1 Introduction
1.1 BACKGROUND AND PROCESS
The Plan for Downtown Urban Design Improvements describes a diverse set of actions,
both large and small, to enhance public spaces throughout Palo Alto’s twenty-block
commercial core bounded by Alma Street, Middlefield Road, Hamilton and Lytton
Avenues. The plan focuses on improving the function and finish of pedestrian spaces,
plazas and parking areas, and establishes a coordinated system of street furnishings, lighting
and signage to unify the downtown core.
The specific design proposals presented in this plan build upon and implement general
concepts contained in the Downtown Urban Design Guide adopted by City Council in
1994. The Downtown Urban Design Guide was developed over a four- year period by
the Urban Design Committee, a group of planners, designers, community members and
city representatives appointed by City Council. The Guide defined a long-term direction
for public and private development in the downtown core and recommended a set of
priority public improvements, which are now the subject of this plan.
The design proposals were developed and tested in a series of public workshops,
including tours, questionnaires, charrettes and discussions, held in the downtown in April
through September of 1996. The workshops also provided members of the Public Arts
Commission, Historic Resources Board and Architectural Review Board opportunities to
identify issues and informally review the developing concepts, Throughout the design
process, a Steering Committee representing downtown property owners and merchants
met regularly to provide guidance and feedback to the design team and city staff.
1.2 USE OF THE PLAN
This plan describes the full set of improvements recommended to enhance the function
and attractiveness of the downtown commercial core, These improvements will not be
implemented at one time, or by a single entity. Timing of the various improvements will
be determined by the City’s priorities, available funding and opportunities to coordinate
improvements with other projects.
The first phase of improvements is currently funded and will be completed by fall 1997.
The plan describes in greatest detail those elements that are given high priority for
inclusion in the first phase, such as the modular newsracks, wall improvements, signage
and new furnishings. Other elements are described at a more conceptual level and will be
refined and detailed as funding becomes available.
A key use of this plan is as a design guide for both public agencies and private developers,
describing improvements to be coordinated with and incorporated into separately
financed public and/or private projects. This will ensure that any project undertaken in the
downtown, from resurfacing of the street to construction of a new building, contributes
incrementally to implementation of the p.lan.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Three documents--the Downtown Urban Design Irn~rovements Master Plan, the
Downtown Street Tree Management Guide, and the Financing Options Report--were
produced within the scope of this planning effort.
1.3.1 Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan
Recommendations of the Plan fall into two categories--physical improvements to specific
downtown public spaces, and overall systems of consistent downtown design elements.
Improvements to downtown public spaces are described in Chapter 3 and include
sidewalk spaces, parking lots and alleys, and parks and plazas. Downtown design elements
are specified in Chapter 4 and include furniture, newsracks, signage, lighting, landscaping
and public art.
1.3.2 Downtown Street Tree Maintenance Guide
The second document which is now available from the City is the Downtown Street Tree
Maintenance Guide. Prepared by consulting arborist Barrie Coate, it provides specifica-
tions for improvement and ongoing maintenance of the stock of downtown street trees.
The guide discusses the particular planting, pruning, watering and fertilization requirements
of each species planted on downtown streets, as well as any specific issues regarding the
species’ use in the downtown environment. It also recommends pruning practices for
newly planted, established and mature trees.
1.3.3 Financing Options Report
The third document resulting from this planning effort was prepared for use by the City in
assessing options for financing the proposed downtown improvements. The Financin~
Options Report by the consulting economist, Pacific Group, describes the range of
methods used by other cities to fund downtown public area improvements, and assesses
the potential sources of funding to implement future phases of the project. The study will
be used as a reference for staff in developing recommendations for financing downtown
improvements through the capital budget process.
2 Goals
The intent of the Plan is to improve the experience of downtown, from ardval and parking
to walking the sidewalk to resting on a bench in a plaza. With the findings of the Down-
town Urban Design Guide as a starting point, the design team met with the public, proiect
steering committee, downtown merchants and city staffto identify the key areas in which
the downtown experience could be improved¯ The needs that were identified in these
discussions formed the basis for the Plan’s three main goals.
2.1 A District, Not a Corridor
Expand the area iden~ed as "down-
town" outward from the University
Avenue corridor, to include the en-
dre district bounded by Hamilton,
Lytton, Alma and Webster.
Encourage pedestrians and drivers to
recognize the University Avenue
cross streets as a part of the down-
town retail core, and encourage
them to turn the corners and use
these streets for access to parking
and additional commercial uses.
Alma St- ......::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2.2 A System for Movement and Parking
Oar@ the Io~ation of parl,Jng relarJve
m University, Hamilton and Lytton,
and improve the visibility and identity
of downtown parking areas.
Provide clear direction from down-
town entries to cross streets to park-
ing lots. Define the cross street
blocks between Hamilton and Lytton
as part of a "downtown parking zone",
and direct drivers immediately to this
zone as an alternative to seeking on-
street parking on University Avenue.
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2.3 A Quality Downtown Environment
Improve the quality of the downtown pedestrian environment, by increasing pedestrian
space and improving pedestrian amenities at sidewalks, intersectJons, alleys, plazas and
parkJng lots. Provide greater visual and aesthetic interest in the streetscape.
Improve the function and attractiveness of sidewalks, Lytton Plaza, Cogswell Plaza, alleys
and parking lots. Ease congestion by removing clutter and organizing furniture; widen
sidewalks in limited areas.. Integrate elements created by artists and artisans into the street
environment, adding color and a sense of craft to the streetscape.
3 Downtown Public Spaces
In a region so clearly identified with development of the "virtual" community, downtown
Palo Alto is still the place where people come to stroll, to eat and to meet face to face. Its
spaces are used by residents, visitors and commuters; shoppers, students, seniors and the
homeless. In a very limited area, the system of public spaces needs to graciously accom-
modate a wide range of needs, while projecting a sense of the city’s unique character and
place.
For most people, the experience of downtown begins with entry into the commercial
district and parking. At the parking lots the downtown visitor becomes a pedestrian, using
the system of alteys and sidewalks to reach shops, restaurants, offices and public buildings.
The major intersections orient pedestrians and offer protected seating at the center of
downtown activity, while parks and plazas accommodate quiet retreat as well as
community-wide gatherings. It is these spaces--the sidewalks, parking lots and alleys, and
parks and plazas--that the Plan intends to strengthen and enhance as settings for the
community’s public life.
The master plan proposes improvements in the following downtown public spaces:
Sidewalk Spaces:University Avenue Major Intersections, University
Avenue "T" Intersections, University Avenue Side-
walks, Cross-Street Sidewalks, Hamilton and Lytton
Sidewalks, and Gateways
Parking Lots and Alleys:Parking Lots, Alley System
Parks and Plazas:Lytton Plaza, Cogswell Plaza, and Hamilton Avenue
at City Hall Plaza
3.1 SIDEWALK SPACES
The downtown district’s success is reflected in the growing numbers of shoppers,
residents and workers moving along its sidewalks. Retail uses are spilling out of the
traditional retail corridor along University Avenue, drawing pedestrians to destinations on
cross streets, Hamilton and Lytton Avenues. At the same time, there is an increasing
sense of congestion on University Avenue sidewalks due to the accumulation of news-
racks, trash cans, care seating and bike parking that accompany a vital main street. The
proposals for improving the quality of downtown sidewalk space focus on reducing clutter,
enhancing cross streets, upgrading furnishings and incorporating art and crafted elements.
3.1.1 University Avenue Major Intersections
Loca~Jon:
Analysis:
Concept:
University Avenue and Emerson, Bryant, Waverley and Cowper
At present, among the most visible street improvements along University
Avenue are the concrete "bunker" walls at the intersections of Emerson,
Bryant, Waverley and Cowper Streets. Although the walls succeed in
creating pleasant, protected seating areas directly adjacent to the street,
through their height and orientation they tend to direct pedestrians and cars
along University Avenue and to lessen perception of the cross streets as part
of the retail core. In addition, their dull color and plain finish are inconsistent
with the lively, sophisticated downtown retail character.
Corner treatments at the major University Avenue intersections should give
both University Avenue and cross street sidewalks equal visibility and access.
Existing walls should remain in place to protect seating areas, but should be
lower, more open and decorative. The widened sidewalks on cross streets
should be protected as well, by an open metal railing that carries the eye
around the corner and defines sites for newsboxes, bike parking and seating.
The intersections are sites for artist-designed metalwork and decorative tile
which contribute color, detail and a feeling of human craft to the streetscape.
The four intersections should vary in details such as the pattern of metalwork
and design of accent tile, to give variety, interest and identity to different
sections of the street. (Figure 1).
8
~xes, furniture
and bike parking on
cross street corners
Renovate "bunker"
seating areas
Improve intersection
lighting
Define cross street
corners with rail
Figure I
University Avenue Major Intersection
Figure 2
Renovated "bunker" seating area
Recommended
Improvements:
Renovate "bunkers1’ on the University Avenue sides of major intersections.
:2).
(Figure
Cut down the top portion of the "bunker" walls and rebuild with a tiled cap
and 9" high metal top rail. The finished height to the top of the rail remains
39", the same as the existing wall, Rail is to be painted black with a luster
finish similarto wrought iron. (Figure 3).
Set artist-designed and crafted decorative metal screen panels into the frame
of the top rail. The University Avenue street name should be integrated into
the design of the panel nearest to the intersection, (Figure 4).
Tile the top 5" of the wall, below the rail, in broken tile of subtly varied,
earth-toned shades. The broken-tile field may be interspersed with accent
tiles,
Remove the board finish from the remaining natural concrete wall surfaces
through hammering and sandblasting. Sandblasting may be done in a
stencilled pattern abstracted from the metal panel pattern.
Retain the thickened wall ends at existing height and tile their entire top,
street and sidewalk faces. Replacement of the traffic signal controllers
enclosed in some of the wall ends is anticipated in the next 2-3 years--new
controllers will be placed within the existing enclosures or in the planting
area immediately adjacent. If placed in the planting area, new cabinets
should not exceed the height of the wall and are to be scPeened with
planting.
Replace existing benches with new benches in the same general layout,
Provide one trash container in each bunker space, Relocate all newsboxes
to custom rail supports provided at designated locations on cross street
corners and "D’ planters.
Renovate plantings.
Replace "shoebox" lights, New pole to include integrated banner arms,
street sign bracket and traffic signal arm. (See Downtown Design Elements),
II
Existing Section Proposed Section
Proposed Elevation
Figure 3
Wall modifications
Figure 4
,Axonometric view of wall
Figure 5
Cross street corner at University Avenue
Define and renovate spaces on the cross street sides of major intersections,
(Figure 5).
Remove existing concrete fin walls, wood newsracks and planter boxes,
Install open metal rails along the edges of the existing widened cross street
sidewalks, defining use spaces along the cross streets in the same way that
the "bunkers" define spaces along University Avenue, Match the 39" top
height and black luster finish of the top rails on the "bunker" walls, Drilled
footings will be set below the existing brick pavement band, Each post will
be engineered to safely support a maximum load of 350 pounds, (Figure 6).
Set artist-designed and crafted decorative metal screen panels into the rail
frame, The panel nearest the intersection should incorporate the cross
street name into its design, Artist panels should fill the top space of the rails;
the remaining spaces below may be filled with simple powdercoated perfo-
rated metal screen panels compatible with the artist panel design. All panels
must be relatively open to create a screen-like rather than wall-like effect.
(Figure 7).
Mount stacked modular newsboxes on the railing in designated locations.
(Figure 25).
Replace the existing mix of bike racks with standard 2-bike racks, maintaining
at least the existing number of spaces, North-facing corners are preferred
locations, to maintain space on sunnier corners for seating,
Place benches over fin wall sites. Where benches are not installed, remove
wall footing and extend the adjacent ptanting area.
Replace tree grates with ADA compliant models,
Renovate plantings,
Adjust mailboxes to line up against the rails,
Add a single pedestrian acorn light at the end of each widened sidewalk
section on the cross streets.
(Figures 8, 9),
15
Rail.mounted
newsboxes
Sidewalk elevation
Standard perforated
metal panel, with
cutout pattern
Street elevation Figure 6
Figure 7 Metal screen panel studies
TYPICAL CROSS STREET
Figure 8
University Avenue Major Intersection
Existing Plan
Modify wall with tile
cap and rail
Replace tall
intersection lights
Clean and repair
existing paving
Bike parking
Renovate plantings
Incorporate street
names into metal
screen
Replace tree
with ADA model
Mount modular
newsboxes on rail
Add acorn light on
cross street corners
Metal benches witli
back and trash
containers
Figure 9
IJniversity Avenue I~ajor Intersection
Proposed Plan
3.1.2 University Avenue "T" Intersections
Loco~Jon:
Analysis:
Concept:
University Avenue at Florence, Kipling and Tasso Streets
Because the cross streets that deadend at University Avenue tend to be
short and discontinuous, the character of their intersections differs from that
of the intersections with major city cross streets, Pedestrians use the quiet,
residential-scale side streets for access to downtown parking lots and the
Downtown North neighborhood. Traffic is light, and sidewalk activity
centers on retailers in prominent sites at the street ends-the former New
Varsity Theater at Kipling (Borders) and the former grocery store at Florence
(Z Gallerie). The curbside area at the "T" intersections at Florence and
Kipling are marked as loading zones, although businesses are also served by
loading zones behind the stores, The curbside area at Tasso is marked for
one parking space.
The loading zones at ’T" intersections offer the only opportunities for
significant widening of the sidewalks on University Avenue. While they
would be developed like the major intersections with seating, planting and
street amenities, they will offer a different type of pedestrian "eddy" space by
virtue of their locations at relatively quiet intersections, (Figure 0),
Recommended
Improvements:
Widen east sidewalks at the tops of "T" intersections. (Figure I I).
Widen the east sidewalks at Florence, Kipling and Tasso approximately 8’,
eliminating existing white and yellow zones, or parking space, between the
"D’ planters, Pave with concrete banded with brick, matching existing
banding, Provide storm drain inlets and adjust utilities as needed.
Furnishthe widened sidewalk space with benches, trash containers and bike
racks. At Kipling, reuse the existing bike rack recently installed by Borders
Books.
Reserve the center of the "T" at Florence and/or Kipling as a prominent
location for a possible future downtown information kiosk,
2O
Add lights at
intersection
Potential future
information kiosk
Widen sidewalk into
loading/parking zone
Stree.t furnishings
and bike parking ;
Figure I0
University Avenue ’3" intersection
Provide planting pockets at each end oi" the widened sidewalk space, incor-
porating the existing London plane trees now planted in the "D" planters.
Replace "shoebox" lights. New pole to include integrated banner arms,
street sign bracket and traffic signal arm. Replace traffic signal poles.
Widen west sidewalks at Tasso Street.
Because of the narrow traffic sections of Florence, Kipling and Tasso, their
west side sidewalks can only be widened into University Avenue. On
Florence and Kipling, the costs outweigh the value of minor gains in pedes-
trian space.
Because of the need to correct a grade problem with the existing curb inlet,
Tasso Street is the only location where a west side curb widening is justified.
The Tasso Street sidewalks will be widened into University Avenue on
either side of the intersection.
UNIVERSITY AVENUE
22
Figure II
Typical University Avenue "T" intersection plan
3.1.3 University Avenue Sidewalks
Loca~on:
Analysis:
Concept:
University Avenue, Alma to Webster
At present, pedestrians compete with rows of newsracks, trash containers
and parked bikes for space on the University Avenue sidewalks. What
remains of the 12-foot wide pedestrian space becomes cramped and
congested at peak times, and there is no seating except at the corner
"bunkers" and in outdoor cafes.
The focus of improvements on University Avenue sidewalks should be to
consolidate and relocate street furniture to free up valuable space for walking
and spillover retail uses. In addition, the pedestrian space could be made
more spacious and appealing at night by more diffused lighting that highlights
building facades and trees and does not compete with shop windows.
Recommended
Improvements:
Repair sidewalks.
The downtown sidewalks, both brick and concrete, are generally in good
repair. A few sections are badly broken or uneven and in need of replace-
ment. The sections to be replaced will be identified and replaced as part of
the improvement project, or incorporated into the sidewalk repair schedule.
Develop specifications, to be included in all contracts for work within the
downtown sidewalk area, requiring repair work to be done in a way that
leaves the walks with an improved appearance rather than a a "patched"
look, including in-kind replacement of any brick paving that is damaged or
removed.
Maintain and enhance planting.
Develop a more dramatic, interesting and long-lasting planting scheme for
the "D" planters which fits within the current planter maintenance budget.
Plantings should have flower or foliage color and be suited to the same
watering regime as the plane trees.
23
Treat existing mature London plane trees to counter the effects of anthrac-
nose and powdery mildew.
Use the "D" planters to support fumishings.
At selected locations, install post-mounted trash/recycling containers, cantile-
vered backless benches or rails supporting two standard newsboxes on the
fiat side of the "D" planters, overhanging the curb and gutter. This will free
the sidewalk of clutter and provide more amenities for pedestrians, particu-
larly at busy intersections without bunkers (Ramona or High). The various
furniture items would require footings extending beneath the planter curb.
See Downtown Design Elements for furniture details. (Figure 12).
Sandblast planter surfaces to clean and disguise scrapes. Re-set onto street
where planter curbs have been dislodged or broken,
Infill new "D" planters at gaps left open for former bus stops. Plant with
London plane trees (Platanus acerifolia ’Yarwood").
Reduce glare from pedestrian lights and spread light up into trees and on building
facades, (Figure 13).
Add a 2 to 3’ tall cast iron base to the bottom of each light pole, to raise the
mounting height of acorn fixtures to 12 to 13 feet,
Encourage landowners and merchants to provide light on building facades
and awnings. Shop windows should be lit at night.
Install ’~vinkle" lights during the holiday season only, to reduce the year-
round effect of cords dangling from the acorn fixtures.
25
Proposed
Existing
Figure 13
Raise acorn lights to reduce glare and light tree canopies
3.1.4 Cross Street Sidewalks
Location:
Analysis:
Concept:
High, Emerson, Ramona, Bryant, Florence, Waverley, Kipling, Cowper,
Tasso, Webster ¯
Cross streets have a markedly different character from that of University
Avenue. The sidewalks are generally narrow, and street trees within the
sidewalk further limit space for pedestrians and furniture. Alley and parking
lot driveways interrupt the sidewalk frequently. Tree canopies tend to block
the light from high cobra head fixtures, creating dark sidewalks in sharp
contrast to brightly lit University Avenue. With fuller use of circulation space
at the corners, clearer directional signage and development of alleys for
pedestrian use, more pedestrians can be expected to use cross streets for
shopping and parking access.
The image of the cross streets as a part of the downtown district can be
enhanced by bringing their lighting, signage and furnishings and paving up to
the same standards as the University Avenue corridor. Raising the light level
on the sidewalk would encourage pedestrian use, while "T" streets could be
developed as different experiences altogether through addition of accent
lighting to lead pedestrians toward parking lots and neighborhoods. Planned
parking lot and alley improvements will tie cross streets into a clearer and
more attractive system of circulation.
Recommended
Improvements:
¯Improve lighting.
Under the supervision of a licensed arborist, prune trees to allow more light
from existing cobra head fixtures to reach the sidewalks.
Relocate street lights in cases where street lights and existing mature tree
canopies are in direct conflict and where excessive pruning of the tree
canopy would be required for light penetration.
~Replace all unfinished round poles with painted octaflute light poles ("basic
downtown street light").
Introduce additional lights to raise light levels at key points. An additional
acorn light on the cross street side of University Avenue corners creates a tie
27
to the University Avenue streetscape. Additional standard octaflute light
poles will be added where needed, particularly at entrances to parking lots.
Decorative building mounted lights installed by property owners and mer-
chants could signal the entrances to the alley system.
On Kipling and Florence, develop accent lighting to draw pedestrians along
the sidewalk. Place two or three spotlights in mature, well-branched street
trees to create a "moonlight" effect on branches, foliage, and the sidewalk
below. This could be accomplished through a public/private partnership
effort, with the city providing conduit and power to the trees while a private
entity assumes responsibility for installing and maintaining the lights.
Provide pedestrian amenities.
Find space for standard downtown benches, bike racks and trash containers.
There are a number of blank building side walls along cross streets where
furnishings could be placed with agreement from property owners and
merchants, Other potential locations are next to alley entrances and in front
of parking lot screen plantings, (Figure 14),
Simplify and organize signage.
Replace existing directional and nonregulatory parking signs with a new
system of standard downtown signage for downtown destinations, parking
lot entries and alleys.
Upgrade paving,
All new cross street sidewalks should match the brick-banded concrete now
established on University Avenue. Pavement will be upgraded on an
incremental basis as sidewalks are replaced, rather than as a part of this
project,
28
3.1.5 Hamilton and Lytton Sidewalks
LocarJon:
Analysis:
Concept:
Hamilton Avenue and Lytton Avenue
The Hamilton and Lytton Avenue corric]ors generally form the edges of the
downtown commercial district. Although parking lots, office buildings and
institutional uses break up the building frontage and give large portions of
these streets a different scale and character, other portions of Hamilton and
Lytton have a pedestrian character and retail uses very similar to that of
University Avenue.
Functional yet decorative elements of the downtown streetscape, such as
signage, benches, newsracks and ornamental street lights, should be intro-
duced as needed along Lytton and Hamilton. These elements help to direct
circulation through the downtown and accommodate pedestrian movement,
while providing visual cues that the corridors belong to the downtown
district.
Recommended
Improvements:
Develop space for standard newsracks and furnishings.
Widen the sidewalk at selected corners to accommodate rail-mounted
newsboxes, bike racks, benches and trash containers. The widenings should
be considered in areas with high pedestrian use, narrow sidewalks and lack
of space for needed furnishings. In general sidewalks should be widened in
such a way that they would not cause loss of on-street parking. The Penin-
sula Creamery corner at Emerson and Hamilton most clearly meets these
criteria, and is a high priority for improvement. Other potential sites for
improvements are on Hamilton at Bryant, Ramona and Centennial Walk,
and on Lytton at Bryant and Ramona, at the corners of Cogswell Plaza.
(Figure 14).
Use a consistent family of downtown street lights.
Replace the mixture of street light standards with a traditional 8-fluted pole
with cast iron base at intersections, and a plain 8-fluted pole at mid-block
locations. Retain cobra head fixtures except as noted below.
29
In the Ramona Street historic district, replace existing street lights with the
University Avenue Intersection Light, an 8-fluted pole with cast iron base and
tr~d~onal teardrop luminaire.
Provide signage to parking and downtown destinations.
Provide new downtown street name, Ic~t location and other directional signs
mounted on street light poles.
Add street furniture
along blank
building walls
TYPICAL CROSS STREET
Widen sidewalk
to create space
for newsracks and
street fumiture
30
Figure 14
Widen some corner sidewalks for furniture and rail-mounted newsboxes
3.1.6 Gateways
LocatJon:
Analysis:
Concept:
University Circle (Alma and University), Webster and University
Although the University Avenue comm6rcial core is relatively Clearly defined
by the existing streetscape improvements and commercial buildings, the
blocks leading to the core (from the Caltrain underpass to University Circle,
and from Middlefield to Webster) are both weakly defined and contribute
little to the sense of downtown entry. An ambitious long range scheme for
reconfiguring the entire area south of University Circle as an oval open space
gateway was proposed by the 1993 "Dream Team" charrette on improving
the Stanford/Palo Alto interface.
This plan recommends a two-tiered approach to strengthening the sense of
entry to the downtown, The first approach should focus on the arrival
sequence--reinforcing the visual identity of both the downtown and of the
streets leading up to it, so that the contrast at the edges of the district itself
becomes a signal of arrival. The downtown’s palette of design elements--
signage, lighting, furnishings, plantings and public art--coupled with its already
distinct urban design and land use characteristics will help to make the
district’s edges clearly recognizable within the city. The plan also recom-
mends planting and lighting improvements to strengthen the University
Avenue streetscape just outside the downtown entries at Webster and
University Circle.
The second tier of improvements should be to formally mark key arrival
points as gateways into the downtown. Gateways are a further recognition
of the special nature of a district, and a reminder that entry into that district is
an event that the community feels should be celebrated. The plan recom-
mends development of sculptural gateway markers flanking University
Avenue at Webster and University Circle. The public participants and the
project Steering Committee considered a number of gateway concepts, but
were not in consensus on whether gateway markers were needed or
appropriate to the community image. As a result, among the recommended
gateway improvements the markers themselves were given low priority for
implementation at this time.
31
Recommended
"Improvement:
Enhance the southern gateway at University Circle (Alma and University).
The plan recommends minimal improvements to University Circle, in anticipation
of major reconstruction as envisioned in the "l~ream Team" charrette.
At the intersection of University Circle with University Avenue, widen the
University Circle sidewalks approximately 8’ into the circle, from the comers
to the first "D’-planters only. Pave in concrete with brick banding, matching
the existing sidewalk.
Accommodate pedestrian movement between the train station and Univer-
sity Circle in a safe and direct way. Investigate the feasibility of providing a
crosswalk from the University Circle sidewalk to the sidewalk in front of the
station’s Alma Street steps. The crosswalk segment at the circle would be a
raised, concrete-paved ’rollover" crosswalk. Alma Street traffic would need
to be warned or stopped to protect pedestrians crossing the street. Possible
associated improvements which should be explored with the Joint Powers
Board are replacement of the existing row of newsracks with the standard
downtown rail-mounted boxes, and repair of the historic drinking fountain at
the Alma Street steps. (Figure 15).
Remove junipers from median; replace with a dense planting of upright
flowering shrubs/perennials to 24" in height.
Augment the understory in the large circles in front of the overcrossing with
primarily evergreen shrubs and groundcovers (Ceanothus, Arctostaphylos,
etc.). Replace iunipers at the edges of the circle sidewalk and in the traffic
islands with equally low-maintenance flowering shrubs/groundcovers.
Explore the possibility of planting clinging vines (Parthenocissus) to cover the
face of the overpass.
Install a pair of tall gateway markers in the ends of the University Circle
medians flanking University Avenue. (Figure 16).
32
Enhance groundcover
and shrub planting
iPave loading area in
median
Rep’lace jumpers with
lower, more colorfulplanting ._~
ALMA ST.
Crosswalk to
CalTrain statio
Concrete "rollover"
crosswalk
Widen sidewalk at
corners
Potential future
gateway markers
Figure 15
University Circle gateway,
Gateway marker top detail
Figure 16
Gateway marker elevation
Define the northern gateway at Webster and University.
The transitional block between Middlefield and Webster has a residential character
and should be developed to extend the grand University Avenue residential street-
scape to Webster. The Webster/University intersection should then be devel-
oped as the northern gateway to downtown.
Replace existing street trees along University between Middlefield and
Webster with Magnolia grandiflora .
Prune to raise and open the canopies of existing trees that overhang the
sidewalk from the senior housing complex.
Install vehicular acorn street lights to match those used in the residential
section of University Ave.
Widen the sidewalks at the southern corners of the Webster/University
intersection to signal arrival in the downtown pedestrian district. The
widening should be achieved without loss of parking spaces.
Install tall gateway markers flanking University Avenue on the widened
corners of the Webster Street intersection. (Figure 16).
35
3.2 PARKING LOTS AND ALLEYS
3.2.1 Parking Lots
Location:
Analysis:
Concept:
Cross streets, Lytton and Hamilton Avenues throughout the downtown
area.
Because most downtown parking lots are difficult to see from University
Avenue, visitors to downtown Palo Alto tend to continue to search for
parking along the main street, This pattern has resulted in greater conges-
tion, a proliferation of signs directing people to parking lots, and heavy use of
more visible lots while others are bypassed. The lots themselves were
developed with minimal screening, shade or accommodation for pedestri-
ans. Landscaping along the sidewalk edge is limited to triangular islands
between driveways, since many lots use the street for circulation between
bays. Many lots have a minimum of interior tree planting and are sur-
rounded by blank building walls, and have no defined paths leading pedestri-
ans to sidewalks or alleys.
Downtown parking lots need to attract drivers, orient them to the down-
town and direct them on as pedestrians. To do this, parking lot entries need
to have more presence, with more visible and coordinated signage, lighting
and landscaping, The lots should contribute to the downtown streetscape
through greene~, colorful plantings and murals. They should accommodate
pedestrians by connecting to the system of alleys and sidewalks, and by
providing sites for public toilets,
Recommended
Improvements:
Create midblock sites for parking lot signage and pedestrian crossing, located near
parking lot entries, (Figure 17).
Widen cross street sidewalks in selected small areas near parking lot and
alley entries, to create midblock pedestrian crossings. Crossings should be
developed to retain existing parking and adequate loading zones wherever
possible.
36
Alley sign
Midblock crosswalk
Colorful groundcover
and screening hedge
in parking lot islands
Parking lot directional
sign at street edge
Parking lot entry sign
¯Tree planting through
parking lot
Typical midblock crossing at
parking lot / alley entry
EMERSON ST.
I l 1 i L] i i ! ~
Figure 17
Midblock crossing plan at Lot N
Place "P" signage out at the extension’s curb edge, where signs project
beyond street trees and awnings and are more visible to vehicles.
Improve parking lot lighting where necessary.
Add downtown standard octaflute poles with cobra head lights to parking
lots where necessary to achieve even n~inimum lighting.
Enhance parking lot planting.
Landscape the sidewalk edge of the triangular parking tot islands with low-
growing, colorful planting. If possible, color of plantings may reinforce the
parking color zones (i.e., coral bougainvillea, purple lantana, blue ceanothus,
etc.), Except in the triangle containing the parking lot entry sign, parallel the
sidewalk with a 30" maximum height hedge to screen the hoods of parked
cars.
Encourage property owners to develop distinctive features on large blank
building walls bordering parking lots, such as murals or brightly colored vine
planting. The downtown trompe I’oeil mural tradition should be maintained
and expanded to other blank walls surrounding downtown parking lots.
Add canopy trees to parking lots wherever possible to achieve a "grove"
effect, while avoiding loss of parking spaces.
Public Restrooms
Public restrooms or automatic public toilets (APTs) could be built or installed
in downtown parking lots and structures. Potential locations are Lot H,
Cowper/Hamilton and Lot T, Lytton/Kipling.
Public restrooms could be included in parking structures to be built on Lot R,
High/Alma and Lots S/L, Bryant/Lytton.
In addition, other potential locations are at City Hall Plaza, Lytton Plaza, and
Cogswell Plaza.
38
3.2.3 Alleys
Ioca~on:
Analysis:
Concept:
Throughout the downtown, generally parallel to University Avenue at mid-
block between University and Hamilton or Lytton.
The Urban Design Guide identified downtown Palo Alto’s alleys as key
opportunities to develop a secondary system of pedestrian circulation and
retail activity, spreading such activity from University Avenue onto cross
streets. However, the system continues to be generally fragmented, most
alleys continue to be back-door service routes, and retail potential has been
limited,
When combined with the system of downtown parking lots, the alley system
shows great potential to contribute to downtown pedestrian circulation.
Better signage and lighting, mapping of alleys on pedestrian orientation signs
in parking lots, and clear connections between parking lots and alleys would
encourage development of the alleys as vital and attractive routes.
Recommended
Improvements:
¯Provide signage for alleys
Wall-mounted signs at entrances to alleys linking parking lots to the sidewalks
("place alleys" identified in the Downtown Urban Design Guide.)
¯Mark alleys with distinctive features such as banding and wall-mounted lights.
Create a decorative linear element that draws pedestrians along alleys. Use
tile banding in the pavement or applied to the walls of buildings, or develop
an icon/pattern that can be painted/stencilled/cast/tiled along alley walls or
floors.
Encourage landowners and merchants to provide wall-mounted decorative
light fixtures along the alley wall.
39
3.3 PARKS AND PLAZAS
33.1 Lytton Plaza
Location:
Analysis:
Concept:
University and Emerson
Lytton Plaza is worn, dated and only marginally functional; an unattractive
and underused space at the heart of downtown activity. It offers few of the
amenities that would be expected in a downtown plaza--seating is limited,
plantings offer little shade or color, there is no space for socializing and
impromptu gatherings or performances, and no attractive feature such as a
fountain or public art to give interest and focus to the space. And although it
stands at the key pedestrian crossroads of University and Emerson, with an
alley and heavily used parking lot behind and the campus shuttle across the
street, the plaza does little to recognize or accommodate pedestrian flows,
As the only substantial public space on University Avenue, Lytton Plaza has a
role distinct from City Hall Plaza, which is seen as a civic gathering space, or
Cogswell Plaza, which is primarily a green park space. The plaza must offer
a sense of spaciousness and greenery in contrast to the crowded sidewalks,
providing the only place on the street for quiet rest, informal gathering and
small-scale entertainment, It will include a focus of public art that engages
and inspires its users and becomes a landmark within the downtown, In
design concept, the plaza should convey the complexity and vitality of a
community shaped by both tradition and the cutting edge of technology,
through juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary forms, materials and
methods of fabrication. (Figure 18),
Recommended
Improvements:
¯Expand the plaza to include surrounding pedestrian routes,
Remove the "bunker" wall on the Lytton Plaza corner of
Emerson/University, and extend the widened sidewalk along the plaza’s full
University Avenue frontage, Place bollards at the curb,
4O
Extend plaza to
improve link to alley
Emerson
Edges
Diagonal path
through plaza
Circulation
Active
Zones
Walls iemoved to
open plaza to street
’Features
Shad~trees and L_
.seating
Rich paving extends
to curbline
Bus stop
Interactive water
feature
,, Figure 18
Lytton Plaza concepts_
Extend the plaza back to include the alley, by removing the wall at the rear
of the plaza and paving eight parking spaces in Parking Lot N.
Relocate the Marguerite shuttle stop from its current location at the side of
the Ross store to the Emerson Street side of the plaza. Reconfigure parking
and curbline for a bus pullout. ,
The plaza’s special pavement should extend across the sidewalk to the curb.
Provide a variety of seating options.
Provide seating throughout the plaza, in quiet locations away from the street
and close to the action at the sidewalk edges of the plaza. Incorporate an
area for the Burger King’s outdoor tables.
Provide a variety of types of seating-seating that seems to grow out of and is
integrated with the plaza pavement, seatwalls and steps, as well as standard
downtown benches and restaurant tables and chairs.
Incorporate public art.
Develop an interactive water sculpture in collaboration with an artist. The
feature could respond to actions of people within or moving around the
plaza, or to more remote events such as light or atmospheric conditions or
time of day or season. The water source would be flush with the pave-
ment, to allow the water sculpture area to be part of the pavement when
not in operation.
Develop a bus shelter/information kiosk related in design to the metalwork
used at the various intersections. The top of the shelter is an opportunity to
prominently display a more sculptural piece of metalwork which does not fit
into the confines of the railings. The shelter should incorporate a board for
display of downtown maps, transit maps, visitor information and community
notices. The metalwork should incorporate words to identify the structure
("Information", "Shuttle", etc.).
Develop a special pavement for the plaza and adjacent sidewalks.
Fragment and line pattern in terrazzo, stone, broken tile or mosaic. The
broken, random pattern, like the broken tile applied to the walls, implies
traditional methods of hand-fitting stone or tile shards together piece by
piece. Juxtaposed on this is an ordered pattern generated by machines and
using materials reflecting contemporary technology, for example stainless
steel or fiber optics.
42
Figure 19
Lytton Plaza alternatives
Widen sidewalk~ alon~ ~"
Replace wall with bollar
~, !Public art-
EMERSON STREET i water sculpture within
-- t i, pavement (no pool)
Cast stone or tile benches
informally define
performance space-
,BURGER KING
Brove of light-canopied
deciduous shade treesin d.g, pavin!
Relocate Marguerite stow
to north side of Emerson
--= Remove 8 parking spaces
to improve plaza connection
to alley
~rrazzo or tile paving
"fragments"
IPARKINE LOT N
Poter~ial for special paving
in street to expand plaza
for special events
Bus shelter
Figure 20
Lytton Plaza plan
Add shade, softening and vertical presence to the plaza with shade trees.
Place shade trees informally throughout the plaza in decomposed granite or
lawn areas incorporated into the paving pattern, As they do now, trees
should form a backdrop at the rear of the plaza as well.
Replace lighting and furnishings.
Locate newsboxes on rail supports set against the Burger King wall near the
University Avenue sidewalk.
Develop plaza lighting to be integrated with the water sculpture and as
accents on trees and built elements. Use standard tall street lights along
Emerson Street and the parking lot edge.
(Figures 19, 20).
3.3.2 Cogswell Plaza
Location:
Analysis:
Concept:
Lytton Avenue between Ramona and Bryant.
Although it is the only green park space within the downtown core,
Cogswell Plaza is underutilized and in need of maintenance and upgrading,
With growing retail activity around the plaza and planned development of
the Lot S and L parking garage across Bryant Street, the space at Cogswell
Plaza will become increasingly desirable for both passive, informal activities
and programmed events.
Retain the basic parklike character and multi-use function of the park, while
making the park more usable and inviting through increased lighting levels,
maintenance of overgrown plantings and replacement of furnishings. (Figure
Recommended
Improvements:
¯Replace furnishings.
Replace deteriorating long curved benches with a radiused metal bench, or a
series of short benches placed along the same radius.
45
Removelthin
dense understory
planting along
pathways.
Replace declining
camphor trees
with
Quercus shumardii
(Shumard Oak).
Replace wood/concrete
benches with
metal benches. ~
Replace portions of
shrub planting with
lawn
Senior
Center
to raise
tree canopies,
Lot C
understory
to screerl
parking lot.
Figure 21
Cogswell Plaza plan
Upgrade lighting
Acorn rights typically used along the University Avenue commercial corridor
were recently added to the park. Ultimately, park lighting fixtures should be
the same low-glare model used at City Hall Plaza.
Maintain and renovate planting
In consultation with the City Arborist and Planning Arborist, remove the
declining camphor trees in the planting strip along Lytton. Replace with
Shumard Oak (Quercus shurnc~rclii).
Prune to raise and lighten the canopy of major trees. Implement a program
of corrective pruning to reshape the canopies of the Chinese elm trees at
the southeast side of the park.
Remove large areas of shrub planting next to the path in the center of the
park-retain only enough to screen parked cars in Lot C. Replace with lawn
edged by low flowering groundcovers or small shrubs, with bark mulch
under mature trees which would be adversely affected by lawn irrigation
(City arborists to approve plans).
Accommodate use of the plaza for parties and events.
Development of a catering station (secured location with sink, water and
electric supply) would enhance use of the park for parties. Such a facility
could be developed as a public/private effort in which the City assumes
responsibility for maintenance, scheduling and fee collection, and the cost of
improvements is privately funded.
Provision of these services from the Senior Center should be explored,
since the best location for the station would be somewhere adjacent to the
Senior Center, where it would have little impact on park space and could tie
into existing utility service.
47
~-~’.---.Potential future
civic gatherings
Figure 22
’,Hamilton Avenue at City Hall Plaza
3.33 Hamilton Avenue at City Hall Plaza
LocarJon:
Analysis:
Concept:
Hamilton Avenue at between Ramona and Bryant,
Of the three major downtown open spaces, City Hall Plaza is seen as the
location where large public events and citywide gatherings would be held.
Although City Hall Plaza itself is outside the scope of this proiect, improve°
ments to Hamilton in front of the plaza could expand use of the plaza for
these special events,
City Hall Plaza should be expanded into the street at Hamilton Avenue,
allowing it to accommodate larger gatherings and improving its visual and
functional connections to downtown. (Figure 22).
Recommended
Improvements:
Extend decorative paving into street,
Pave Hamilton Avenue from curb to curb with a decorative pattem of
concrete unit pavers, for the length of the block between Ramona and
Bryant. Rectangular (brick-shaped) interlocking concrete unit pavers set on
sand and an engineered aggregate base are recommended to allow removal
and replacement of the pavement for utility work, etc. without the need for
cutting and patching.
Provide public restrooms.
Because of its high visibility and central location, City Hall Plaza was identified
during the public workshops as a good place to locate services such as public
toilets, The plan recommends investigating the feasibility of making existing
restrooms in City Hall available to the public, or of locating a freestanding
public toilet at City Hall Plaza, Signage should indicate the location and hours
of City Hall public restrooms,
49
50
4 Downtown Design Elements
Cues in the environment--from signage, street names and landmarks to a distinctive street
light or bench--help to give districts a cohesive image and distinct identity within the city.
Downtown public spaces are currently furnished with a variety of elements installed by
various City departments, project developers, vendors and merchants through the years.
A walk through the downtown reveals inconsistencies in character and widely varying
levels of quality and finish--gray concrete walls, a variety of utilitarian furniture, "shoebox"
lights, traditional acorn lights festooned with electrical cords, and newsboxes of every style.
The plan addresses the need for a coordinated approach to the following elements that
furnish downtown public spaces.
The following sections identify a standard palette of furnishings, lights, signs, planting and
paving to be established throughout the downtown district. This consistent system of
major elements will provide a more unified background and framework for the diverse
project-scale details that.will continue to give the downtown vitality and interest.
51
4.1 FURNITURE
Most of the street furniture in the downtown is on University Avenue, and dates from the
original streetscape improvement project completed ir~ 1973. The wooden benches,
while comfortable, are nearing the end of their lifecycle and need replacement. Some
items such as tree grates have been lost or no longer meet accessibility standards; others
such as concrete trash containers and a variety of bike racks have been added through the
years.
On the downtown’s lively, constantly changing commercial streets, furnishings should be
classic, simple and functional, They must be sturdily built, need little maintenance, and be
easily replaced or relocated, In addition, street furnishings should help to maintain a sense
of spaciousness on the sidewalks by being light and graceful in form, and by being able to
utilize marginal spaces such as the ’D-planters’ along the edge of the sidewalk. The family
of standard downtown street furniture includes benches, trash receptacles, tree grates and
bike racks.
Benches
Classic steel-strap park bench with back and armrests. (Figure 23).
~ Landscape Forms "Scarborough SC3005-BS"; horizontal strap seat; 6’ and 8’
lengths’, standard black gloss powdercoat finish ("Grotto").
Alternate: Canterbury International "Bowery Bench"; 6’ and 8’ lengths;
galvanized with black gloss powdercoat finish.
Functional, minimal, backless bench for cantilevered mounting on "D-planters".
~Figure 24).
Ultrum "Metal Series Low Wall Bench UF-3036"; perforated steel seat; black
gloss powdercoat finish; 4’ length and legs modified for in-ground mounting,
4.1.2 Trash Receptacles
Round, top-opening, steel-strap container with 30-t- gallon capacity equal to
existing containers, for general use on sidewalks. (Figure 23).
Victor Stanley "lronsites Economy Series ES- 142"; 36 gallon capacity liner;
standard tapered lid; black gloss powdercoat finish,
52
Trash receptacle
Post-mounted trash receptacle
("D" planters)
Figure 23 ’Scarborough’ bench
Backless bench
("D" planters).
Drinking fountain
Grate for trees near curbline
of cross streets
Tree grate Bike rack Figure 24
Similar but smaller container suitable for post mounting on "D-planters". Potential
use as re.cling containers. (Figure 23),
"lronsites PS-535"; 24 gallon capacity liner; standard tapered lid or can/bottle
reo/cling lid; black gloss powdercoat fini.sh; in-ground center post mount.
Tree Grates
4’ square g~ate with small openings complying with ADA requirements, to be
compatible with existing grate frames on cross-street corners. (Figure 24).
Urban Accessories "Kiva"; 4’ square~ 16"d opening~ raw cast iron finish’, use
existing frames.
Large rectangular ADA-compliant grate of similar design, with off-center opening
for installation around existing trees planted next to curbline. (Figure 24).
Neenah R-8718 or equal; half section of 6’ square grate with 36"d opening;
raw cast iron finish; set in custom 3’x 6’ frame bolted into sidewalk opening,
4.2 BIKE PARKING
Bike parking is in high demand and is currently provided in a variety of styles and locations.
The plan formalizes the system of bike parking areas at comers, and specifies a standard
rack which can be installed in singles or multiples, depending on the demand at a particular
location,
Bike Rack
Inverted U-type, allowing locking of bike frame and wheel, one bike on each side,
similar to existing Hitch-2 racks which are to remain at mid-block locations.
(Figure 24).
Bike Rib; surface mounted; round base covers; black vinyl powdercoat finish.
55
4.3 NEWSRACKS
Dispensers for newspapers and free publications have proliferated along downtown
streets, cluttering sidewalks and seating areas. The plan, in conjunction with the down-
town newsrack ordinance, specifies use of standard modular newsboxes in the downtown
area, and indicates location and design of custom rail supports for the boxes.
Corner Rail Support
At major University Avenue intersections, new metal railings installed along the
cross street comers will serve as supports for standard modular newsboxes.
Mount a standard manufactured shelf for modular newsboxes on brackets
set into the posts 12" above the ground level. Shelf and bracket will be
painted to black to match the rail. (Figure 25).
Standard modular newspaper boxes (module dimensions 16"h x 24"w x
16"d) are to be supplied by vendors. Modular boxes shall be by Sho-Rack
(models 49-16 and K- 100), K-Jack (model KJ-50), National Newsvend
(models M30 and M-33), or equal, as specified in the downtown newsrack
ordinance. Vendors to secure boxes to shelf per manufacturer’s recom-
mendations. Note: some vendors use modular double height boxes which
will be slightly taller than two stacked modular boxes. Where this occurs, a
spacer manufactured for this condition must be provided by the vendor with
the double height box, to bring the stacked boxes up to the height of the
adjacent double-height box.
Newsboxes may be in the standard colors associated with each publication.
However, identifying names and Iogos may be placed on the front face of
the box only, as provided in the newsrack ordinance.
4.3.2 "D" Planter Rail Support
A simple rail frame installed on designated "D" planters along University Avenue
will support two modular newsboxes. (Figure 12).
56
Metal rail section
Modular newsboxes
Support bracket for
standard modular
newsbox tray
Axonometric view of rail
with newsboxes Figure 25
Basic Rail Support
A simple rail frame installed at designated cross street and Hamilton or Lytton
Avenue sites will support 4 modular newsboxes, stacked, Where necessary, 8
stacked boxes can be accommodated by installing two 4-foot rail segments.
(Figure 25). ,
4.4 SIGNAGE
Among the many signs in the downtown, most of them regulatory, the critical signs
directing drivers to parking and downtown destinations tend to be lost, The plan recom-
mends a unifying system of attractive, easily recognizable downtown directional signs,
including key destinations, parking, parking lot entry/pedestrian orientation, alley names
and street names.
4.4.1 Directional Sign
Existing auto directional signs will be replaced with new signs of an upright oval
shape, with light-colored lettering of a traditional serif style against a background
silhouette of "El Palo Alto" and a radiant sun. (Figure 26).
Important destinations such as Civic Center, Library, Cal Train, Post Office,
Senior Center, public restrooms and bike lane will be indicated.
Parking lot direction will be indicated by a large and universally understood
symbol for.parking (P-~) rather than verbiage,
Auto directional signs will be mounted on light and traffic signal poles wher-
ever possible, although in some locations freestanding sign poles may be
unavoidable. All signs must be attached with clamps screwed into the pole
rather than strapped. Where straps already have been used, they should be
painted the same color as the pole.
58
Figure 26
Parking directional sign
Legend: ~
0 You are here
]Public Restrooms
A Pubhc Parking
~Public Telephones
Map Graphics Detail
60
Figure 27
Parking lot entry sign
Parking Lot Entry Sign
Signs marking the entrances to the parking lots will be replaced with signs of a
similar low, horizontal form. (Figure 27).
The signs are intentionally understated and functional, focusing on conveying
essential information such as name and location of the lot, parking color
zone, rules and hours of operation.
The back of the sign is addressed to the pedestrian leaving a car in the lot,
and includes the name of the lot and a map of the downtown showing
parking lots, key public buildings and other destinations, color zones, public
toilets and their hours.
The signs are consistent with the downtown signage system in color (overall
color of the sign does not match the color zone), type face and background
symbol of tree and sun.
Alley Sign
Alley signs are horizontal ovals generally mounted on the walls of buildings flanking
alley entrances, They otherwise have the same color, type and background as the
other signs. (Figure 28).
First priority will go to signage for alleys designated and developed as "place"
or pedestrian alleys in the Urban Design Guide.
For ready identification by police and fire departments it would be desirable
to name and sign all alleys in the downtown.
Street Names
Downtown street name signs (except those mounted on traffic signal mast arms)
are now generally made to the same specifications as standard residential street
signs. The signs are small and difficult to find at the visually busy downtown
intersections, The plan proposes use of slightly larger signs using the same light-
colored serif typeface and dark background color as other signs in the downtown
signage system,
61
Figure 28
Alley sign
4.5 LIGHTING
Past downtown lighting improvements have focused qn University Avenue, increasing light
levels in the corridor but leaving the cross streets dark in contrast. The plan recommends
selective replacement, relocation and addition of lights on cross streets, parking lots and
alleys. On University Avenue, acorn lights should be modified to reduce glare and raise
the light "ceiling, "shoebox" lights will be replaced and permanent accent lighting on trees
could be provided through public/private efforts.
To give downtown streets a richer and more unified design character, the existing mix of
street lights will be replaced with a standard set of fixtures. Three types of street lights, all
variations of an octaflute with arm-mounted luminaire, will replace the various tall lights
throughout the district. The acorn lights on University Avenue will be raised to 12 - 13’ in
height; luminaires with the same form but less glare will eventually replace the existing
acorns, New acorn lights will be added around the cross-street corners. To augment the
street lights and acorn lights, permanent accent lighting for the University Avenue plane
trees and selected rows of mature, sculptural trees on cross streets should be considered.
Basic Street and Parking Lot Light
The basic tall light for the downtown area is the standard cobra head luminaire
mounted on a painted octaflute steel pole. This will be the standard for midblock
locations on Hamilton, Lytton and cross-streets, as well as in parking lots.
Per existing City specifications for octaflute pole and cobra head luminaire.
Color: City standard "Pad-mount Green".
Basic Intersection Light
At intersections of Hamilton and Lytton with downtown cross-streets, the same
cobra head luminaire will be mounted on a painted octaflute post with a more
decorative traditional cast iron base, Existing examples of this post are on Hamil-
ton at Ramona,
Union Metal "Birmingham"; steel 8-flute post with #90 split cast iron base,
#70028 or #5922 arm. Banner arm and traffic signal mount accessories.
Cobra head luminaire per existing City specifications, Color: City standard
"Pad-mount Green".
63
Existing I0’ pole Pedestrian acorn light
With base extension
University Avenue
intersection light
Figure 29
University Avenue Intersection Light
The "Birmingham" decorative post will be used to replace the "shoebox" lights at
intersections of University Avenue with downtown cross-streets, with the addition
of a more traditional teardrop-shaped luminaire in character with the traditional
acorn pedestrian lights. Each intersection will ~ave a tall light on each corner
(currently some intersections have only two tall lights). The light source will be
metal halide. Although somewhat less efficient than the high pressure sodium
(HPS) used for the acom and cobra head luminaires, the metal halide luminaires in
the tall comer lights will create pools of "white" light with more natural color
rendition to highlight the University Avenue intersections. An example of the
intended effect can be seen at Ramona and University, where several of the
existing intersection lights are metal halide, (Figure 29).
Union Metal "Birmingham"; steel 8-flute post with -#90 split cast iron base,
#70028 or #5922 arm. Banner arm, 120v outlet and traffic signal mount
accessories, NLJ I - 110 luminaire with type III asymmetric distribution
mounted at 20’ above ground,
4.5.4 Pedestrian Acorn Light
Two approaches will be taken to reducing the glare from the existing I 0’ acorn lights along
University Avenue--raising the light sources and replacing the luminaires with a fixtures of
the same shape but greater light control.
The mounting height of the acorn luminaire will be raised to 12 - 13’, by adding a
cast iron base to each pole, Raising the light will raise the perceived "ceiling" of
the street at night, move the light source further away from eye level and intro-
duce more light into the tree foliage and branches, An added advantage to raising
the lights is that the outlets and dangling cords for the ’~winkle" lights would be put
further out of reach and view from the sidewalk, (Figure 29).
Replace existing acorn luminaires With low-glare, internally shielded acorn lumin-
aires,
Moldcast Prescolite ’~/ashington Contra/Cline, Series 84000 Luminous
Globe"
65
Alley Lighting
Building owners will be encouraged to install building-mounted ornamental lights
on alley walls. The lights may be traditional in character, as at Centennial Walk, or
contemporary, although consistency in style within each alley is desirable.
4.5.6 Accent Lighting
Florence and Kipling Street offer opportunities for accent lighting mounted in the trees for
a "moonlight" effect. The dense canopy of carob trees and holly oaks blocks much of the
light from the existing high street lights, and will continue to do so even with the recom-
mended pruning program, Both one-block sections are used for access to public parking
lots and deadend at University Avenue, Florence Street will become a primary route to
the new parking structure on Lots S and L, and Kipling Street will remain an important
pedestrian route between Downtown North and the University Avenue shopping district.
Consider tree-mounted accent lighting to highlight the sculptural branching of
these evergreen trees while raising the light level on the sidewalks beneath,
creating more inviting pedestrian routes,
Because of limitations on the City’s ability to maintain tree-mounted lights,
public/private options for providing lighting to the trees will need to be
explored. As a possibility, the city could provide underground wiring,
conduit and power to the trees while landowners or merchants could be
responsible for providing and maintaining the lights.
As an alternate approach, the city could explore joint efforts with landown-
ers/developers to install lights on building facades, either directed at facades
or spotlighting adjacent street trees.
66
4.6 PAVING
Downtown sidewalks are a patchwork of old and new, that reflects the coming and going
of retailers and landowners. Aside from areas that need immediate repair and cleaning,
sidewalks will be allowed to continue to change slowly over time.
Retain existing brick paving on comer sidewalks.
Patch and replace existing deteriorated and broken areas to match the
existing brick and mortar.
Benches will be placed over areas where fin walls are being removed to
avoid the need to extend the brick pavement. Where no benches are to be
installed, the concrete should be completely removed and the adjacent
planting area extended,
Clean the existing concrete crosswalks, scraping off and replacing the existing
thermoplastic striping.
Extend the pattern of brick-banded concrete pavement around the corners along
cross streets between Hamilton and Lytton. This will be done in an incremental
fashion as sidewalks are replaced, rather than as a part of this proiect.
4.7 LANDSCAPING
4.7.1 Street Trees
A separate product of this downtown urban design improvements master plan is a series
of technical reports by the consulting arborist, Barrie Coate, assessing maintenance needs
and recommending maintenance practices for downtown street trees. The repo~
include a program of pruning, fertilization and watering for each species of street tree used
in the downtown, as well as recommendations for selective replacement and inflll of tree
species. Based on the consulting arborist’s assessment and recommendations, and on field
ir~spections, the City Arborist and Planning Arborist are preparing an Action Plan for care
and maintenance of downtown trees. The Action Plan will include the following:
67
Tree wells
Install tree grates at street tree wells on cross streets and in high pedestrian
traffic areas on Hamilton and Lytton.
Develop standards for tree grates that are installed in connection with private
development projects, ’
Tailored pruning cycle
Establish a treatment program for the London plane trees on University
Avenue to reduce leaf drop and browning from anthracnose and powdery
mildew. The treatment program will include 1) injection of insecticide to
control scale insects; and 2) a special pruning program to discourage growth
of fungus, Spraying will be avoided due to the mess is could create on
windows, cars and sidewalks.
Tree management
Establish an ongoing care and pruning program for all trees in the downtown
area to optimize their vigor and appearance.
Tree selection
Reassess species selection to identi~ species that are not performing well in
the downtown, and select a preferred replacement species. As existing
trees die or need to be replaced, the preferred replacement trees will be
introduced, The replacements should be similar in character to the species
being replaced. Replacement should be carried out gradually to maintain the
tree-lined character of the street.
Root and hardscape management
Develop alternative approaches to paving downtown curb and sidewalk
areas to avoid cutting of tree root crowns or tree roots over 2 inches in
diameter. Possible approaches might be to enlarge the tree well and use a
tree grate, to use a flexible paving material such as asphaltic concrete to
avoid damage to the tree or pavement, or allowing concrete pavement to
rampu up slightly over large tree roots, These standards should be incorpo~
rated into all specifications for work within the downtown public right-of-
68
Flexible sidewalk materials
Identi~ a flexible asphaltic paving material compatible with the color of the
concrete sidewalks, for use in paving around and over surface tree roots
which would otherwise require severe pruning for installation of standard
concrete sidewalks.
4,7.2 Shrubs, Perennials and Vines
Plantings at the University Avenue intersections will be renovated and selectively
replanted.
Leggy and aging plants, and plants that are outgrowing the size of the plant-
ers, should be removed.
Plantings along the rear wall/rail should not exceed 30" in height and should
function as a simple background of textured foliage.
Foreground plantings need not be flowering; but they should exhibit inter-
esting combinations of form, texture and foliage color,
Encourage continued "adoption" of planters by adjacent merchants. Planters
where the adjacent merchant is involved in selection and care of the plant-
ings will receive more attention, and can have complexity and richness that
the city alone could not maintain. This approach also allows individual
expression to find its way into the public streetscape,
Develop a more dramatic, interesting and long-lasting planting scheme for the
planters which fits within the current planter maintenance budget. Plantings should
have flower or foliage color and be suited to the same watering regime as the
plane trees,
Parking lot landscaping will be augmented with a consistent palette of colorful,
color-coded groundcover, backed by a 30" tall hedge screening parked cars.
69
4.8 PUBLIC ART
Public art will be incorporated into the downtown environment through projects ranging
in scope from relatively simple handcrafted screens and hand laid tile found all along the
street, to a complex interactive water sculpture that becomes the focal point of Lytton
Plaza. Images illustrating the general public art concepts and potential character are
presented in Figures 30 and 31.
Metal Screen Panels
Each of the four maior intersections on University Avenue will display a different
pattern or style of decorative metalwork in the top panels of the railing on the
cross streets and top rails on the University Avenue walls, Some of the likely
possibilities are wrought iron, cut and welded metal, and perforated or solid sheet
metal cut out in patterns. A suggested motif for the work is foliage, a theme
appropriate to a community known for its leafy streets and identified with the "Palo
Alto".
Metalwork panels must be approximately 7" high by 48" long to fit within the
rail framework.
At least one panel on each railing or wall must incorporate the street name.
Panels must be designed to be durable, without hazardous sharp edges or
points, and with openings of child-safe dimensions.
The design/fabrication method should allow for production of approximately
30 panels per intersection.
Natural metal, or powdercoat finish in colors similar to natural metal, are
preferred.
Tilework
The intent of the broken tile mosaic, which no machine can set, as a cap to the
"bunker" walls is to clearly display the human hand in the downtown street
environment. The field of broken tile itself will be relatively subdued in color to
complement the metal railing above it and the concrete wall below; however, bits
of bright, iewel-like tile made by a tile artist will be scattered through the field.
7O
Figure 29
Metal craft
Figure 30
Tile craft and water sculpture
72
Interactive Water Sculpture, lytton Plaza
The central feature of Lytton Plaza is seen as a water sculpture near the corner of
Emerson and University.
Water should emerge from the pavement, with no pool. This allows the
fountain to be turned off during special events and the entire paved surface
to be used for standing and walking.
Location and height of jets could be programmed to create the effect of the
fountain shifting form and/or location in the plaza. This could be used to
measure time or express other environmental conditions, and can be seen
as an expression of current technology in contrast to the traditional materials
and hand construction methods used in other elements of the plaza.
The water effect should be interactive in some way, possibly being con-
trolled by actions or motions of plaza occupants or passing pedestrians.
Information Kiosk or Bus Shelter
Several locations in the downtown offer sites for small structures that could
incorporate larger, more sculptural metal pieces related in theme to the metal
railing panels.
Metalwork should incorporate words to identify the structure ("Information",
"News", "Bus", etc.)
Information kiosks could be located at one or more of the T-intersections,
displaying downtown business and transit maps, visitor information and
community notices.
Kiosks could also provide space for eight stacked modular newsboxes, if the
City at some Point finds it necessary to provide more space for newsboxes.
A bus shelter for the Marguerite bus stop to be relocated into Lytton Plaza
could become a piece of functional art, recalling in metal the vine-covered
arbors that were once distinctive features of the University Avenue street-
scape.
73
74
’~tAV NO±’IIN’vI-I
’3AV
L
,,
’~IAV N OJ_I.A’I ’,
AJ.IS’a~AINn
PROJECT TEAM
City of Palo Alto
Jim Gilliland
Jim Harrington
Nancy Lytle
Virginia Warheit, Project Manager
Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project Steering Committee
Jim Baer
Julia Chin
Kathleen Haney
Roxy Rapp
Tom Richman
Warren Thoits
Consultants
Wallace Roberts & Todd, urban design and landscape architecture
Ignacio Bunster-Ossa
Tom Lee
Diane Ochi, Project Manager
The Office of Michael Manwaring, graphic design
Michael Manwaring
Silverman & Light, electrical engineers
Carol Light
Barrie Coate and Associates, arborist
Barrie Coate
Pacific Group, economics
Thomas Feeney
Sandis H umber Jones, civil engineers
Glenn Ritter
Mike Wagner
75
"ATTACHMENT 2
FINANCING OPTIONS
fo__r_r
DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Palo Alto, California
February, 1997
Prepared by:
Pacific Group
2116 Easton Drive
Burlingame, Ca 94010
(4~ 5) 344-1288
CONTENTS
Section
I.INTRODUCTION i
II. CASE STUDIES
Survey of Other Cities
Summary of Survey
II-i
II-9
III.POTENTIAL FINANCING VEHICLES
Special Taxes
Special Assessments
Fees And Extractions
Zoning Change Requirements
Capital Improvement Program
General Revenues
Donations
Tax Increment Financing
III-I
III-i
III-3
III-3
III-4
III-4
III-5
III-5
Section I
INTRODUCTION
The City of Palo Alto’s downtown core area has long been a major
commercial area for the City. Over twenty years ago the City
undertook an extensive program of improvements in the downtown
area. During the 1970’s the downtown experienced higher vacancies.
In the 1980’s the area became more healthy and in the 1990’s the
downtown has attracted several upscale restaurants and several
chain operations and has become a significant regional draw.
However, the City and local merchants and property owners also
recognize the need to maintain a high quality image and environment
in today’s competitive retail market. Thus the City of Palo Alto
has retained Wallace Roberts and Todd to prepare a downtown
improvements plan. As part of that assignment, Pacific Group was
retained to evaluate the funding alternatives for these
improvements.
The primary tasks undertaken in this assignment are:
i. Research other funding precedents including the
Downtown Parking Assessment district and other cities.
2. Obtain input from property owners, merchants and City
staff.
3. Summarize available funding mechanisms.
This report represents the findings of tasks 1 through 3.
Pacific Group wishes to thank the City staff, and the merchants and
property owners who cooperated in providing information and ideas
for this study.
i
Section II
PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES UTILIZED IN
SELECTED OTHER CITIES
SURVEY OF OTHER CITIES
As part of this assignment, Pacific Group has contacted numerous
cities which have recently financed public improvement projects.
These projects are similar in size and type to the downtown
improvement project in Palo Alto. A brief summary of the financing
approaches utilized in these cities is presented below.
[~emont, CA
The City of Fremont is currently undertaking a design study for the
Mission San Jose area. Included in this study is street
improvements (gutters, curbs, sidewalks), landscaping, furniture
and accessories. The anticipated costs is approximately $i.0
million.
Last year the City submitted an application for a Federal grant
under the ISTEA Transportation enhancement provision from the
Federal Highway Administration. The application was not successful.
Thus the funding for their improvement program has not been
finalized. However, they are anticipating using the following
sources:
City Capital Improvement Budget
Donations (service groups, etc.)
¯ Voluntary donations from property owners and merchants.
Property owners have indicated they do not want to use a
Local Improvement District.
Woodland, CA.
In 1992, the city undertook approximately $800,000 of improvements
in downtown. The total cost was covered by redevelopment funds. In
addition, the Downtown Specific Plan requires certain upgrades when
a new business moves in.
In the East Street corridor they are about to undertake a series of
improvements, including: Class I pedestrian/bikeway within a
railroad right of way and landscaping. The sources of funding will
include:
II-I
-An ISTEA grant for $300,000
-Redevelopment funds (total not determined).
In addition, the city has a Facade Loan Program. The RDA provided
a $120,000 pool of funds to a local bank to guarantee low interest
loans up to $24,000 per building.
Redwood City., CA
Redwood City has undertake substantial downtown public improvements
in the past five years, when they issue a $16.0 million
redevelopment bond. Significant projects include:
I. Sidewalks-replacement of tiles with bricks, furniture,
tree containers, for a total cost of $1.8 million.
2. Signs, entry features and landscaping for a total of
$1.3 million.
3. Parking structure for $4.0 million.
All of these projects are funded with redevelopment funds. All of
the maintenance is funded with city budgets.
The downtown merchants established a BID in 1994 and assessed
themselves $i00,000. However, one year later, a majority of the
merchants objected to the BID and it was dis-established by the
city council.
In 1991, the RDA established a matching grant program for
storefront improvements. In five years they have granted
approximately $500,000. The maximum matching.grant per building is
$55,000.
San Francisco, CA
The City of San Francisco has only recently authorized the
establishment of Business Improvement Districts in the City. The
City Center District is a Property Business Improvement District
which will cover the Union Square area. The original size of the
area has been reduced by half. Currently there are 1.6 million lot
square feet and ii.0 million building square feet in the district.
They expect to raise $i.0 million annually from the property
owners. Most of this money will go into a security and maintenance
program. None of the funds are currently planned for capital
improvements.
The PBID needs a vote of 51.1% of the assessed value in the
district. This petition process is going on now. They hope to have
the district established by early 1997. In the meantime, there is
a voluntary assessment program in place.
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Monterey, CA
In 1984 the City undertook a capital improvement program on
Alvarado Street in Old Town. The total cost was $1.3 million, of
which the City paid $900,000 from the capital budget. The property
owners paid the balance through a total assessment of $115.00 per
linear foot. The improvements included brick sidewalks, benches,
trees, curbs, and the like. ,
In addition, the same areahas a separate maintenance assessment of
$1.44 per linear foot which covers any added costs (lighting costs,
plant ntaintenance, etc) above what was already provided.
Berkeley, CA
In 1995 the City Council adopted an $8.0 million Public Improvement
Plan for the commercial areas of the city, including traffic,
circulation, lighting, street furniture, landscaping and so forth.
Two small projects were completed for $75,000 from the capital
improvements budget. The city recently received a $750,000 ISTEA
grant for lighting, trees and landscaping in one zone. They have
submitted another application for $500,000 for lighting in another
zone. In November residents will vote on a $49.0 million G.O. Bond
issue to cover retrofitting the city hal! and library as well as
$4.0 million for the public improvements plan. They have never had
an assessment district, because the merchants do not feel they can
afford it.
Berkeley Downtown Association is expecting to have formed a BID by
August. The BID will raise $185,000 per year for events and
promotion. The merchants will pay one half of this based on 0.044%
of gross sales. In addition, because the property owners also are
required to have a business license to record their gross rents,
they will pay a percent of these rents to generate the other half
of the BID budget.
Maintenance for all of the new public improvements will be through
city general funds.
Livermore, CA
Livermore recently undertook a major downtown improvement project.
The Total cost of $3.7 million was funded by redeve!opment funds.
There is no BID. However, there is a downtown business association
which operates as a public benefit corporation 501 (C)3. It has an
annual budget of $250,000 which is used for promotion, special
events, and on-site services. They receive 22% of their budget from
RDA, the balance from fundraising.
The city has a downtown landscaping program which employs two
people full time. There is also a Downtown Beautification Committee
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which writes grant applications for trees and related projects.
They also have a design ordinance which requires new buildings or
retrofit programs to provide landscaping on 12% of the property.
Pacific Grove
They have undertaken relatively smal~ improvement projects in the
recent past. The funding sources for these improvements are:
i. City General Fund.
2. A private Trust set up for beautification generates
$40,000 per year.
3. A grant from the Regional Transportation Improvement
Program (RSTP) to replace downtown street lights with
historical lights. The purported purpose was to increase
pedestrian traffic.
Paso Robles
In 1989 the city undertook a $600,000 renovation of the 2-block
park in downtown, including planters, fountains, benches, and brick
sidewalks. These improvements were paid for with redevelopment
funds.
In 1992, the city provided improvements to the main street in
downtown (Spring Street), including new lights, planters and a
gateway. The total cost was $1.2 million. The source of funding was
the gas tax.
The city also authorized a three year facade improvement program
which consisted of a no interest matching loan, with provisions to
forgive repayment.
Sunnyvale, CA
In 1978 Sunnyvale undertook street improvements along Murphy
Avenue. A large part of the program consisted of a CDBG funded loan
program for facade improvement and seismic retrofitting. Over a ten
year period this program financed several million dollars in
improvements.
In the downtown area they have recently completed a specific plan
which requires certain improvements and mitigation fees which are
expected to cover all of the public improvement costs if and when
new development occurs. The total costs of the planned improvements
is approximately $2.2 million.
Mountain View, CA
The Castro Street area has undergone major redevelopment. The
II-4
public improvements which were made include: utilities,
landscaping, street paving, curbs, gutters, benches, planters, a
median and other items. The total costs of these improvements was
$12.0 million.
The Redevelopment Agency financed $6.0 million of this through a
bond. The balance was paid through:
Capital Improvement Plan
¯ Five large developers paid a prorata share based on the
size of their developments
small amount from the general fund.’
The maintenance is provided through normal city budgets.
In 1992 the city undertook their last commercial assessment
district in the Alta Avenue area. The improvements included lights,
landscaping, pavement and curbs. The total cost was $1.36 million.
The city paid $360,000 through the CIP reserve and some from
enterprise funds. The remaining $i.0 million was covered by an
assessment district.
Currently there is discussion of possibly utilizing an assessment
district to cover some of the city’s contribution to the Light Rail
corridor in downtown Mountain View. The City’s contribution will be
$15.0 million.
Los Gatos,CA
Los Gatos completed a downtown streetscape plan in May, 1996. The
area is in a redevelopment project area. The existing improvements
and amenities have become run-down. The improvements will include
sidewalk widening, planters, benches, and curbs and gutters. The
total cost is estimated at $i.0 million.
The improvements ’will be paid for by redevelopment funds.
ongoing maintenance will be provided from normal city budgets.
Santa Monica, CA
The
In 1989 the City of Santa Monica undertook a major streetscape
program in the Third Street Promenade area, which included some
new parking facilities. The total cost was $12.0 million, of which
approximately half was for parking.
The total cost was covered by a tax exempt bond which was backed by
an assessment district. The original assessments were as high as
$i.00 per year square foot. Currently the assessments are:
-Zone 1 $0.67 per sq ft.
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-Zone 2 $0.28 per sq ft.
-Zone 3 $0.21 per sq ft.
There is a separate assessment charged to merchants through the
business license tax for operation and maintenance. This fee is
$1.25 per thousand dollars of sales for retail, the same as their
business license tax. They could hage had one fee, however bond
holders do not like to see capital and operating funds combined.
As a.charter city they set up their own district, rather than use
the state enabling legislation for BIDs. Such a BID can be
authorized for longer than the five year maximum under state laws.
The money goes into the general funds and then the city provides
the maintenance and also funds a non-profit promotion organization
with $400,000 per year. The total of these costs actually exceeds
what is collected in fees. The city council appoints the board for
the management company (Bayside District Corporation).
The improvements have substantially increased property values. Land
in downtown in general is valued at $85 per sq ft. Lots on the
Promenade are valued at $200 per sq ft.
They also have a program for future parking and improvements,
whereby new development in the downtown can pay $1.50 per sq ft.
per year in-lieu of providing on-site parking.
The city is currently undertaking a similar type of streetscape
program in the low-income area along Pico Boulevard. The cost is
being covered by a $3.1 million EDA Grant.
Sacramento, CA
Historically, capital improvements in the downtown area have been
funded with redevelopment funds. However, they have recently
received an ISTEA Grant $360,000. An additional $90,000 of tax
increment funds will cover the total cost of $450,000 for a
"pedestrian linkage" (underpass, improved access to parking, etc.).
The city provides two layers of maintenance. The base line provides
trash collection and some cleaning. An increased level of
maintenance includes litter collection, pressure cleaning sidewalks
and alleys, etc. This level is paid for by the local PBID.
The PBID has an annual budget of $1.2 million, Its programs include
cleaning, security, promotion, and business retention. The highest
level of service costs $0.05 per sq ft of building plus $0.i0 per
sq ft of land.
II-6
San Car!os, CA
The city recently completed a street beautification program along
San Carlos Avenue. This included a median and landscaping, curbs
and gutters, lights, bulb outs, entry signs and the like. The
sources of funds were:
-Gas Tax $270,00’0
-Redevelopment
-Assessment District
$270,000
$130,000
Total $670,000
There were 26 property owners involved; all voted for the
assessment (1911 Act). The assessment was $25 per linear foot. The
assessment can be paid over I0 years. Maintenance will be done by
the city.
They also improved a downtown park, with $75,000 from redevelopment
funds and $75,000 from donations.
The city also has a facade improvement fund which provides up to
$2,500 per building. So far 180 business have utilized these funds.
They had a BID for two years but it was~ deactivated because
merchants did not feel it was effective.
Lodi, CA
The city recently completed $6.0 million in improvements in the
Cherokee Road area and in downtown. These included a median,
lighting, sidewalks, kiosks, and a gateway. Approximately $3.0
million was in the .downtown area.
The improvements were financed 50% with city CIP funds and 50% with
an assessment district (1913 Act). The total assessments were:
$1.63 or $0.29 per sq ft plus $28 per linear foot. The bonds will
be 1915 Act Bonds for 15 years at 7%, which requires an annual
charge of approximately 10% of the total assessment.
Maintenance will be done by the city at no extra charge. They have
a voluntary downtown business association (1/3 participate) and are
considering a BID.
San Jose, CA
Historically, all downtown street improvements have been
accomplished through the redevelopment process. However, in the
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downtown area they have recently completed a transit mall utilizing
a mix of funding sources. This project also involved street trees,
antique lights, and pedestrian bridges.
The sources of funds included: ISTEA Grant; CDBG money; and
Redevelopment.
Santa Cruz, CA
After the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Santa Cruz reconstructed much of
their downtown infrastructure including water, sewer, storm drains,
streets, lighting and streetscape. The tbtal cost was $i0.0
million. Approximately 50% came from the federal government (FEMA).
The remaining $5.0 million was financed by a county-wide 1/2 cent
sales tax.
Chico, CA
This city is in the process of replacing the lights in downtown
with decorative lights. This project also includes tree planting
and bulb outs. The total cost is $500,000. These funds are being
provided by redevelopment. Maintenance will be through normal city
budgets.
Tracy, CA
Most downtown improvements have been done by redevelopment,
although they are now in the red because of declining property
values. They recently built a $i.0 million parking lot with RDA
funds. At the same time they established a PBID for a two block
area to fund ongoing maintenance for the parking lots. The total
annual assessments are $27,000. They also recently received a
$150,000 CDBG based on a low income census tract in downtown for
new lights.
Long Beach, CA
In the Belmont Shores commercial area, they have provided
approximately $2.0 million in streets and sidewalks. This was paid
for with a parking meter revenue bond. The city’s treasurer bought
the bonds.
In Belmont Shores they also have a Mello-Roos district for parking.
Only the cQmmercial parcels are assessed. The money is used on a
pay as you go basis to buy lots as they become available. This
generates approximately $60,000 per year.
Long Beach is a CDBG entitlement community. In the waterfront area
they have used Section 108 Loan Program for parking and related
infrastructure. These loans will be paid back from parking revenues
and tax increment.
II-8
In 1991 they formed an assessment district in downtown. However,
two years later it was dissolved because there was a decision to
retrofit all of the light in the city. The assessment bonds were
then paid off with capital improvement funds.
Menlo Park, CA.
In 1991, the city of Menlo Park made improvements along Santa Cruz
Avenue including changes tp circualtion and parking, islands, and
landscaping. The total cost was $331,000. The City paid 2/3 of this
from the capital improvements program. The property owners are
paying the city back for the other 1/3 with a i0 year assessment.
Menlo Park is also planning to resurface their downtown plazas and
add landscaping. The cost estimated at $500,000 will be paid by the
city’s capital improvement budget and $200,000 from downtown
parking permit fees.
SUMMARY OF CASE STUDIES
While the 18 cities described above are not a scientific random
sample, they are believed to be representative of the methods
utilized to finance downtown improvements in California cities in
the recent past. The primary conclusions of this survey are
summarized in Table II-i and below:
i.In virtually all cases, more than one funding source
is used.
2. Redevelopment funding is the most common source of
funding, although the survey sought to focus on cities
which used other sources.
3. Capital improvement programs and assessment districts
were used about equally (seven each in the 18 cities),
and in four cases, both sources were used.
4. Various other sources have been utilized, but usually
where there were special circumstances, eg: FEMA after
the Loma Prieta earthquake, ISTEA grants where
transportation enhancements were constructed, private
trust where the capital was donated.
5. Most of the cities indicated they do not have a
consistent policy, but rather utilize whichever funds are
appropriate in the circumstances.
6. Many of the cities indicated that they consciously
tried to use funding from various sources to achieve a
sense of buy in to the project.
7. Only three cities indicated that they used an
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assessment for maintenance of the downtown. All of the
others use general funds for this.
The background information in this section will be one
consideration in establishing alternative funding scenarios later
in this report.
II-lO
City
Fremont
Table II- 1
SUMMARY OF FUNDING SOURCES UTLIZED BY CITIES FOR DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS
Capital Sources Maintanance
Budget Date RDA CIP Assess ISTEA Other Source (1)
$1,000,000 1996 X ’X Donatbns
Woodland
Downtown $800,000 1992 X X Specific Plan
East Street $2,200,000 1996 X Specific Plan
Redwood City S3,100,000
Monterey S 1,300,000
Berkeley
Project I $1,250,000
Project II $4,000,000
Livermore $3,700,000
Pacific Grove
Paso Robles
Spring Street
Sunnyvale/DT
,200,000
S2,200,000
Mountain View
Castro Street $12,000,000
Alta Ave S 1,360,000
Los Gatos S 1,000,000
Santa Monica $6,000,000
Sacramento $450,000
San Carlos $670,000
1990-95
1984
1992
1996
1990-95
1992
1996
1989
1996
1995
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X Assessment
X
GO Bond
X RSTP Grant
Private Trust
X
X X
X
X
X
Gas Tax
Specific Plan
Mitigation fees
Developer fees
Gas Tax
Assessment
City/PBID
General Fund
Lodi
Santa Cruz
Long Beach
Menlo Park
Santa Cruz A~
Civic Center
$3,000,000 1995
S10,000,000 1989
S2,000,000
$330,000 1991
$500,000 1996
X
X
x
X
X
FEMA
Sales Tax
Revenue Bond
Mello-Roos
Parking Permits
(1) General Fund unless other~sqse noted.
Source: Pacific Group
Section III
POTENTIAL FINANCING VEHICLES
This section of the report briefly describes the major sources of
funding which are available for downtown improvements. These
descriptions are general in nature and are intended for use in
preliminary discussions. Charter cities have the authority to
structure financing vehichles to meet their own needs. Naturally,
before proceeding further with any particular funding source, the
City Attorney and the City’s bond counsel should be consulted.
SPECIAL TAXES
Cities, counties and special districts may impose special taxes
with a two-thirds vote. The money collected is available only for
a specific program. Also because it is not an assessment, it is not
limited to the relative benefit it provides to the taxpayer. These
taxes cannot be ad valorem. Typically they are per parcel or per
square foot of the parcel.
Mello-Roos Act
The 1982 Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act is one of the most
common vehicles for a special tax. The proceeds can be used for
direct funding or to pay off bonds. There is a precise procedure
for establishing a Mell-Roos district. One of the principal
requirements is, if there are fewer than 12 voters in the district,
then the owners of half or more of the property in the district
must give approval.
A Mell-Roos tax is not a special assessment, so there is no
requirement that the tax be apportioned on the basis of property
benefit. However, this can be done at local 0ption.¯ It can be used
to pay for a wide’range of public facilities. A Mell-Roos tax can
also pay for planning and design, as well as certain services.
Some form of a special tax, similar to Mell-Roos, may be used in
the proposed Midtown assessment district. Current plans in this
area include parking, access, wall treatment, landscaping and the
like. The total estimated construction cost is $I.0 million.
SPECIAL ASSESS~IENTS
A special assessment is a charge imposed on particular real
property for a local public improvement of direct benefit to that
property. The legislative body of a city may create a special
assessment district that defines the properties that will pay for
the improvement. Thus special assessment districts are also
referred to as benefit assessment districts.
The procedures for establishing assessment districts vary depending
on the statue being employed. The assessments constitute liens
against the specific parcels. A written protest by i0 percent of
the affected property owners can stop the project. Some of the most
commonly used assessment acts are no~ed below.
Improvement Acts of 1911 and 1915
This act may be used for a long list of improvements, including
streets, Sidewalks and landscaping, if assessments are not paid in
30 days a bond is issued. However, the city maintains no obligation
to the bondholder. The improvement Bond Act of 1915 does not
authorize assessments, but provides a vehicle for issuing
assessment bonds. Under this act, the city incurs a contingent
liability for the bonds.
Inteqrated Financing District Act
Assessments levied under this act can be used to pay the cost of
planning, designing and constructing capital facilities and to
reimburse a private investor in the project. It can levy an
assessment contingent on future development and allows
reimbursement for funds advanced by an investor. This vehicle is
most suited to situations where substantial new development is
anticipated.
Parkinq District Laws
The Parking District Laws of 1943 and 1951 provide for assessments
(and through the 1911, 1913 and 1915 acts for bonding) for
acquisition, construction, operations and maintenance of parking
facilities. District formation proceedings are initiated based on
petition of the involved landowners. The parking facilities can
include a certain amount of related improvements such as
landscaping, pedestrian access, and so forth.
The Pedestrian Mall Law of 1960
This law authorizes cities to establish pedestrian malls (including
power of eminent domain), restrict auto traffic within the mall,
and to levy benefit assessments for funding.
Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989
This law enables cities to establish areas of benefit (Business
Improvement District-BID) and to levy assessments on businesses
within those areas to finance improvements (parking, parks,
fountains, benches, lights, etc) and for promotion, events and
other activities. Some cities have found it difficult to collect
III-2
this assessment.
The assessment may be apportioned among different zones of benefit.
If written protest are received from the owners of businesses which
would pay 50% or more of the assessment, the assessment must be set
aside for one year. Because of this provision, and because there is
no lien on property created, this type of BID is not commonly used
for capital improvements, but rather for promotion.
Currently there is no BID-or PBID in Palo Alto. However, there has
been some very preliminary discussion of this concept in the
University Avenue area. The midtown area is also considering a BID,
but formation may be a year away.
A BID assessment is normally collected as part of the business
license tax. It should be noted that currently there is no business
license tax in Palo Alto. This compares with the average city of
population between 50,000 and i00,000 which receives 6% of its
revenues from a business license tax.
.Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994
This law is similar to the 1989 law except that it levies the
assessment on the property owners. The jurisdiction must first
receive a written petition signed by property owners who would pay
50% or more of the assessment. There are some addition improvements
which can be financed under this law. Also, these funds can be used
for economic development, security, sanitation, street cleaning,
etc. This is significant since most assessment districts cannot
provide maintenance.
It should be noted that most cities now consider commercial rental
properties to be "businesses" and thus commercial property owners
can be assessed under the provisions of a BID as described above.
In some cities, the city matches the funds which are secured via a
BID or PBID.
FEES AND EXTRACTIONS
Fees and extractions are direct charges and dedications collected
on a one time basis for a service provided or as a condition of an
approval being granted. The purpose must relate to the need created
by the development. The amount must be proportiona! to the cost of
the service or improvement.
ZONING CHANGE REQUIREMENTS
Palo Alto has enacted a zoning ordinance for PC Planned
Communities. It is intended to accommodate developments requiring
flexibility not otherwise attainable under other districts. It is
intended for comprehensively planned developments which are of
substantial public benefit. Prior to approval of any PC district
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the planning commission and the city council must make a finding
that "the district will result in public benefits not otherwise
attainable...and shall specifically cite the public benefits
expected to result from use of the planned community district."
This zoning ordinance has been applied in 17 case in the downtown
area. Virtually all public benefit packages have included
contributions to public improvements ~n downtown. Selected examples
are presented in Appendix Table A-I and include:
i. 483 University $i00,000 for street furniture
2. 531 Cowper $150,000 to child care fund
3. 529 Bryant Street trees, grates, alleys
4. 250 University Alley paving, lighting,
landscaping; public plaza
5. 520 Webster $150,000 downtown improvements
6. 525 University
(offered)
$150,000 downtown improvements;
$i00,000 to downtown parking
These projects have involved projects which have added from 3,000
to 50,000 square feet above the CD-C zoning. The amount and type
of future public benefits depends on the amount and type of
development which will be proposed. It is difficult to project the
level of this activity into the future. However, this recent level
of public benefits is one indicator to consider in this regard.
CAPITAL IMPROVE~IENT PROGRA!4
The adopted 1996-97 budget includes $4.9 million of capital
expenditures. Of these expenditures, $150,000 is appropriat4d from
the General Fund for the design, construction and installation of
signage, street furniture, newsracks, landscaping and other
improvements. The General Fund appropriation for these improvements
is expected to be supplemented by $i00,000 from downtown business
contributions. The 1997-98 Interim CIP budget process is well
underway and a recommendation from the City Manager will be
reviewed by the Finance Committee in May. The Finance Committee has
rewiewed the Buildings and Facilities Module in a series of
comprehensive infrastructure reports and has directed staff to
bring back to Council a proposal to explore early debt financing
for building projects. It is anticipated that recommendations and
priorities from the remaining three infrastructure module reports
will be incorporated in the 1998-2000 budget.
III-4
GENERAL TAXES
General taxes can include excise taxes, utility users taxes,
transient occupancy tax, and property tax. Each of these types of
taxes have substantial difficulties as a source of funding:
i. Prop 13 requires a 2/3 voter approval for property tax
increases or a special tax.
2. Excise tax related to use of property do not regulate
and are not a condition of permit. While not subject to
Prop 13, it is difficult to pass such a tax.
3. Prop 62-(1986) requires a two thirds vote on all
general taxes. While court decisions indicate it does not
apply to charter cities, many cities abide by this
requirement anyway.
This report assumes that the proposed improvements for the downtown
will not be financed through general taxes.
DONATIONS
As described in the previous section of this report, some cities
have been successful in obtaining grants and donations from
individuals and service organizations for landscaping and
improvements in downtown.
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
As noted in the previous section of this report, redevelopment
funding has become the predominant means of financing public
improvements in downtown areas in California. Palo Alto does not
have a redevelopment agency and such a program would in all
likelihood not provide substantial funding for a downtown which is
virtually fully built out and not blighted.
However, Infrastructure Financing Districts are a new way for a
city to finance infrastructure improvements. It utilizes the
property tax through a variation on tax increment financing. The
IFD law provides that each other taxing agency must grant its
approval before any of its portion of the increment can be
collected by the IFD. Also the IFD has no power of eminent domain.
III-5
ATTACHMENT 3
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
1.Project Title: Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan
2.Lead Agency Name and Address: City of Palo Alto Planning Department
3.Contact Person and Phone Number: Virginia Warheit, Senior Planner, (415) 329-2364
4.Project Location: University Avenue Downtown Area, bounded by Lytton and Hamilton
Avenues, Middlefield Road and Alma Street.
5. Appication Number(s): 97-EIA-7; 97-ARB-43; 97-HRB-60
6.Project Sponsor’s Name and Address: City of Palo Alto, Department of Planning and
Community Environment, Planning Division.
7. General Plan Designation: Regional/Community Comercial
8.Zoning: The area covered by the Master Plan includes public-rights- of-way and public
parking lots zoned PF, Public Facility.
9.Description of the Project: The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan
partially implements improvements in the public spaces of the University Avenue
Downtown area that are recommended in the Urban Design Guide adopted by City
Council in 1994. Improvements being proposed in the Master Plan include new street
furniture such as newspaper racks, benches, bicycle racks, information kiosks, trash
containers, street and parking lot lights, accent lighting, and tree grates; directional signs
such as street an alley name signs, and parking lot location and information signs; art
enhancements on existing bunker walls on University Avenue; sidewalk widening at
selected locations; improvements to Lytton Plaza and Cogswell Plaza; gateway markers;
refurbishing of landscaping; paving repair; and locations for future public toilets.
10.Surrounding Land uses and Setting: The project area is both historically and
currently the main commercial center of the city and includes d variety of office,
commercial, retail and residential uses. In terms of scale, design and ground floor
uses it is a pedestrain-oriented area with heavy pedestrian traffic and is served by
a Multimodal Transit Station. The area is 10 blocks long by two blocks wide and
is bounded on both the north, south and east sides by residential neighborhoods.
A:\EIAchkls.dip Page 1
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
11.
To the west, across El Camino Real, is Stanford University and the Stanford
Shopping Center.
Other public agencies whose approval is required: None
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:
The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project,
involving at least one impact that is a "Potentially Significant Impact" as indicated by the
checklist on the following pages.
Land use and Planning
Population and
Housing
Geological Problems
Biological Resources
Energy and Mineral
Resources
Hazards
Water Noise
Air Quality
Transportation and
Circulation
Public Services
Utilities and Service
Systems
Aesthetics
Cultural Resources
Recreation
Mandatory Findings of
Significance
X NONE
DETERMINATION: (To be completed by the Lead Agency).
On the basis of this initial evaluation:
I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment,
and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared.
X
A:\EIAchkls,dip Page 2
ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST FORM
I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment,
there will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation measures described
on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION will be prepared.
I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect(s) on the environment, but at
least one effect (1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to
applicable legal standards, and (2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the
earlier analysis as described on attached sheets, if the effect is a "Potentially Significant
Impact" or "Potentially Significant Unless Mitigated." An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed.
I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment,
there WILL NOT be a significant effect in this case because all potentially significant effects
(1) have been analyzed in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards and (2) have been
avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR, including revisions or mitigation measures
that are imposed upon the proposed project.
Virginia ,W, arheit, Senior Planner
Project Planner
April 18, 1997
Date
Kenneth Schr#ibeg ,~
Director of’F;lanning & community Environment
April 22, 1997
Date
EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
1)
2)
A brief explanation is required for all answers except "No Impact" answers that are adequately supported
by the information sources a lead agency cites in the parentheses following each question. A "No Impact"
answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does
not apply to projects like the one involved (e. g. the project falls outside a fault rupture zone). A "No
Impact" answer should be explained where it is based on project-specific factors as well as general
standards (e. g. the project will not expose sensitive receptors to pollutants, based on a project-specific
screening analysis).
All answers must take account of the whole action involved, including off-site as well as on-site,
cumulative as well as project-level, indirect as well as direct, and construction as well as operational
impacts.
A:\EIAchkls.dip Page 3
3)"Potentially Significant Impact’ is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect is significant.
If there are one or more "Potentially Significant Impact" entries when the determination is made, an EIR
is required.
4)"Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated" applies where the incorporation of mitigation
measures has reduced an effect from "Potentially Significant Impact" to a "Less than Significant Impact."
The lead agency must describe the mitigation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect
to a less than significant level (mitigation measures from Section 17, "Earlier Analysis," may be cross-
referenced).
5)Earlier analysis may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, an effect
has been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration. Section 15063 (c) (3) (D). Earlier
analyses are discussed in Section 17 at the end of the checklist.
6)Lead agencies are encouraged to incorporate into the checklist references to information sources for
potential impacts (e.g. general plans, zoning ordinances). Reference to a previously prepared or outside
document should, where appropriate, include a reference to the page or pages where the statement is
substantiated. A source list should be attached, and other sources used or individuals contacted should
be cited ih the discussion.
7) This is only a suggested form, and lead agencies are free to use different ones.
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¯ Issues and Supporting Information Sources Potentially
Significant
~ssues
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
1. LAND USE AND PLANNING. Would the proposal:
a) Conflict with general plan designation or zoning?
b)Conflict with applicable environmental plans or policies
adopted by agencies with jurisdiction over the project?
c) Be incompatible with existing land use in the vicinity?
d)Affect agricultural resources or operations (e.g. impact
to soils or farmlands, or impacts from incompatible land
uses)?
e)Disrupt or divide the physical arrangement of an
established community (including a low-income or
minority community)?
2. POPULATION AND HOUSING. Would the proposal:
a)Cumulatively exceed official regional or local population
projections?
b)Induce substantial growth in an area either directly or
indirectly (e.g. through projects in an undeveloped area
or major infrastructure?
c)Displace existing housing, especially affordable
housing?
1
1,19
1,2
3
3. GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS. Would the proposal result in or expose people to potential impacts involving:
4
4
4
4
4
4
a) Fault rupture?
b) Seismic ground shaking?
c) Seismic ground failure, including liquefaction?
d) Seic.he, tsunami, orvolcanic hazard?
e) Landslides or mudflows?
f)Erosion, changes in topography or unstable soil
conditions from excavation, grading or fill?
g) Subsidence of the land?
h) Expansive soils?
i)Unique geologic or physical features?
4
4
4
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
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Issues and Supporting Information Sources Sources Potentially
Significant
Issues
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
ILess Than ~ NoSignificantI Impact
Impact
4, WATER. Would the proposal result in:
a)Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, or the 3 X
rate and amount of surface runoff?
b)Exposure of people or property to water related hazards 4,5 X
such as flooding?
Xc) Discharge into surface waters or other alteration of
surface water quality, including but not limited to
temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity or other
typical storm water pollutants (e.g. sediment and
debris from construction, hydrocarbons andmetals from
vehicle use, nutrients and pesticides from landscape
maintenance?
3
d)Changes in the amount of surface water in any water 3 X
body or wetland?
e)Changes in currents, or the course or direction of water 3 X
movements, in marine or freshwater, or wetlands?
Xf) Change in the quantity of ground waters, either
through direct additions or withdrawals, or through
interception of an aquifer by cuts or excavations or
through substantial loss of groundwater recharge
capability?
g) Altered direction or rate of flow of groundwater?
h)Impacts to groundwater quality through infiltration of
reclaimed water or storm water runoff that has
contacted pollutants from urban or industrial activities?
Substantial reduction in the amount of groundwater
otherwise available for public water supplies?
X
X
j)Alteration of wetlands in any way?3
5. AIR QUALITY. Would the proposal:
a)Violate any air quality standard or contribute to an 6,7 X
exiting or projected air quality violation?
b) Expose sensitive receptors to pollutants 6,7 X
c)Alter air movement, moisture, or temperature, or cause 6,7 X
any change in climate?
X
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Issues and Supporting Information Sources Sources Potentially
Significant
Issues
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Significant act
Impact
6. TRANSPORTATION/CIRCULATION. Would the proposal result in:
a) Increased vehicle trips or traffic congestion?3,14,X
18
b) Hazards to safety from design features (e.g. sharp X
curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses 3,16
(e.g. farm equipment))?
c)Inadequate emergency access or access to nearby 3,12 X
uses?
d) Insufficient parking capacity on-site or off-site?3,10,X
17,18
19,20
e) Hazards or barriers for pedestrians or bicyclists?3,18 X
f)Conflicts with adopted policies supporting alternative 3,18 X
transportation (e.g. bus turnouts, bicycle racks)?
g) Rail, waterborne or air traffic impacts?3 X
7. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES, Would the proposal result reduction or inteference in:
a) Endangered, threatened or rare species or their habitats X
(including but not limited to plants, fish, insects,3,11
animals or birds)?
b) Locally designated species (e.g. heritage trees)?3,8 X
c)Locally designated natural communities (e.g. oak 3,1 1 X
forest, coasta} habitat, etc.)?
d) Wetland habitat (e.g. marsh, riparian and vernal pool?3,11 X
e) Wildlife dispersal or migration corridors?3,11 X
8. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal’.
a) Conflict with adopted energy conservation plans?3 X
b)Use non-renewable resources in a wasteful and 3 X
inefficient manner?
c) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral X
resource that would be of future value to the region 3,1 1
and the residents of the State?
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Issues and Sui~porting Information Sources Sources Potentially
Significant
Issues
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
9. HAZARDS. Would the proposal involve:
a)A risk of accidental explosion or release of hazardous
substances (including, but not limited to: oil,
pesticides, chemicals or radiation)?
b)Possible interference with an emergency response plan
or emergency evacuation plan?
c)The creation of any health hazard or potential health
hazard?
d)Exposure of people to existing sources of potential
health hazards?
e)Increased fire hazard in areas with flammable brush,
grass of trees7
3,12
3,12
3,12
X
X
X
X
X
10. NOISE. Would the proposal result in:
a) Increase in existing noise levels?
b) Exposure of people to severe noise levels?
3,13
3,9
13
X
X
11. PUBLIC SERVICES. Would the proposal have an effect upon, or result in a need for new or altered
government services in any of the following areas:
a) Fire protection?
b) Police protection?
c) Schools?
d)Maintenance of public facilities, including roads or
storm drain facilities?
e) Other governmental services?
3,11
3,11
3,11
3,16
3,11
X
X
X
12,UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS. Would the proposal result in a need for new systems or supplies, or
substantial alterations to the following utilities:
a) Power or natural gas?
b) Communications systems?
c)Local or regional water treatment or distribution
facilities?
d) Sewer or septic tanks?
15
15
15
16
X
X
X
X
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¯ Issues and Sui~porting Information Sources Sources Potentially
Significant
Issues
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
No
Impact
e) Storm water drainage or storm water quality control?
f) Solid waste disposal?
g) Local or regional water supplies?
13. AESTHETICS. Would the proposal:
a) Affect a scenic vista or scenic highway?
b) Have a demonstrable negative aesthetic effect?
c) Create light or glare?
14. CULTURAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal:
a) Disturb paleontological resources?
b) Disturb archaeological resources?.
c) Affect historical resources?
d)Have the potential to c~use a physical change which
would affect unique ethnic cultural values?
e)Restrict existing religious or sacred uses within the
potential impact area?
15. RECREATION. Would the proposal:
a)Increase the demand for neighborhood or regional parks
or other recreational facilities?
b) Affect existing recreational opportunities?
16. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE.
a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality
of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a
fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population
to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate
a plant or animal community, reduce the number or
restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal
or eliminate important examples of the major periods of
California history or prehistory?
b)Does the project have the potential to achieve short-term,
to the disadvantage of long-term, environmental goals?
’16
16
16
1
3,21
15
11
11
1,11
17
11
11
X
X
11
11
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
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Issues and Sui~porting Information Sources Sources Potentially
Significant
Issues
Potentially
Significant
Unless
Mitigation
Incorporated
Less Than
Significant
Impact
c) Does the project have impacts that are individually
limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively
considerable" means .that the incremental effects of a
project are considerable when viewed in connection with
the effects of the past projects, the effects of other
current projects, and the effects of probable future
projects)
d) Does the project have environmental effects which will
cause substantial adverse effects on human beings,
either directly or indirectly?
X
X
17. EARLIER ANALYSES.
Earlier analysis may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, one or more effects
have been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or Negative Declaration. Section 15063 (c) (3) (D). In this case a
discussion should identify the following items:
a) Earlier analysis used. Identify earlier analyses and state where they are available for review.
b) Impacts adequately addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and
adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects
were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis.
c) Mitigation measures. For effects that are "Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated," describe the
mitigation measures which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they
address site-specific conditions of the project.
Authority: Public Resources Code Sections 21083 and 21087.
Reference: Public Resources Code Sections 21080 (c), 21080.1, 21080.3, 21082.1, 21083, 21083.3, 21093,
321094, 21151 ; Sundstrom v. County of Mendocino, 202 Cal. App. 3d 296 (1988); Leonofff v. Monterey Board of
Supervisors, 222 Cal. App. 3d 1337 (1990).
18. SOURCE REFERENCES
1 City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan, 1980-1995
2 City of Palo Alto Zoning Ordinance
3 Planner’s knowledge of the project and area of proposed development
4 Palo Al~o Comprehensive Plan Update: Geology and Seismic Technical Report, 1994
5 FEMA Flood Insurance Mp, Community Panel #060348-0002D, dated 9/6/89
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6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
City of Palo Alto Standard Conditions of Project Approval
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Update: Air Quality Technical Background Report, August 1994
City of Palo Alto Tree Protection Ordinance
City of Palo Alto Noise Ordinance
Recommendation Concerning New Parking Structures i’n Downtown Palo Alto, City Managers Report:
183:97
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Update: Existing Setting Summary Memorandum, August 1994
City of Palo Alto Fire Department
Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan Update: Noise Technical Background Report, August 1994
City of Palo Alto Police Department
City of Palo Alto Utilities Engineering Department
City of Palo Alto Public Works Department
City of Palo Alto Historic Inventory
City of Palo Alto Transportation Department
City of Palo Alto, Downtown Urban Design Guide, adopted 1994
Varsity Theatre Remodel Project, Draft EIR, February, 1995, and Final EIR Errata, May, 1995
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DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
5. a. Air Quality
Air Quality Standard..: This project would result in temporary dust emissions during the cutting and
sandblasting of the existing concrete walls at University Avenue corners. The standard conditions
of project approval would reduce these air quality impa~ts to less than significant levels.
Mitigation Measures: None Required.
6. a,c,d Transportation/Circulation
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan proposes widening the sidewalks in three
types of selected locations: on the east side of University Avenue at the three "T" intersections; at
several mid-block locations along the alley/parking lot pedestrian system identified in the
Downtown Urban Design Guide; on corners at several locations to relieve sidewalk congestion due
to heavy pedestrian traffic and narrow sidewalks. The locations for widened sidewalks shown in
the Master Plan are schematic and may change based on actual site conditions. Since the widened
sidewalks would occupy space currently used for vehicle parking and/or circulation, traffic
congestion, emergency access and parking could be adversely affected. In addition, proposed
improvements to Lytton Plaza and the possible future location of one or more public toilets in
Downtown parking lots could displace existing parking spaces.
Increased Traffic Congestion: The Master Plan proposes widening the sidewalk several feet into the
parking lane on University Avenue at the T intersections with Florence, Kipling Streets and Tasso
Streets. Currently, this space provides two white or yellow loading zones and one on-street
parking space. While eliminating the two yellow or white loading zones may result in double
parking by some persons who would otherwise use these spaces for short term parking, the stores
adjacent to these loading zones have access to an alley or pubic parking lot at the rear of the store
where loading and unloading can take place if the curbside loading zones are no longer available.
The location and design of widened sidewalks adjacent to parking lot entries and at corners will be
reviewed and approved by the Transportation Division to assure that traffic circulation is not
impeded.
Emergency Access: Some of the locations for sidewalk widening occur Where there is currently a
red curb. In some cases, the red curb area allows emergency access or provides a location for
parking emergency vehicles if needed. However, all currently red curb areas are not needed for
emergency access or parking. No red curb areas will be displaced by sidewalk widening unless the
Palo Alto Fire Department determines that the area is not required for emergency access or parking
of emergency vehicles.
Parking Capacity: The number of both on-street parking spaces and parking spaces provided in
Parking Assessment District parking lots could be reduced by proposals in the Master Plan for
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sidewalk widening, redesign of Lytton Plaza and the possible future location of public toilets in
parking lots. The exact number of impacted parking spaces that actually would be displaced is
uncertain, since displacement of any particular parking space depends on whether conditions at the
site allow the space to be accommodated by restriping or to be relocated.
On-street spaces. On-street parking spaces that may be displaced include: 1 space at the
proposed widening of the sidewalk on University Aven, ue at Tasso Street; 2 spaces on University
Avenue for the extension of Lytton Plaza; approximately 4 spaces in various locations to
accommodate the mid-block sidewalk extensions connecting pedestrian alleys and parking lots, for
a total of approximately 7 on-street parking spaces. There are approximately 1000 on-street
parking spaces in the project area.
Parking Assessment District parking lots. The schematic designs of Lytton Plaza presented in the
Master Plan show the pedestrian alley from Ramona Street extending through the back of the Plaza
to connect with Emerson Street, rather than en~ling in the adjacent parking lot as is now the case.
This could result in the loss of the eight parking spaces adjacent to the Plaza. In addition, the
Master Plan proposes several possible locations, including public parking lots as well as possible
future parking structures, where public toilets could be located should the City Council decide to
provide public toilets in the Downtown. The number of toilets to be located in surface parking lots
would not be expected to be more than two, and each toilet may displace one or two parking
spaces. Thus, as ma.ny as 12 parking spaces in public parking lots could be displaced by the
proposed extension of the pedestrian alley across Lytton Plaza and locations for public toilets.
Currently, 2257 parking spaces are provided in the Parking Assessment District surface parking
lots and parking garages.
Parking deficit in the Downtown Parking Assessment District. The 1996 Commercial Downtown
Monitoring Report, which includes a report on the change in the number of parking spaces since
1986 due to construction projects, indicates that the parking deficit number is now 1,535 spaces.
The City Council has previously adopted a cap of 1,600 on the allowable overall Downtown
parking deficit. The maximum number of 19 parking spaces that could be expected to be lost due
to proposals in the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan falls far short of the sixty-
five spaces that remain before the parking deficit cap is reached; therefore, the loss of spaces is
not considered to be a significant impact.
An additional mitigating factor is that the City Council approved a comprehensive parking plan for
Downtown in 1994 that included consideration of one or more new parking structures within the
area. A feasibility study was recently concluded with a recommendation to construct two parking
structures in the Parking Assessment District that would provide a net gain of approximately 729
spaces.
The purpose of the proposed sidewalk widenings, extensions to Lytton Plaza, and the location of
public toilets in spaces now used for auto circulation and parking i~ to improve the pedestrian
environment in the Downtown and encourage alternatives to auto use. The Downtown Urban
Design Guide identifies the midblock system of pedestrian alleys as important to the pedestrian
orientation of Downtown. The Multimodal Transit Station located at the foot of University Avenue
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is. the most heavily used transit station on the Peninsula. Because of the proximity to transit,
improvements in Downtown pedestrian amenities could be expected to result in increased use of
walking and public transit, and to less automobile use in the Downtown, thus off-setting the loss
of a small number of parking spaces.
Mitigation Measures: None Required
10. a. Noise
Construction Noise: Temporary impacts could occur as a result of construction activities.
However, with the City’s required standard conditons of approval, the project’s noise impacts will
not be significant. The standard conditions of approval will require the applicant to comply with
the requirements of the Palo Alto Noise Ordinance, Chapter 9.10 of the PkAMC, which limits the
amount of noise and restricts demolition and construction activities to specific hours of the day to
minimize disturvbance ot adjacent residents.
Mitigation Measures: None Required.
13. a. Aesthetics
Scenic Highway:.. In the Comprehensive Plan, University Avenue is designated a scenic highway
from the Magnolia-lined residential stretch just east of the Downtown, through the Downtown to
its terminus at Palm Drive, the entrance to Stanford University. The design improvements
proposed in the Downtown Urban Design Improvments Master Plan are compatible with the
historical and ceremonial character of this street, in that the various design elements have an
understated and classic quality, and include the use of traditional street lights, hand crafted
elements at seating areas and improved care and maintenance of the street trees and landscaping.
Mitigation Measures: None Required.
14.c. Cultural Resources
Historical Resources. The area covered by the Master Plan includes a National Register Historic
District, the Ramona Street District, a one-block length of Ramona Street lined with Spanish
Mission Revival commercial buildings designed by local architect, Birge Clark, and local artist and
designer, Pedro de Lamos. The proposed improvements in the Master Plan are compatible with the
character of this historic district, as described above under Section 13, Aesthetics. In the Ramona
Street District, some traditional street lights remain from the period of the buildings, or earlier.
This street light is being replicated and will replace some more modern lights now on the block.
The modern cobrahead luminaires on this block will be replaced with a tear-drop shaped luminaire
more in keeping with the period architecture. MitiQation Measures: None Required.
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ATTACHMENT
PROPOSED FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS
Findings:
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan furthers the design goals and
purposes of the ARB Ordinance by complying with the Standards for Architectural
Review required in Chapter 16.48 of the PAMC, as described below.
The Master Plan will be compatible with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan as
discussed in the Policy Section of this report (Standard #al).
The design is compatible with the immediate environment and promotes
harmonious transition in scale and character by using design elements that are
classic and understated, forming a background for the adjacent storefronts, and
that are consistent with the comfortable, informal character of the Downtown,
which in addition to being the central business district is a local shopping area for
two nearby residential neighborhoods (Standards #2, #5, and #6).
The Master Plan responds to the historical character of the Ramona Street Historic
District by replacing several modem light poles on this block with replicas of
existing historic light poles (Standard #4).
The Master Plan is appropriate to the function of the project, creates a sense of
order, and provides appropriate open space and a desirable environment for
visitors by carefully designing and locating all of the furnishings that need to be
accommodated on the street in a way that maintains the popular and comfortable
seating areas under the existing sycamore trees, adds additional seating in a variety
of locations, and provides a more efficient arrangement for newspaper boxes, thus
reducing clutter and impediments to pedesta’ian circulation on the sidewalks
(Standards #3, #7, #8, and #9).
Access and circulation are improved for pedestrians and bicyclist by providing
sufficient and convenient bicycle parking, by widening sidewalks at strategic
locations, and by enhancing the pedestrian alley system to make it easier to move
around on foot in the Downtown (Standard #10).
The Master Plan protects natural features in the Downtown by including a Street
Tree Maintenance Plan that will improve the care of street and parking lot trees.
(Standard #11).
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Findings and Conditions: Downtown Urban Design
Improvements Master Plan - City Council Meeting of 8/11/97 Page 1
The materials, textures, colors and details of construction are an appropriate
expression of the design in that light poles and other infrastructure will be a single
dark color and types of light poles are limited to three similar designs, trash cans
and benches are simple forms in natural wood or a matching dark color, directional
and parking location signs are a single color and shape, and the redesign of the
comer concrete walls will be accomplished.as a single artistic composition
designed to be compatible with the other improvements in the area (Standard #12).
All plant materials proposed for the planting areas in parking lots and along
University Avenue will be selected for visual interest, to shape and define planting
areas and screen cars, as well as for their low maintenance and drought-tolerant
characteristics (Standards # 13, # 14 and # 15).
Conditions:
General
Conditions of project approval recommended to be added by the Planning Commission
and!or the Architectural Review Board are in italics.
Improvements in subsequent phases of the Downtown Improvements Master Plan
shall be designed in coordination with all relevant City departments and shall be
reviewed and approved by the Historic Resources Board and the Architectural
Review Board.
All art elements that are included in the improvements shall be reviewed and
approved by the Public Pats Commission prior to an m’tist being commissioned to
design or install the work. An ARB member will be appointed by the Board as
liaison to the Public Arts Commission for the design development and
implementation of the modifications to the concrete cornet" walls. The liaison will
have authority to represent the ARB in accepting the final design or in referring
the final design back to the fidl ARB for review.
lnclude public toilets in the ftrstphase of improvements planned for fiscal year
1997-98, with at least one toilet to be provided in one of the downtown public
parks or plazas, the type and cost of the toilets to be determined; the design and
location of the toilet(s) shall be approved by the ARB.
Pursue additional locations for newsboxes after a process of staff newspaper
representatives and other interested parties discussing the alternatives.
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Findings and Conditions: Downtown Urban Design
Improvements Master Plan - City Council Meeting of 8/11/97 Page2
7.
Additional locations for newspaper racks shall be approved by the ARB.
Preferred locations are in association with other amenities, such as benches,
landscaping, entrances to pedestrian alleys, etc., not scattered along the street.
The background logo on the proposed directional and alley identification signs
shall be replaced by plain background. The official City logo may be used on the
parking lot signs. An actual sample of the sign color and material shall return to
the ARB for review under daylight conditions.
Benches shall be either all wood, or wood and metal with wood seats and the
metal to have simple lines and not be Victorian in character; the Smith and
Hm~,kin teak Berkshire bench and the Timberform #2001 bench are approved, but
another bench may be selected at the discretion of the design consultant, with
participation of the artists in the selection of benches that are compatible with the
wall/railing at seating areas.
Newspaper boxes shall be the signature color of the publication, with each vendor
permitted to use a single solid identifying color for all their newspaper boxes
located in the Downtown.
o The proposed gateway structures should not be pursued in subsequent phases of
the Master Plan, with resources used instead for other improvements that will
strengthen the Downtown pedestrian environment.
Transportation
9. Location and design of bicycle parking and bus/shuttle stops shall be reviewed and
approved by the Transportation Division. The number of bicycle parking spaces
shall be at least as great as currently provided.
10.The design of any changes to existing curbs, traffic lanes, or pedestrian
crosswalks, displaced or relocated parking spaces, loading zones or red zones, and
parking lot signage shall be reviewed and approved by the Transpox~ation
Division.
Fire
11.
Police
12.
Any changes to red zones shall be reviewed and approved by the Fire Department.
Signage and landscaping shall meet the sight distance requirements of PAMC
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Findings and Conditions: Do\vntown Urban Design
Improvements Master Plan - City Council Meeting of 8/11/97 Page 3
13.
18.83.080, applicable to project frontages where driveways are present, and in
parking lots. Landscaping shall be specifically identified in the landscape plan as
meeting these height requirements.
All non-residential construction activities shall be subject to the requirements of
the City’s Noise Ordinance, Chapter 9.10 PAMC, which requires, among other
things, that a sign be posted and that construction times be limited as follows:
8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday thru Friday
9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday
Utilities
14. During the design development phase of the improvements, plans shall be routed
for review by the WGW Engineering Division to evaluate impact on the City’s
utilities infrastructure.
15.The Permittee shall be responsible for identification and location of all utilities,
both public and private, within the work area. Prior to any excavation work at the
site, the Permittee shall contact Underground Service Alert @ (800) 642-2444, at
least 48 hours prior to beginning work.
16.Design and location of all changes to existing lights or addition of new lights shall
be reviewed and approved by the Electric Utilities Division.
Plannin~
17. All public trees within the area of work shall be protected during construction
activities. A plan for protecting trees shall be prepared and the protection
measures in plac.e to the satisfaction of the Planning Arborist prior to the beginning
of work. Absolutely no construction materials or debris of any kind shall be stored
or disposed of in planting areas.
Public Works
18. A construction logistics plan shall be provided, addressing at minimum parking,
truck routes and staging, materials storage, and the provision of pedestrian and
vehicular traffic adjacent to the construction site. All truck routes shall conform
with the City of Palo Alto’s Trucks and Truck Route Ordinance, Chapter 10.48,
and the attached route map which outlines truck routes available throughout the
City of Palo Alto.
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Findings and Conditions: Downtown Urban Design
Improvements Master Plan - City Council Meeting of 8/11/97 Page 4
19.The applicant shall obtain a Permit for Construction in a Public Street from Public
Works Engineering for construction proposed in the City right-of-way. Sec.
12.08.010.
20.Spillage resulting from hauling operations along or across any public or private
property shall be removed immediately and paid for by the contractor. Dust
nuisances originating from the contractor’s operations, either inside or outside of
the right-of-way, shall be controlled at the contractor’s expense.
21.The contractorshall incorporate best management practices (BMP’s) for storm
water pollution prevention in all construction operations, in conformance with the
Santa Clara Valley Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program. The Public
Works Department shall monitor BMP’s with respect to the contractor’s
construction activities on public property. It is unlawful to discharge any
construction debris (soil, sawcut slurry, paint, chemicals, etc.) or other waste
materials into gutters or storm drains. (Federal Clean Water Act)
C :kPLANkPLADIV~CIv~RkDIPF&C .C MR
Findings and Conditions: Downtown Urban Design
Improvements Master Plan - City Council Meeting of 8/11/97 Page 5
ATTACHMENT 5\’
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
May 15, 1997
Excerpt
Downtown Urban Design Improvement Master Plan
City of Palo Alto
97-ARB-43
97-EIA-7
Improvements to the public space in the University Avenue downtown core area to partially
implement the Urban Design Guide, including newspaper racks, street furniture, landscaping,
lighting, directional signs, plaza improvements, sidewalk widening at selected locations, and
locations for future public toilets.
Chairman Ross: This is an item that we are seeing again. We saw it four weeks ago. We will
now have the presentation from Virginia Warheit.
Ms. Warheit: Our consultants are apparently on the road between here and San Francisco. They
were here last night meeting with the Public Arts Commission while staff was meeting with the
Planning Commission. The presentation they were going to give for you was in response to all
of the comments that you made the last time they were here. I will start without them, and can
report to you on what happened at the Planning Commission meeting.
The Planning Commission discussed this item for over two hours. In the end, they
enthusiastically endorsed it. I believe I can say "enthusiastically". They made two amendments.
One was an amendment that public toilets should be included in the first phase, with at least one
public restroom to be located on one or more of the downtown plazas, without saying anything
about the style or type of toilet or the cost, leaving that to be determined.
The second amendment was that we should pursue additional locations for newspaper racks
through a process of discussion between staff, the newspaper interests and any other interested
parties. The public restrooms passed six to zero. Adding additional news racks passed 5-1, with
Commissioner Bialson voting against it because she was concerned that the newspaper racks not
increase to the point where they would impede pedestrian flow or add clutter or be contrary to the
whole purpose of the plan. She urged that we look at the side streets of Hamilton and Lytton for
locating additional racks rather than trying to put more racks than the plan shows on University
Avenue. The main motion passed 5-1 with Commissioner Byrd voting against it because he
wanted even stronger language about the restrooms. Other than that, he was in support of it.
Ms. Piha: What about the recycling issue?
Ms. Warheit: We found that there is only one place in the publi~ areas Downtown where the city
presently provides pickup for recycling. That is at City Hall Plaza, because the City Hall has a
recycling program. There are two, not very attractive recycling bins sitting out front on the plaza
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next to the trash cans. Also we found that the trash cans we are proposing to use have a
matching recycling can that can be ordered. It is a little shorter, and the flares on the two cans
enable them to rest together. The top, which you will recall, is a slightly tilted in ring topped
with a pole in the middle. It has just a very small hole that only accommodates the size of a
bottle or can. It is painted a bright blue or green, whatever the proper recycling color is, and it
has the lettering on it saying "Aluminum cans only" or "Glass only." Then there is a similar
panel that can be attached to the side of the can that says, "Recycling only" and the type of
material that is to go in it. We have changed the plan to show that in most locations where there
is a trash can, there is a second circle that indicates recycling facilities. What we intend to do is
to order at least ten recycling containers when we order the trash cans, and start using them at
City Hall Plaza, and also at each of the places along the street where a merchant has an
encroachment permit, and they therefore have their own pickup arrangement. If we can require
them under the current encroachment conditions to use those and see that they are recycled, we
will do that. If we do not have the authority, we will just strongly encourage them to provide
recycling. We do not want to put cans where there is no program in place to pick them up. Since
they do match, then as soon as there is a program in place, that is the can that will be used, and
that is where it will go, which is right next to the trash cans, as shown on the plan. We will start
using them right now in the two situations where they can be picked up.
Chairman Ross: I have a couple of questions to clarify the issue about trash and recycling. My
assumption is that PASCO is the entity’that picks up the trash and also picks up the recycling. Is
that correct?
Ms. Warheit: I believe so.
Chairman Ross: The picking up of trash from public trash bins is under contract with the city.
(Yes) The pickup of recycling materials from private businesses is contracted between the
private businesses and PASCO, not between the city and PASCO.
Ms. Warheit: That’s correct. The private businesses have their own arrangements with PASCO.
Chairman Ross: The city does not presently have an agreement with PASCO for any of the areas
where trash is picked up to also pick up recycling materials. (Right) So that really gets to what
you are talking about here about needing to require the owners of the businesses, under an
encroachment permit, to have the recycling done, even though that can may be sitting right next
to a trash can that PASCO is picking up for trash, since the city has no way to compel PASCO to
pick it up for recycling. (That’s right) Then it needs to fall back to the business owner. (Yes)
This is not in our jurisdiction, but if the recycling truck is driving down the street, can’t the
contract with PASCO be amended to have PASCO pick up public recycling cans as they do with
the trash cans? I know it is a different truck and a different schedule.
Ms. Warheit: Yes, the city has thought a lot about this and has done lots of investigating. It is a
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very active issue in the public works operations department. It is not that nobody ever thought
about it. There is strong support for recycling and lots of reasons why it would be in the city’s
interest to be reducing the amount of trash that goes to the land fill, etc. What I was told as the
reason for not doing that yet is that recycling containers in public places, such as out on the
streets, are so heavily contaminated with inappropriate materials that it tips the balance right now
against doing it. Currently, the ones at City Hall are sometimes unusable as recycling, and the
recycling cans end up becoming trash because they are so contaminated with inappropriate
materials. So that is the reason. It is not a lack of commitment to recycling. Maybe the cans
will improve that situation. If we put these types of cans on the street that by their design,
encourage people not to put other things in there, and they are right beside the trash can and are a
different color top, we shall see. It will be a good experiment. If they remain relatively clear of
contaminated materials, maybe it will be an impetus to expand the program.
Chairman Ross: How would it be any different if it is a private arrangement? It might be in the
same location.
Ms. Warheit: Do you mean what would keep those from being contaminated? (Yes) They
probably will be. I am not talking about every property owner, but the property owners who use
the public sidewalk for seating, as for cafe tables, etc., they have an encroachment permit that has
a whole set of conditions. One of the conditions is that they are required to keep the street clean,
and they are required to have a trash can which must be emptied as many times per day as it
takes to keep them from overflowing. Many of them are emptied four or five times a day.
Mr. Peterson: Who empties those?
Ms. Warheit: The property owner is entirely responsible for the maintenance of that space which
they have the right to use, including having a trash can there and emptying it as often as
necessary. So that is an operation they are already doing. They may even find that it is in their
best interest to have two cans instead of one and have these other materials separated out. So
that is something we would have to explore with them.
Chairman Ross: I guess the theory is that a highly trained professional will be throwing stuff
away, instead of the unwashed public, so that there is better separation between recyclable
materials and trash. I guess the problem is that people walking down the street are not educated
enough or do not care to segregate their trash between trash and recycling, but somebody bussing
tables may be able to take that Calistoga bottle and put it in the recycling bin instead of the trash
bin and not throw paper trash into the recycling container.
Ms. Warheit: Yes, it is a different situation. You basically have a monitored sidewalk area.
Mr. McFall: Are we asking questions?
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Chairman Ross: Yes, we are filling in time awaiting the consultants.
Mr. McFall: Regarding the newspaper racks, was there discussion at the Planning Commission
meeting about color?
Ms. Warheit: To the extent that it was mentioned, they were supportive of letting each vendor
have their own signature color.
Mr. McFall: On all sides of their box?
Ms. Warheit: Yes. The vendor is going to be providing the box. The ordinance will require the
vendors to provide their own boxes, but the standard is given in the ordinance so that they will all
be the same type and will fit together.
Mr. McFall: Standard meaning the size, as well?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, the specification as well. There are two or three manufacturers mentioned in
the ordinance, and their specific products are all known to be interchangeable. They are not
required to go to one manufacturer, and they have a choice, but you know it is going to be the
same box. The ordinance will require them to keep them in good condition and will not allow
logo stickers, etc. The city has the right to remove it if it is not kept in good condition.
Mr. McFall: So there would be no signage on the box itself?.
Ms. Warheit: Yes, I believe that is the way the ordinance currently reads, but the ordinance is
still in draft. I know the intent all along has been that the only thing allowed on it will be the
name of the publication, not any advertising for someone who is advertising in the paper, that
sort of thing. For example, the Mercury News can put on there that it is the Mercury News.
Mr. McFall: On any side of the box?
Ms. Warheit: No, I believe it will be only on the front.
Mr. McFall: So we need discussion about signage and logos and rising suns, those kinds of
things.
Ms. Warheit: Are you referring to the rising sun on the sign logo? (Yes) One person said it did
not bother him as much as it seems to have bothered some others, but it was not something that
was actively discussed, one way or the other. Jim Gilliland is reminding me that they also added
some suggestions about the signage. They wanted signage that showed where City Hall is
located and also the locations of any public restrooms that we may have, also bus stops. They
added other directional things.
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Mr. Alfonso: I believe one of the commissioners stated that some of the specific issues of the
design was something where she was looking to the ARB for comments, particularly the rising
sun or setting sun.
Mr. Peterson: Is this document that we got in our packets the same one as the one we previously
received?
Ms. Warheit: It has some corrections where there were errors, mostly in the map, places where
the map essentially was not finished. Now, it is complete and matches the text, etc. Recycling
was added along with the trash cans. A drinking fountain was added, that sort of thing. So this
report consists of either corrections and completions or minor changes in response to your
comments, which Diane will cover today.
Mr. Peterson: Does this go from us directly to the council? (Yes)
Ms. Warheit: Yes, that is the next step.
Mr. Peterson: What kind of controls are there when the newspaper racks become unused, when
the vendors stop. Does the city remove the box? My concern is that there not be a bunch of
empty boxes out there.
Ms. Warheit: The ordinance will specify how that is to be handled. I am almost certain that it
will say that the vendor is responsible. If the vendor does not do it, the city can remove
abandoned boxes. I doubt that we will have empty boxes. We have so much demand for the
spaces that if one becomes empty, the city will have a waiting list of people who want the box.
Mr. Peterson: How does the city know when someone stops using their box, say one of those
free publication types? I notice that in front of the post office, where there are so many, and
oftentimes, they appear to be unused.
Ms. Warheit: One of the commissioners asked about that last night. Jim Gilliland referred to a
count we had made in July of 1996. It indicated that at that time, we had noted that some of
them appear to be empty, and then you realize that tomorrow morning, they won’t be empty. For
others, you could clearly tell that they had not been used for a long time. He felt that it was
about 5% of the boxes that were truly deserted.
Mr. Peterson: Then either they or the city would remove those?
Ms. Warheit: Yes. All of that will be handled in the ordinance. Whereas the master plan deals
with the physical items of location and what they look like, the ordinance will say who is
responsible for what. A basic principle in the ordinance is that the city will now have the right to
control those boxes and what is happening out there. If they are not kept up to the standards
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outlined, they can be removed.
Mr. Peterson: Is the ordinance general enough to cover the entire city?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, the ordinance does cover the entire city, but downtown is treated separately.
The ordinance will specify that in the downtown or in any area where a specific treatment is in
place, that is what must be followed. Right now, dowhtown is the only place where we have
such a separate plan.
Mr. Peterson: Is there any danger that just outside of this area, mavericks will appear on comers?
Ms. Warheit: That is a very interesting point.
Mr. Peterson: I was thinking that it should be marked so that it would not be attractive to put an
extra one on the comer of Webster or Middlefield.
Mr. Harrington: The ordinance defines the geographic area, so it is likely that the favorable sites
will be within that geographical area. Beyond that, you would be allowed to use the regular
boxes, but they will be a considerable distance away from the main core area.
Ms. Warheit: I know that in this plan, we have the core area identified. Someplace in here it
also says that these furnishings may be used in nearby, adjacent areas, like the next block down
on Emerson, etc. It may be that when we write the ordinance, we will want to outline the
downtown newspaper area as being a little bigger than the project study area.
Chairman Ross: Any further questions for staff?. The consultants are now here. We are ready
for the presentation. It is indicated as a minor item, meaning only a five-minute presentation, but
if more time is required, I am sure we will have lots of questions.
Ms. Warheit: Diane Ochee is here from Wallace, Roberts and Todd. She was here last night
meeting with the Public Art Commission. So I believe she will tell us how they are getting along
in terms of finding a metal artist and tile artist. She is also going to talk about changes that she
has made in response to your last review.
Ms. Ochee: I apologize for being late. First, I would like to update you on our progress with the
Public Art Commission. We met with them informally last night, and reviewed some of the
portfolios of the metal artists we have been talking to. There were six people we talked to. Not
all of them have portfolios. They do not tend to photograph their work, but we did talk to them
about their various blacksmiths and metal artists who work in various styles. They have different
sizes of shops and different capabilities in terms of what they can fabricate. With the Arts
Commission, we narrowed it down to three that we felt were probably good matches in terms of
the ranges of styles that they could work in and their capabilities in terms of working within a
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budget, as well as actually producing the quantity of work that we need.
The arts commission wants to invite those people to come back to them on May 28th to make a
presentation and offer some preliminary ideas, schematic ideas as to what the metal work could
look like. So I need to call them today and make sure that they can make that meeting.
In terms of our responding to your questions fi’om the,last meeting, here is a short summary of
some of the responses that we have made to your comments that we heard at the last meeting.
We do not have an actual response to all of the comments. There were some comments made in
reference to the alleys, and some of them were more general aspects of the project that I think are
already addressed in the document. Others will be addressed in future phases of the construction.
As to the first phase, first we talked about signage. There was a feeling that the logo on the
signage may be superfluous, so we do have a mockup of the sign system without a logo. There
could still be something such as the city symbol on this particular parking lot sign. These just
show you what they look like plain. We have brought them here for your review to compare the
two.
There was a major concern about providing recycling on the street. The city does not now pick
up recyclables. They have concerns about scavenging, etc., but for this project, we are assuming
that that will be instituted, and to support that effort, we will provide recycling cans. What we
are going to do is to go to a taller model trash can than the one we had previously shown, pairing
it with a shorter, slightly smaller capacity trash can. They can nest together somewhat at the
major intersection locations, and elsewhere as needed. These cans come with stock wording on
them, or you can put a custom recycling sign on it.
There was a concern about the benches. The metal benches are still outside. There is a feeling
that they might be too cold in the shade, too warm in the sun. We were asked to look at some
alternatives for wooden benches. We are showing three possibilities here. We looked at a
number of models that are a combination of cast iron and wood which, I think, tends to look a
little Victorian and parklike in nature. If you envision this with the wall, the tile and the metal
work on top of that, we just want to avoid creating too many different things going on there. I
believe that was one of the concerns you voiced at the last meeting. So there are two options
here. One is the basic cast iron with wood. This is sort of an abstracted, modernized version of
the Victorian bench. This one is interesting in that it is just a cast iron base with the slats sitting
on top of it. It is also sort of a park bench, and is quite simple and understated. The
disadvantage of this one is that it does not really come with a good arm rest. The arm rest ends
up being screwed into the wood, which is not a good situation. So there is that disadvantage.
Then there is the Plantation teak bench which is very nice, very solid, and weathers beautifully to
a silvery gray color. It has been proven to hold up in urban situations. So those are the
possibilities. We are open to your comments on those. We tend to feel that the teak bench might
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be a good solution.
There was another concern expressed about providing drinking fountains. We have proposed
drinking fountains in Cogswell Plaza, Lytton Plaza and City Hall Plaza. It would be a model
similar to this one, maybe not quite as omate. We don’t need to have the gold bands. And there
is a handicap fountain in cast iron. That completes m), presentation.
Chairman Ross: You have managed to do it in the five minutes. Now we will have questions.
Ms. Piha: Has anything changed in the tile work that you show?
Ms. Ochee: The broken tile? (Yes) As we costed this out further, I think we are leaning more
and more toward not doing the broken tile, simply because it allows us to get a better quality,
custom tile. We feel that we are more assured of getting a quality product as opposed to the
broken tile, which is so dependent upon a really good person installing it. It can look bad.
Ms. Piha: So what is it that you are now proposing?
Ms. Warheit: The tile work and the metal work are still not finalized. The artists who are finally
selected will develop a design for it. So these things that are shown are all purely illustrative.
Ms. Piha: Regarding the trash recycling issue, you are proposing one can next to a trash can.
Currently, the city recycles three different types of containers, newspaper, plastic and glass, and
cans. I don’t see how your solution addresses the three different types of containers.
Ms.Ochi: What we are looking at is glass and cans.
Ms.Piha: In one container?
Ms.Ochi: Right, in a split container.
Ms. Piha: I can wait and discuss it in my comments. Is the receptacle that you are proposing
adjacent to the trash a two-part container?
Ms.Ochi: It can be a two-part container, or it can be a one-part container.
Ms.Piha: Are the two parts top and bottom?
Ms.Ochi: No, side by side, two holes, two containers.
Ms. Piha: Also, could you talk about your overall concept for these improvements? You have
talked about individual elements, but could you go back to how these individual elements relate
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to the total concept. That was a strong concern for this board, and it is not even addressed here.
That is, how the individual elements relate to the total concept.
Ms. Ochi: You mean the overall theme of all the furnishings, etc. To go back to the very
beginning, we proposed that we should introduce elements with color and with handcraft on the
street. We had this discussion with the Public Art Commission a little bit last night. We looked
at what are the most visible places, where are the places where we can make those things really
visible and make an obvious difference. I think the bunker walls at the key intersections are very
visible parts of the downtown and are the places that are used by pedestrians on the street. So we
wanted to increase the usability of the sidewalk space and improve the aesthetic experience, the
quality of the environment, the things that you touch and see on the street. So we concentrated
our efforts on the bunker walls and on introducing handcrafted elements in those areas.
In the other areas where you have concerns, the trash cans, the furnishings, the tree grates, we
said that these are necessary, utilitarian items. They are furniture. They are not art. They are
elements which the city buys, has on hand, replaces and puts them all around. So there is a
family of street furnishings that relate to each other, and they relate to each other in that we went
with metal because it is light and strong and can be fairly thin. That was the rationale behind the
benches that you see outside. We are minimizing the mass of the furniture and the other
elements that are sitting on the street to increase the amount of space. That is why we are taking
all of the news boxes off their little stands and grouping them together, putting them on a little
shelf that is off to the side, increasing the usability of the space that they occupy now. That is the
other reason why we are moving things off of the sidewalk space and using the D-planters as
areas for seating.
So there is the idea of lightness, thin members, and there is the idea that metal can be formed.
What we are looking for in the art work is metal that is formed and shows the method by which it
was fabricated. You can see how it was made and how the person worked on it and changed it.
That goes for the tile, as well.
Ms. Piha: How does the signage relate to the concept?
Ms. Ochi: The signage is furniture also. The signage is a consistent element throughout the
downtown. Part of the problem with the signage in the do.wntown now is that there is so much of
it. There are millions of signs. Everyone feels like they have to have a sign to park, to find
places along the street. Given that the city will have these signs and will be placing them, we
wanted them not to be something that jumps out at you, but something that clearly directs you to
where you are going.
Ms. Piha: and the material of the signage?
Ms. Ochi: They are metal. They are ordinary signs.
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Ms. Piha: Painted?
Ms. Ochi: Yes.
Ms. Piha: Do you want to respond to the public restroom issue?
brought up as an issue. It there any particular design?
Ms. Ochi: No.
Before you arrived, that was
Ms. Warheit: The locations are on the map, and what the Planning Commission said in saying
that they wanted them in this first phase was that they wanted them located at the plazas, one or
more at the plazas. Absolutely nothing else has been decided about what they might be like.
Mr. Peterson: So this first phase includes sidewalk widening, as proposed? (Yes) For us to give
approval, we would need to make a recommendation with or without the logo. Is that correct?
(Yes) And the same for the benches? We would need to recommend on them?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, in this staff report that you have before you, there are recommendations at the
beginning. At the end, it has a list of conditions, about 15, which are some of the standard
conditions from other departments. One of them says that any changes are to go back to the
ARB, and that the Public Art Commission will review the art, those kinds of things. If there are
other specific things that are not quite resolved, like the benches, or where there is an option, like
the signage, the appropriate thing to do would be to make that a condition of approval.
Mr. Peterson: One of the issues I raised the last time was the issue of crosswalks and signage for
the alley system. I do not see that in here.
Ms. Warheit: I met with the transportation people about the crosswalks. That came up at the
commission meeting last night, as well. There are two issues. One is, should the crosswalks be
marked as you go from one alley to the next in mid block? The other is whether it is legal, or are
you going to get a $65 ticket? The answer to the latter is no, you are not going to get a ticket.
Ken Schreiber stated last night at the meeting that the municipal code specifically states that if
you are crossing the street at mid-block to go from one alley to another, you are not J-walking.
The police department definitely has that as part of the way they operate. They do not consider
that to be J-walking, and people are not ticketed for doing that. However, the transportation
department has a whole file of research articles done on accidents at marked crosswalks. There
are some differences from one study to the next, and of course, it depends on the circumstances
and the setting, etc., but there is some indication that more people are hit at crosswalks that are
marked than at crosswalks that are not. So crossing mid-block may be one of the safer places for
you to cross. The big difference is whether that marked place also has a light. If it has a light,
then of course, it is safer. Having a crosswalk and no light is one of the more unsafe situations.
The crosswalk gives the pedestrian a false feeling of security. They think the zone is theirs, and
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they step out without looking. So the transportation department has no problem at all with
encouraging the use of the alleys and signing the alleys and putting in bulbouts, but they do not
want to draw white lines across the street if we do not already have them. Where we do have
them, they are not proposing to take them away, but they do not want to start increasing the
number of places where we have lines on the street, giving people this false sense of security and
possibly leading to accidents.
Mr. Peterson: When you come out of the alley facing the Civic Center, I have always been very
reluctant to cut across there, especially since it is likely that the police will be there.
Ms.’Warheit: Well, you do not have to worry about the police, but you should be very careful
about the cars.
Mr. Peterson: So that would be acceptable. That is not common knowledge.
Mr. McFall: That is not an alley to an alley there.
Ms. Warheit: But it is an alley to a plaza. The municipal code includes crossing from alleys. I
don’t know if it says "alley to alley." So I think you are safe.
Mr. McFall: Try it, Bob.
Mr. Peterson: Related to that obviously is signage. Is this proposal going to have any signage of
the alleys?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, signage of alley names.
Ms. Ochi: Yes, the horizontal oval shown for Centennial Walk is the alley sign. That could be
placed on building faces that are visible from the sidewalk at the alley entrances. Or in those few
cases where the buildings are set back, they could be on a pole.
Mr. McFall: Regarding the signage, are those painted metal signs? (Yes) Is there any kind of
depth or depression on them, or are they flat signs?
Ms. Ochi: They are flat signs like the signs that are there now. They are very simple signs.
Mr. McFall: So they are metal signs, but not stamped metal. They are metal with paint. (Yes)
How did you come up with this color?
Ms. Ochi: There are actually two different colors there. There is a slight difference between the
alley sign, which is a little bit redder tone, and the other signs which are more of a redwood tone.
We felt that there were a lot of greens in the downtown. I think the tile colors we are moving
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towards are sort of blues and greens. The gray and white signs that are out there now are really
hard to see. At that level, we needed something that would contrast with the tree canopies, as
well as the building faces. Therefore, we wanted a warmer color, but not too bright. We looked
at blue, and we looked at green. As we walked around downtown, we saw a wall that was a
redwood color, and we felt that it was a really nice color to have elsewhere downtown. It is
readable as a color. It may, in fact, go a little bit redder than what is shown here. It is an
organic, warm color based on trees and wood.
Mr. McFall: Some of the current parking lot signs are wooden signs. They are just a brown sign
with routed-out white letters.
Ms. Ochi: No, they are painted signs.
Mr. Harrington: The original signs were routed wood. When we went to the color zoning, we
went along with the ones that you now see, which are metal over wood.
Mr. McFall: Regarding the different benches that you have, are there significant cost differences
among the options?
Ms. Ochi: The teak bench is more expensive. The wood and cast iron benches are probably
comparable, maybe a little less than the metal benches outside. It is not a huge difference.
Mr. McFall: So if we say we like teak, we are not going to spend the entire budget for the first
phase on benches.
Ms. Ochi: Right. You are not doubling the cost.
Mr. McFall: And you said an option might be on the signage to eliminate the sun and tree? It is
hard to see from here, but it looks like some of those don’t include the logo.
Ms. Ochi: Right. We heard at the last meeting that the board felt we should look at a version of
these signs without the logo and that maybe the logo was not saying anything about Palo Alto or
that it was not the right logo, so could the signs just be without them. Thus we chose the version
without the logo.
Mr. McFall: Regarding the low screen panels primarily at comers where the newspaper racks
are, the diagrams indicate a stamped or perforated pattern. Is it the intent to go with that?
Ms. Ochi: Part of the reason for that was that we wanted to express something about the contrast
between the traditional element in the city, plus the underlying high tech, very modem element,
as well, that is not always seen. We wanted to use a variety of materials that expressed that.
When we select the metal artist, we may change that. It is also a budgetary item. If we take the
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entire cost of that railing and give that figure as a budget item to the metal artist, it may be that
we can do something over the entire height of the railing that is all one piece, basically extending
the art piece all the way down.
Mr. McFall: You had a sample last time of a full height rail that was kind of an organic, wrought
iron design. Why did you not have that here? Was that the second option you just mentioned?
Ms. Ochi: Yes. It was an example of metal work of one of the artists that we talked about at the
art commission last night. It was an example of a possibility. It was an example of the
transparency that we would like to achieve in those panels.
Chairman Ross: I have some questions for Jim Harrington. Regarding Conditions 12-15, which
are standard conditions of approval from public works, how is that work going to be
accomplished? It does not strike me that there is going to be a building permit required for this
work, since it is not really in the jurisdiction of the building department. Is the city going to be
performing this work itself?. Will it hire private contractors, and if so, are these conditions really
directed toward those private contractors?
Mr. Harrington: Yes, it is. By and large, for example, there is a requirement for logistics plans.
We will build that into the spec package so that at the end of the day, you will have the
equivalent of what we would have asked a private party to do. The intent is to minimize the
impact on the streets. With respect to permits, we are obviously exempted from getting a permit,
but in a sense, we will go through the same process ourselves. As you know, we go through the
ARB for planning applications. We would go though a run ourselves and critique ourselves,
imposing conditions through the contract itself. Enforcement will be done in the field by our
inspectors. To answer your question about how it would be done, it would be done by contract.
There would be a bidding environment.
Mr. McFall: Did you say you are exempted from getting a building permit?
Mr. Harrington: We will have a street work permit and an encroachmeflt permit, since we would
be issuing them to ourselves. Under the code, we are exempt.
Chairman Ross: So it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the building department. That
indicates that even if it were a private contractor, since it is not a part of a structure.
Mr. Harrington: That is correct. Under the code, it is administered by the director of public
works.
Chairman Ross: So essentially, construction and a logistic plan will be built into the RFP for
people to respond to, or at least, a requirement for one, as.far as the phasing of the work is
concerned.
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Mr. Harrington: That is correct. It will be a requirement of the spec. We will outline the
requirements which will speak to truck routes, noise and that kind of thing, hours of work. They
will be recited in the specs, and then as we select the contractor, we would then have pre-
construction meetings and construction meetings again to enforce those requirements. We would
have them submit the requirements that we would need.
Chairman Ross: I am curious as to whether the street’furnishings and the newspaper racks, etc.,
have any applicable ADA standards that have been considered or need to be considered?
Ms. Ochi: We did consider that during the design, and we have taken care of one particular
concern. That is that with the cantilevered racks, when you have two racks placed at a regular
height without the legs, it is a hazard, and you would need a warning strip on the pavement. So
that is why we are placing those two-rack-only structures on the D-planters. The curb and the
gutter serve as a warning, so no one would be going down the street and running into them. All
of the other racks placed on the street are four high, and the bottom rack would be low enough to
serve as a warning. There are ADA newspaper racks. The doors open to the side on those, as
opposed to opening down. If they opened down, it would be hard to reach over the door to get
the newspaper. Most of them are now made that way, with the doors opening sideways.
Chairman Ross: That would be the responsibility of the newspaper vendor, I would assume, as
long as the design that they are required to meet would accommodate that.
Ms.Ochi: Yes, the structures comply with all ADA standards.
Mr.McFall: What about drinking fountains?
Ms.Ochi: This is a handicap drinking fountain that complies with ADA requirements.
Mr. McFall: There is also a requirement that you have a high and low access for people who
cannot bend over.
Ms. Ochi: The catalog type is a single bowl, but there is also a double bowl model that is high
and low for the wheel chair accommodation.
Ms. Warheit: You were asking about the ADA requirements. I recall from earlier in the process
when we were looking for different places to put newspapers that we ended up with this option,
only two high at exactly the height being proposed for ADA reasons. There was some
consideration of a kiosk in which they might be stacked three or four high, but you cannot do that
because a handicapped person could not reach the top one. So the height of these particular two
is set where it is because of handicap accessibility.
I also heard Diane talking about needing to write into the parameters for the artists that the
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openings in the metalwork not be too large and not too small so that hands and heads will not get
caught in them.
Mr. Harrington: They are a component of the design standards. It is a matter of public safety,
among other things.
Mr. Alfonso: I have a question that relates to the directions that will be given to the tile artist.
Having given us some information that you are leaning away from the broken tile, what
directions are you giving the tile artist in terms of the freedom he is going to have to interpret one
way or another? To what extent are these directions going to go?
Ms. Ochi: With the broken tile, we were trying to achieve a sense of handcraft, that someone had
laid them. So with the tile artist that we are thinking of working with now, we are directing that
the design show some element of handwork in it.
Mr. Alfonso: So you are not telling them, don’t do broken tile.
Ms. Octiee: No, but we would rather have a nice, handmade tile than a manufactured tile that is
broken and set in place by a person for the same price. We are directing him to have in the tile
some variegation in glazing, colors, etc. One of the things we wanted to do with the broken tile
is to have little, gem-like bits of color that were set into the broken tile, little fragments of this
and that. In the glazing of the tile, we are still going to try and achieve that with splashes of
different colors. We were concerned with the broken tile that we would try to turn the edges
around so that nothing would be sticking out and get broken at the comers. We are looking at
some comer pieces being made with a ball cap. So the same parameters apply. It is just that we
are going with making a tile as opposed to laying it.
Chairman Ross: I have a question regarding what and how the elements will return for review.
Will it be to the Historic Resources Board or to us? Will everything come back to us, even if it
goes through the Public Art Commission and the Historic Resources Board? Would it all come
back to us?
Ms. Warheit: That is for you to decide. The Public Art Commission will definitely be taking the
lead in working with the artist and agreeing on a final design before the city enters into a contract
with an artist. So they will be taking the lead on the actual design and composition and the
execution of the work on the walls. If the ARB wants to defer to them, fine. You mentioned at
the last meeting that typically, with a piece of art, you defer to the Public Art Commission.
However, I understand that, given the scope of this and its being in the public realm, you may
want to have some continuing involvement. What I would suggest is that you consider
appointing one or two of your members to work with the Public Art Commission instead of
having to bring the whole package back before this review board as this evolves, instead
delegating one or two of your members to represent you with the Public Art Commission.
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Chairman Ross: I thought we had discussed that already.
Ms. Warheit: But you did not take any action, so you might want to resolve that today. In terms
of other things, nothing else would return except anything that is not finally resolved today, like
the benches. In fact, as I look at this, putting aside the walls, everything else could be resolved
today you could say, we want the sign with or without the logo, and we want the metal bench
outside, or we do not, we want a wooden bench, one Of these shown on the board or some other
one, and we want to see the bench before you order 150 of them.
Chairman Ross.: I will now open the public hearing.
Shirley Wilson: As you all know, I have had a long history with the downtown. It is really
exciting to see this being thought about in such a thoughtful way. I would just like to make some
specific responses to some things I am seeing this morning. I have a concern about the
newspaper racks and the colors involved. I do not understand how those racks will be
administered. I think we have to ask ourselves the question, how will they be administered?
Who gets which box? Who decides if they are going to be painted? Who is going to paint it?
The problem with boxes of different colors and different newspapers is, who is going to be
responsible to go back when they are chipped and dinged and keyed, all of the things that
happen. How do you keep them looking nice and neat?
I like the sepia color of the signs rather than the redder tone. I hope we would not have red signs
downtown. I can remember some experiences with signage when things in this room looked
earthy, and the actual sign looked very red out on the street. We were unhappy and tried to get
adjustments made. So those colors need to be viewed out in the daylight to see what they really
look like.
I like the teak benches if we can afford them. I find this a very ambitious project for $750,000. I
don’t know how that is possible. Maybe it is not going to be done for that amount.
Mr. Peterson: That is somebody else’s problem.
Ms. Wilson: Yes, it is. There is a piece of this that is dear to my heart, and I want to bring it up
for the record. Iwas told, when we initially undertook this, that the original Urban Design
Guidelines were going to be published in a meaningful way. I do not see that anywhere in this
document. Is it lost, or is it still there?
Chairman Ross: We will let Virginia respond to that later.
Ms. Wilson: I really like the nodes that are being developed, and I hope that in the future, the
entry designations are developed in the SoFA area off of Alma Street. I think that is really
important instead of its looking like a no-man’s land. That was something that was identified in
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the Urban Design Guide regarding some entrances there, especially with those one-way streets if
they remain one-way. It would be really helpful for that district to have some more identity.
I like the way the designers have talked about University Avenue being a district and not a
corridor. All of these things should be districts. I want to be careful that we do not homogenize
the downtown. There could be some changes from district to district, from Emerson Street to
University Avenue. You might want to use more than, one kind of bench. Be careful not to make
it look like a shopping mall. These benches work wonderfully at Stanford Shopping Center. I
am very supportive of this. I think it is great.
Chairman Ross: Thank you, Shirley. Virginia, do you want to respond about newspaper racks?
Ms. Warheit: Yes. All of those things that Shirley asked about in terms of the newspaper racks
in terms of deciding who gets to go where and the enforcement will be handled in the newsrack
ordinance. That will go to council at the same time that this goes to the City Council. It is only
the City Council that reviews and acts on the newsrack ordinance. That will be handled by the
city attorney’s office. It is a good point about someone having a red box and someone keying it.
One of the things that the ordinance will require is that the vendor keep the box in good
condition, and the condition will probably specify being free of damage. It is the enforcement
mechanism that will either make that.happen or not make that happen. It is a matter of the
ordinance being written in a way to take care of those things.
About the Urban Design Guide, yes, it is still alive and well and in the contract. There is money
there to produce it after this gets approved. We want to wait and see what the plan is. After
Council acts on the plan, the consultants will take the existing draft Urban Design Guide and
make any changes that are appropriate, based on what has happened. Then it will be put together
in a user-friendly package, that will be made available to the public.
Chairman Ross: Seeing no other members of the public who wish to speak, I will close the
public hearing and bring this back to the board for comments.
Mr. Alfonso: First of all, I would like to say that I congratulate you and Virginia, especially. I
had the benefit of sitting for two-and-a-half hours at the Planning Commission last night, and the
amount of information that you were able to answer was quite impressive. Also, what I have
seen before me, as well as what is in the document, is a really, really exciting proposal. So in
general, I wanted to say that first.
Regarding some of the specifics that were talked about at the Planning Commission last night, as
well as today, I do have some t.hings I want to point out. The first is something that obviously
will be taken up by the Public Art Commission. The instructions that are given to the artist
insofar as the bounds are really quite important. I feel that in order for an artist to be able to have
the latitude to express himself, which is part of what you want an artist to do, and also to do
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something that is functional and long lasting, it is very critical that those directions be carefully
thought through prior to actually having them go forth with something.
Last night, something was brought up at the Planning Commission regarding the viability of the
tile in general. Although I feel it is an appropriate solution, there was a question raised regarding
what is happening in downtown Menlo Park and that !hey tend to break. I am not sure this will
be a problem here, however, because they are raised and are not close to the pavement. Concrete
breaks anyway. So I wanted to point that out as an issue that within the guidelines of your artist,
the choosing of the tile and so forth, that there be something that is relatively durable.
With respect to the benches, I find the wood benches very comfortable, and I like them a great
deal. I would prefer them over the metal benches. But I also have to say that variety of furniture
types could be quite interesting, depending on the location. I am not so sure we need to have the
same thing everywhere. In some cases, it may be appropriate to have one type, and in other
places, another type. There was also an issue raised last night at the Planning Commission with
regard to having or not having backs to the benches in that I believe it was pointed out that some
people like to sit on the bench all day. If they are slightly uncomfortable, maybe that would
encourage not taking over the bench the whole day. So within the realm of the benches, I would
like to see perhaps an introduction of some of the other types, as well.
Regarding signage, I prefer the signage without the logo. I think the timeless quality and abstract
nature of the sign is appropriate. There is no question that people will know that they are in Palo
Alto, and I also think it is just a little clearer. With respect to the larger sign on the ground, there
is enough room there if one wanted to add a logo there, but with the smaller signs, I would like to
see them just elegant and simple, as you proposed. I, too, think the color is critical. I prefer the
less bright of the two. ! like the general hue, because it tends to recall a terra cotta feel which is
appropriate in this environment, although I would like to see what it will actually look like before
we go forth with a decision.
There is also the issue of location of toilets. I know we are not really talking about whether or
not they are going to happen right now, but with respect to location, I would recommend that
some of that be brought up with the police, as pointed out last night. I feel it is appropriate as an
issue of safety. There was a concern regarding their location in garages, etc. I would encourage
that that decision be made along with the police department.
The last thing I will talk about is really the most troublesome to me. It is this notion of needing
to have a signed gateway. I feel that when one enters this downtown area, if you need to tell
someone that they are arriving in downtown Palo Alto, they are in trouble. I think the increased
density, the increased activity, the changeover from a vehicular to a pedestrian environment, is
what is going to make that statement clear. In my opinion, it would be a successful statement.
Having the logo representing the gateway brings forth this issue of homogeneity and some sort of
corporate identity to the downtown, which I do feel is inappropriate. If anything, a vital urban
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setting should have a variety of environments, not such a cohesively identifiable "corporate park"
which is all I can think of. I find that very inappropriate, and I would like to see the funds for
gateway issues be directed elsewhere. I just don’t feel it is appropriate. In general, however, I
find the overall ideas that are being proposed to be very exciting.
Mr. McFall: I want to follow up on Frank’s last comment. Just about everything Frank said I
agree with completely, particularly the last one about the gateway markers. I find them to be
completely unnecessary, and he put it very well. I would echo those comments.
I support the commission’s comments regarding toilets. I think they are a necessity downtown,
not a luxury, and the city should make every effort to integrate those into the downtown as soon
as possible.
Regarding signage, I agree. I like no logo. It is much clearer, and very unnecessary. As Shirley
Wilson pointed out, color is crucial, and it should be looked at in daylight conditions. I would
encourage a certain richness to the color, not a muted or muddy tone. I don’t mind something
that is a little on the red side as opposed to being on the brown side. This is worthy of field
review.
I, too, like the teak benches. I think they are very nice, and I would like to see those in town.
The tile I have some concerns about. It sounds as though it is going more in the direction of
needing a tile setter as opposed to an artisan. I don’t want to lose the uniqueness that you are
intending there. So I want to emphasize that it should be kept in mind that we do not want to
lose that creativity and originality.
I have two areas of concern. One is the newspaper racks. I continue to feel strongly that there
should be a consistency in color on all sides with the possible exception of the fronts of the
boxes. As was done in Menlo Park, the ones I have observed have a consistent color throughout.
They do not stand out. They are not emphasized, which I feel is appropriate here. I don’t think
we want eight to ten different colors. You walk around town and you see them because they are
there, due in large part to the the variety of colors. I would encourage and hope that the council
considers a uniform color on most, if not all sides of the boxes.
The other area I am a little concerned about has to do with the screen walls. I am not sure of
your terminology, but on the side streets where the low walls and the boxes will occur, the
discrepancy I see between a precise, perforated or stamped panel juxtaposed with what is
intended to be a more creative, artistic, organic piece on top, and there is a’ drawing of that
condition in the master plan. To my eye, it certainly emphasizes the differences, so I am not very
comfortable with bringing these two very different approaches to finished materials, one right on
top of the other. I would hope that there perhaps be a little more consistency, which I certainly
would like to see on the artistic, unique side as opposed to a machine made approach. Other than
that, everything else I have seen I certainly support, and I look forward to its implementation.
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Mr. Peterson: This is one of the most exciting things I have seen happening in Palo Alto in a
long time. I am so excited and enthused about this going forward, and am really in support of it.
I do have a couple of things I am going to emphasize. I think that this whole issue of variety and
handcrafted character is really essential here. What you have presented, just from the variety of
the photographs and the presentation, shows me the kind of variety that I feel is highly desirable.
I would love having a difference between stamped metal and some cast metal. The whole range
seemed very attractive, so that you could have differefit pieces in different areas. There is
obviously still a consistency of design proportion, but the variety is so nice. So the way in which
you qualify those artists is going to be really crucial.
To that end, I personally would like to see all of those specific things come back to the ARB so
that I could see them, and I suspect that everybody else wants to see them, also. So even if they
go to the Historic Resources Board and the Public Art Commission, I would still like to have
them come back to us.
In some of the specifics, I like the wood bench. I also like the combination of wood and cast
iron, the single bench on the right which you said had difficulty getting arms. I could see a
mixture in some plazas with one and some of the other. The wood is so much more comfortable
to sit on in all weather conditions.
I think the fountain is terrific. That will be a great fountain. The signage without the logo is
much more preferable, from my point of view. The color is really going to be crucial. I would
rather have it brown than than red, and Jim prefers red to brown. That means it must come back
here so we can see it. We will probably be happy with the same thing, whatever the color is, so
having it come back would be very helpful.
Is the issue of maintenance of both landscaping and street furniture addressed in any specific way
in the proposal? I feel that it should be addressed in this proposal. It is a crucial element as to
how this will succeed over the years.
Ms. Piha: In the interest of not being too redundant, I really support what you have heard from
the other board members. To highlight a few things, I feel that the gateway deletion is worth
considering in terms of helping to balance the budget.
With regard to the situation with the benches, a lot of the benches are nearby your bunker areas
that are being designed by your artists, so I think a variety of bench materials and types would be
appropriate, as suggested. Maybe the artists would have some input into the selection of those
pieces so that they feel they are truly integrated with what they are trying to accomplish there.
With regard to the newspaper racks, I feel very, very strongly that they not be multi-colored. I
think you need a unified solution that will not clutter up the street anymore than it already will
be. I am intrigued by Jim’s suggestion that maybe the fronts have some color to them to give
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some identity, but that the box have some uniformity to it. Possibly, the recycling could be
incorporated with that newspaper rack. I think there is an opportunity to do that, incorporating
that kind of recycling with the newspaper stands.
I think you are almost there with your recycling containers. You have to push real hard. This is
a city project that the city has responded to, and it is really essential that we respond. We have to
deal with the situation and not make excuses for why i,t is not happening and make it work,
getting some public awareness out there that will make it work. I do think you need three
containers instead of two. You are going to need to look at that. I think you need to look at how
the city is separating those items. I know different cities do not require that type of separation, so
maybe that requirement for separation could go away and you could come up with a successful
solution. I would like to have you guys stay right on top of that and show some responsibility
and some leadership. Those are my comments.
Chairman Ross: Like everyone else here, I am very excited about and supportive of the project.
Frank articulated for me an objection that I have had to the gateway element that I have never
been able to pin down, which is the redundancy of it. Who is it really for? Is it for us to say
something about ourselves? As I understand it, this is not part of Phase One anyway, but just in
your future planning, I agree wholeheartedly with my colleagues that it is either redundant or it is
self-congratulatory. It makes me uncomfortable. It is much better to demonstrate to someone
and to ourselves that they have arrived in the downtown by having the downtown different from
other areas nearby. That is a very authentic way of giving people that experience instead of
telling them that "You should know now that you are here." Paris is different, although we are
going to be the Paris of the Peninsula with the toilets.
One item I will go over is the process issue of returning various items to us. On the art issue, I
am, in general, very comfortable with the way the Public Art Commission handles things. I think
the specs for the artists will be written well, and their evaluation of the proposals will be very
much in keeping with the profound importance of these items. After all, everybody is going to
experience these. Some members of the public might be concerned, but just based on my reading
of letters to the editor about the Sheridan Plaza art element, they think the art commission is a
little out of control, but I think the art commission can and does respond to situational concerns.
This one obviously is different from a plaza in a different part of town. Just keying offofBob’s
enthusiasm and excitement about the project and his concern for more involvement in the art
process, I would like to make a recommendation that we appoint a liaison. For me, that creates a
better link between our body and the arts commission than simply getting a shot at whatever the
art commission decides somewhere down the road. I feel that if this body is represented at the
Public Art Commission and can also report back to us as things develop, that will work better for
us than simply seeing it one more time.
Regarding the signs, I do not have a real objection to different colors for different purposes,
although unless they are right next to each other, no one will ever know that they are different
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colors. I think the different shapes is a good way to distinguish between purposes of signs, and it
is probably better for the color to be consistent. I am talking about the difference between the
Centennial Walk sign (alley signs) and another directional sign. People have mentioned terra
cotta. This color, for me, is reminiscent of the kind of color that a weathered bronze or copper
alloy can take on when it reaches this kind of reddish brown color. It is a very rich patina.
Probably bronze signs are not in the budget, but that is a color to look at when the final selection
is made to try and achieve that richness in paint. I thihk that just for everybody’s peace of mind,
we ought to see the actual paint color, once it is developed, and on the actual material, and we
should see it outdoors. We can set up a little display, and the public might be interested, as they
have been with the benches, in seeing a demonstration of the directional signs.
Regarding the benches, I like the same benches that Bob likes, the solid teak and also the teak
without arms, but with a cast metal under-carriage. I like Cheryl’s suggestion a lot and what
Shirley Wilson said about providing a bit of variety in the benches, giving the artist some leeway
in selecting from among a range of benches something that they feel fits in with their concept for
that corner and for that location. Being completely standardized everywhere does start to push us
toward a little bit too much homogeneity, I feel. The comfort issue is an interesting one. All of
us whoever eat at fast food restaurants know that you start to get a backache after about 15
minutes, and their benches are designed to make you leave. I don’t think we should do that. I
think we should have the most comfortable benches we can possibly obtain, but maybe we
should have a time limit on them as we do with the tennis courts! Or maybe a chalk smudge to
keep you from staying too long on one bench. No parking on the benches.
These benches will in some areas of town become habitats, since people are not allowed to sit on
the sidewalk anymore. There is no doubt about that in my mind. In fact, the few benches in the
downtown area now, in my experience on the weekends walking around with my family, are
usually unavailable because of long-term parkers. I don’t know if there is a solution to that.
Maybe increasing the supply of benches will help there. I am not too concerned about their
becoming an attractive nuisance so that committed bench sitters from other communities will
travel here to occupy them. Having lots of them I think will help that situation quite a bit. It will
alleviate concerns about their being occupied full time by people who are actually living on
them.
Regarding news boxes, and speaking of homogeneity and our distaste for it, I actually come
down pretty strongly on the multi-colored side of it for the very reason of wanting to avoid
homogeneity. I know we want to reduce the public hazard of these things being scattered all
over the place, but I do not find the multi-colored thing to be offensive, in fact, it may change
from time to time, depending upon who is using which boxes, and I find that to be dynamic.
However, we are not going to make actual motions here today, and I certainly would not hold up
my approval over this issue, but I personally strongly support the idea of multi-colored boxes
with vendor choices, as we might call it. As a fallback position for that, at least having faces
whose colors can vary would be good.
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On recycling, I often get confused in my mind, and I think there is great general public confusion
about who does what. We talk about the city being committed to recycling, and it is actually a
private vendor that we count on and contract for the service. Obviously, the mechanism for
making recycling work is going to be at least as dependent upon how that private vendor can
cope with some of these issues as it is with whatever the city directs to have happen. So I hope
that PASCO is being involved very deeply in this discussion. I agree with Cheryl that we should
press for as complete a recycling program as can be handled here. Other communities do it
differently in part because other cities may have other vendors. If BFI, for example, or Foothill
Disposal or fill-in-the-blank were the contractor here, it might be a different issue altogether.
They may have other means for separating out different kinds of recyclable materials. Because
of the nature of the scavenging business, we are not really in a position to mandate certain things
here. There is a certain territorial issue where vendors under contract with the city for, say,
residential collection and collection at city-owned locations also, with a high degree of collation,
tend to pick up private garbage as well. That is not mandated by law. That private collection is a
contract between the collection agency and the private entity. It is kind of an unusual situation,
and I just want to make sure that we push as hard as we can to get the kind of recycling that is as
complete as possible, and at the same time, respecting the private contract versus public contract
issues. I think that if we provide opportunities that are well signed and somehow self-sorting of
materials, along with some public education on the part of the city or PASCO’s part that the
contamination question will start to go away and people will do a better job. I think the idea of a
newspaper recycling bin next to newspaper racks is a great idea, ifPASCO can be talked into
picking them up, otherwise they will rot and fly all over.
Since the city does not actually pick up the recycling materials, the point I am trying to make is
that there needs to be a real embrace with PASCO and try to get them on board with these
programs. I am sure that there is something going on there, but we have not seen at this board
anybody from PASCO at these meetings saying, yes, we are 100% on board with this and we are
going to participate in this recycling process. That is really crucial and needs to happen. That is
more a key to the recycling issue than what type of bin we put out there.
I love these improvements, and I am really excited about seeing them come through. The last
issue is on the signs, and i also prefer the sign without the logo. The simplicity of the shape and
the color will communicate everything we need to communicate. As Frank and Jim have said, on
the larger parking lot signs, if out of civic pride, there is a need to show a logo somewhere, that is
a good place, but I feel that the informational signage is better without the logo. Those are all of
my comments. It is time to make a motion.
Ms. Warheit: There is one issue that the Planning Commission brought up as an amendment
about increasing the number of newspaper racks. I wondered if the board has any comment
about that. I am scheduled to walk downtown with the plan in hand with a representative of the
Palo Alto Daily News and the Palo Alto Weekly on Monday afternoon to look at ways to find
new locations. What we will be proposing is that we would have the same four-foot module with
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the screen and the shelf in whatever locations we find. There is plenty of room for them on some
side streets and on Lytton and Hamilton. The only reason we did not show more of those in the
plan is that we thought that since there are no boxes there now, that those were undesirable
locations. What the newspaper people are telling us is that as their spaces on University Avenue
are reduced and they cannot just put 400 of them on University Avenue, then those other areas
become much more attractive. So I wanted to make sure that the board realizes what the
Planning Commission’s action was that staff would w~)rk with the newspaper people and decide
what we could reasonably accommodate without interfering with other goals, and what the
attorney’s office might find as a reasonable number to provide. Those would then go in. I
wanted you to know that there might be some going in that do not show on the plan right now.
Mr. Peterson: On University Avenue, we have a whole environment which has a bench and
some landscaping and newspaper boxes. If they go in other locations and side streets, would
there be newspaper boxes Mth a screen only?
Ms. Warheit: Yes.
Mr. Peterson: There wouldn’t be any benches or landscaping?
Ms. Warheit: I believe that the master plan indicates that we will have extra benches, and this
speaks to Dave’s talking about increasing the supply. We intend to have enough benches that if
property owners on the side streets want a bench in front of their frontage, we can provide it. So
the intent is to try and get this furniture out onto the side streets. In a way, the newspaper
vendors wanting more newspapers on the side streets furthers that goal. It would be exactly the
same furniture. It would be the same framework with the same panels on it, probably in just
four-foot modules with four boxes. That is what I am anticipating we will find there.
Mr. Peterson: My own feeling is that having screened newspaper boxes scattered around is kind
of cluttered looking, whereas if they are in an environment that has a bench and perhaps some
landscaping, it would fee! integrated and I would have no problem with it. But if I start seeing
these mushrooms sprouting up on side streets, I feel that would look cluttered.
Mr. McFall: I agree. I would be a little concerned. In looking at the plans we have now, there
are quite a few locations for newspaper racks. Obviously, the are going to be pulled together, but
there are still a lot of newspaper boxes. I would not want to see them suddenly appearing on lots
of side streets, as we are then back to where we were. So I am concerned if they keep expanding.
Mr. Alfonso: I would propose that perhaps once we have established the new locations and!or
the extra benches that you are considering, that it come back to the board to review these
locations and/or to review the viability of groupings of benches and landscaping. It seems to me
that there is not a typical arrangement that would be applicable in each location, so it should
perhaps come back to the board, once it is established. I understand that it has not been
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determined yet.
Ms. Warheit: That is correct.
Mr. McFall: I could count about 28 locations from these drawings. It seems like quite a few.
Ms. Warheit: There are 132 boxes on that plan, not counting the ones at the SP depot.
Mr. Peterson: Obviously, this is an opportunity for the design team to address this issue.
Ms. Ochi: There is still the issue of the bumpouts at the alleys, and at this point, we are showing
a very minimal bumpout, because we are trying to avoid.losing parking spaces. I suppose that if
there is a collection of things that could go at those locations, like newspaper boxes, a sign, a
light, a bench, landscaping, perhaps there is then some justification for losing a parking space. I
don’t know where that tradeoff gets made.
Mr. Alfonso: I can add something to that that is appropriate. One of the things that came out at
the Planning Commission last night had to do with the issue of prioritizing pedestrian
accessibility and environment relative to the number of parking spaces. I believe it was
Commissioner Byrd who mentioned that he would prioritize having wider sidewalks, and his
second priority was to provide some adequate spaces for loading zones, and the third was to
actually have a parking space. So there is a certain precedent. My interpretation of last night’s
meeting, and certainly my personal view, would be to give precedence to the pedestrian
environment, not to the vehicle, in these circumstances, if it came down to having to give up a
parking space more than these other things.
Chairman Ross: On the question of the quantity of racks, Virginia, my sense is that on the side
streets, the best place for them is at intersections or near intersections in situations that would not
be identical to but would kind of mimic in layout the way they are being handled on University
Avenue. I think of the mid-block areas as potentially more clutteredwith boxes, even if they are
put into a bumpout. I start to feel that the bumpout is there to serve the purpose of the box, and
that is not really a good design solution. It is not very aesthetic. The mid-block areas will start
to look cluttered if there are newspaper boxes scattered along them. Maybe the best thing to do
is to pull them closer to the intersections on the side streets with, say, at least slightly grouping
them. If you could come up with a distribution where you would have very few mid-block, and
find them more concentrated near intersections, all that means is that someone is going to have to
walk a few extra steps to get a newspaper. I don’t think it limits their availability. My sense
about the Daily News, one of the vendors you mentioned earlier, is that since the initial survey
was done, they have added nearly 200 news boxes on the streets. Now that is because we
suddenly have a successful daily newspaper and also the timing when they were initially
counted. They were previously more concentrated in distribution on store counters and inside
doors, etc. Now they have invested in racks and boxes, so we are seeing a whole bunch more of
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them. They probably going to want lots and lots of them, five at every intersection. I would not
want to see the number that we have out there doubled, but on the other hand, having some
flexibility so that there is a plan in mind if for some reason, newspapers become less popular and
there are fewer of them, and they are again concentrated back toward the intersections, and if
there is more of them, that they do not proliferate at mid-block. I do not have a problem with the
range of them. I just have a problem with where they might be located.
Mr. Alfonso: I would add to this that the issue of whether it is possible to have them at
intersectionsbetween sidewalks and alleyways as opposed to being between street and sidewalk.
It seems as though the possibility of utilizing alleyways as they spill onto sidewalks is a potential
area, if there is enough room. I don’t know if there is. Maybe they could be hung off buildings
if merchants would allow that, or some other way so that there is not this kind of mass that may
be cluttering the mid-block area. Perhaps where alleyways spill onto sidewalks, which is a kind
of intersection, yet it is not both vehicular and pedestrian. It is just pedestrian.
Ms. Warheit: So that would be mid-block in the sense of being halfway between major streets,
but you are saying that instead of having them unassociated with anything at mid-block, that
maybe they could be at comers with alleys.
Mr. Alfonso: Associated with the mass of the building rather than having them be a mass of
their own.
Chairman Ross: Instead of against the curb.
Ms. Warheit: That would save the cost of the decorative panel, if it were against the building.
Chairman Ross: There are a couple of locations now where there are boxes scattered every ten or
fifteen feet all along the block face. That is the worst. No, it is the second worst. The worst is
the light pole that has 40 boxes around it. One box every ten feet along the entire block face is a
very close second. So I like Frank’s idea of mid-block locations up against the building and
concentrated at alleyway penetrations and at intersections back out where they are in the current
design.
Ms. Warheit: This is all very helpful to me, and I thank you. I am going to be out there in the
field with them, looking for some locations. This is very helpful. The comers tend to be the
places where most people congregate, and those are the places where we are trying to free up
things. So the alley locations would also draw attention to the alleys.
Chairman Ross: I am not talking about right on the point of the comer. I am talking about the
general proximity of the intersection rather than mid-block.
Mr. Alfonso: The alleys are also quite a useful means of linking things. They do spill into
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parking areas, as well, which could provide other locations for these boxes as people get out of
their cars and are walking to and from different locations. So there are these little pockets or
nodes of intersections that could be possibilities.
MOTION: Chairman Ross: We are now at the point of making a motion, so I move that we
recommend approval of the downtown urban design improvements project master plan to the
City Council, with the attached staff conditions, and along with a transcript of our comments
about these various design elements. It is a lot of reading for them, but they will then know what
we had to say about the specific issues.
Mr. Peterson: Do we want to include specific comments in the motion?
Ms. Warheit: I would like you to include approval of the master plan and this initial set of
improvements and the EIA in your motion. Also, what I thought I heard shaping up (and stop
me if any of this is not right) was that Bob Peterson will be appointed as a liaison to the Public
Art Commission to follow and report back to the board on the evolution of the design of those
corners. I agree with you that that will actually give you more meaningful participation in
shaping that than having something plopped back for you at a particular point in time.
Mr.Peterson: But it probably still ought to come back to us.
Ms.Piha: Yes, it still needs to return to the full board.
Ms.Warheit: When they have a final proposal ready?
Mr.Peterson: Is that what everyone agrees upon?
Ms.Piha: Or even a preliminary proposal.
Chairman Ross: Then maybe we need to talk about this item a bit more. The issue in my mind
is that this is going to be more of a process than just a single result. There are going to be
multiple artists. There are going to be a lot of meetings and a fairly lengthy development process
for the art component, so rather than trying to establish some kind of a schedule where we get
reports coming back to us, it is going to be a difficult enough process to manage getting it on the
ARB calendar at meaningful times. During the whole process, our liaison will be reporting back
to us as to what is happening, how things look, and maybe occasionally bringing in a sketch or
picture or two for our information. But as far as the board’s review and approval, if we are going
to take that role, would that happen at that point after the work is done but before it begins in its
usual sequence, rather than a one-time thing? My main concern is that I want this liaison process
to be the means by which the board finds the work approvable. I would hate to get to the end of
it and have the ARB say, gee, you guys have done a great job but I don’t like this application
very much, so start over, or continue it and ask the artist if they wouldn’t rather use wood instead
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of metal in this location. So not being able to figure out what our approval process might
actually cover at the end, I am hoping that the liaison process is the meaningful participation of
the board in the development of the art work.
Mr. Peterson: My only concem about that is that as a liaison, you are just that. IfI say, I don’t
think that is going in the right direction, they could say, you do not have a vote.
Chairman Ross: Maybe we can invest the liaison with the power to raise a red flag and say, I am
really concerned that the ARB is going to have a real problem with this. Would you bring in
what you have on the consent calendar at the next meeting.
Ms. Warheit: I was anticipating that he would have that very role, that he would have the right to
say, "I think this needs to go back to the ARB. I don’t feel it is going in the direction that they
would feel comfortable about approving." My sense, from what I have heard from you, is that
you generally are supportive of the approach that the artist is taking and that you have confidence
in the Public Art Commission. So putting those two things together, I would not feel that the
board would feel that they needed to see it, just as they vest the authority in the Public Art
Commission for other pieces of art. As long as you have a member, or maybe two members if
two of you feel strongly about this, who are attending these meetings and are following the
development of that and are bringing things back to the board and can, at whatever point where
you think things are going off track and are not acceptable, if you feel you cannot speak
comfortably speak for your colleagues, that it would return to the ARB. But if you feel that it is
fine and it would not need to return, the Public Art Commission would have the final say.
Mr. Peterson: I think that is a good suggestion, that we have a liaison and that designs would not
need to come back for approval unless the liaison is uncomfortable with it.
Mr. McFall: We may want to craft Condition #1 which talks about art elements. Right now, it
talks about going through the Public Art Commission. You could almost word it that all art
elements that are included in the comers shall be reviewed and approved by the Public Art
Commission, and as necessary, by the ARB prior to --
Chairman Ross: The ARB will appoint a liaison who has the authority to request the ARB
review of the work prior to approval. I am comfortable with that.
(That was agreeable with the board.)
Ms. Warheit: Then other things that I heard were that there seems to be agreement that there be
no logo on the signs. There may be a city logo on the parking lot sign, and that you want to see
the actual color back on the actual material. With benches, you prefer the teak bench, and you
also support having both the teak bench and the bench on the right, and that the decision about
using those two benches would be looked at as part of developing the comer features. The artist
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might prefer one bench over the other, and you would have more variety.
Mr. Peterson: I can see that being even more flexible. The only thing I really care about is that it
is a wood seating surface. Beyond that, it could be any number of varieties. If we are going to
have the artist involved, we could leave it more flexible.
Ms. Piha: I am agreeable with that, so that there is more flexibility than just those two pictures.
Chairman Ross: So we would say we like those two benches but are open to other wood seating,
as well.
Ms. Warheit: Okay. And I think there is agreement with Diane’s aesthetic direction, that it
would not be Victorian or historic looking, etc. On the news boxes, I think you are going to have
to take a vote. Are they going to be all one color, or are they going to be the signature color of
each distributor?
Mr. McFall: I think it would be good to document that. We can at least say that we disagree.
Ms. Warheit: This has been split down the middle with every single group that has reviewed it.
Since there are five of you, there is going to be a majority.
Mr. Alfonso: Could you go over the options? It seems to me that I have heard three different
options. One is that all of the boxes are all the same color. Another is that on each box, all six
faces are the same color, but each box is a different color. A third one is that the boxes are
primarily all one color except for the front.face a different color. Is that correct?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, I have heard all three of those options suggested. I don’t know whether
having the face a different color is standard in the industry.
Mr. Alfonso: Maybe the doors could be one color and the box a different color. It seems to me
that those are the three options I have heard.
Mr. Peterson: I am in favor of all three of the!!
Chairman Ross: Let me articulate a couple of items of my own. One is that on most of the
boxes, you will not see six faces. In some cases, you will only see the top and perhaps the back
if the screen is transparent, and of course, the face is seen. Also, it is quite possible, in my way
of thinking how we should condition this, which is vendor choice, it is possible that you will
only get two different colors out of six boxes on a given site, or maybe three. You might get two
identical or similar color boxes right next to each other. You might get a horrible clash. You
might get a lime green next to a brownish-purple, and it is going to look just awful in terms of
color coordination. But it is my position that that whole range of possibilities should be there
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and that it might be that at one intersection, it is pretty cohesive and homogenous looking and at
another one, it might be a riot, a very small riot of something happening that is colorful and also
may change over time with different vendors going into different locations. I do understand your
concerns about this being a disruptive and confusing clash factor of having all of these different
colors there, but I rather like the idea of this random thing happening there that we actually do
not control. We control a lot of things, and that is one,place where I am ready to say, I don’t
need to control that.
Mr. Alfonso: Is there a color palette of these possibilities that has been selected? Also another
question. Will the screen that goes along the back of these boxes be such that it would somehow
mitigate the variety of color as seen from across the street? (Yes) But you have not selected a
color palette.
Ms. Ochi: The metal work itself that we are looking at is sort of a dark, steel gray, meaning the
frame on the railing. What we have shown there is a very dark green for the boxes. It is a barely
discernable difference, but in the sunlight, there would be a little difference. I think it would
have to be a pretty dark, uniform color. The worst looking uniform color boxes you see are those
beige boxes.
Mr. Alfonso: Is there a palette ofpo’ssibilities that you have?
Ms. Ochi: Well, you know, that is an idea that we did put forward at one point.
Ms. Warheit: Let me clarify this. Are you saying that if the distributors are allowed to have their
signature color, what is .the palette? Is that what you mean? There would be different colors.
Mr. Alfonso: Actually, I have not thought about it that way. I was primarily thinking of it in
terms of having a range of colors from which the distributors could choose, as opposed to having
the particular vendor put their own colors in.
Ms. Warheit: One of the things that Diane looked at and found was that there are not a lot of
beautiful colors. But in theory, the newspaper box manufacturers can make them any color you
want. Finding one color that is going to look good in a composition with this as yet unknown art
metal work was very tricky. One of the things they looked at was a series of blues. It was kind
of like a mosaic, so you would have four different colors of blue that they could pick from. But
then, one of the things we realized was that we would have no way of knowing who was going to
be where. You might have a combination that looks just great, and then one box goes away, and
a new vendor comes in, and that combination does not look at all great. So because of that, that
idea was put aside. If you just leave it to the distributors, it is not just any color they what. It
would be their signature color, so they are probably not going to come in with shocking pink.
USA Today is white. The New York Times is dark blue, and the Mercury is kind of a dark blue.
The Palo Alto Daily News will be red, and one of them is a sky blue. They are those kinds of
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colors, and the box would be all one color.
Chairman Ross: As I understand it, the newspaper vendors believe that those colors are actually
visual cues for people who want to buy a particular newspaper. From their point of view, it is
less an aesthetic question than an identity question.
Ms. Warheit: Yes, they believe that very strongly, and I am very surprised that you do not have
any of them speaking to you today about this. They have spoken to other people about it. They
knew about the meeting, and I encouraged them to come if this was important to them. I thought
it would be helpful to you to hear what their reasoning was. In fact, this was one reason why the
six-member steering committee was so split on this. Some felt very strongly that as a reaction to
all of the clutter that is there now, they wanted one color. Some felt very strongly that as. a user,
it was very handy to have these different colors. If you are looking for the Palo Alto Daily News,
you can see a red box halfa block down the street. You don’t want to have to go all the way
down there and read the names on the newspapers to know what your choices are, and then arrive
there and discover that those four are not the one you are looking for, and that it was actually a
block down in the other direction. So it is both the distributor’s desire for people to recognize
their paper, and for the user, it is much more convenient. So some people were strongly in favor
of the signature color.
Chairman Ross: Those are two of the three reasons that I support the multi-color approach with
vendor choice on the color. The third one is just the sheer dynamic thing that is created with
different colors, and the changing of those colors over time, that I feel gives a little extra life to
the fixed structures of downtown that you do not get when everything is made homogeneous. I
do not object to not knowing what the colors are going to be and seeing them clash on occasion,
and seeing them change, as long as they are out of the way. The clutter issue for me is where
they are located and the things that they are chained to right now. That is really terrible. If we
can solve that problem and get them into these consistent locations, the color issue is good to
have them multi-colored for those three reasons.
Mr. McFall: Maybe in our motion, we could craft it such that X board members felt that there
would be no restriction on color, and X members felt there should be a city-selected color with
the option for vendor-selected door colors.
Mr. Alfonso: I have one other question regarding this issue. What is the designer’s opinion on
this?
Ms. Ochi: We feel pretty strongly that the different colors should be allowed, just from a
functional point of view and it is color on the street. I think there will be a big impact just from
getting all the different size of boxes, shapes of boxes, and leg supports, different chain styles,
different money collection arrangements, having all of those simplified and consistent and put in
one place. I think that will make a big difference.
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Chairman Ross: Let us take a straw vote to indicate to the council how we feel. It looks like we
have four possibilities. One is a completely homogenous color selected by staff and the designer
and approved by the board. Two, a variation of that which allows variation of the faces and
colors of the boxes for identity colors at the vendor’s discretion. Three is a palette of colors
selected by the consultant and approved by the board. The initial concept you talked about was a
range of blues. Fourth is a riot of color selected by the vendors themselves. Who knows what
process they use to decide that? Next week, the Palo Alto Daily News may decide that purple is
their signature color instead of red, and then it is up to the vendor to change it. I think what you
are saying is that a vendor should be limited to a single choice, and once they have selected red,
their boxes should be red, not some red, some purple, some yellow, some blue, but a vendor-
identified, consistent color. No zebra stripes. Solid colors. How many do we have in favor of a
completely homogenous color, including doors and faces? (None.) How many for homogenous
enclosures with differentiated doors and faces? (Two votes) How many for a designer-selected
palette of colors mandated by the city? (None) The last choice is multi-colored. (Three votes.)
So we are split.
Ms. Warheit: That is helpful. It narrows it down. The second choice is that the faces would be
different, so we can take this to council.
Mr. Alfonso: One of the reasons I asked all of these questions was because I was leaning toward
a solid color with the faces changed. The reason why I asked the designer what her viewpoint
was was that I think there is a functional aspect in that when you look across the street, you can
see the particular color. I had not thought about that previously. I was thinking in terms of
having the continuity, but I do think the metal screening will mitigate some of that, and it will
provide some homogeneity in that way. You can still see through it and be able to identify the
color. So if I was in the other area, I would now agree with the designer.
Chairman Ross: So if there is one of the less common newspapers and the vendor only has a
dozen racks, it would be helpful to be able to spot it from a distance instead of having to visit
every enclosure to find it.
Ms. Piha: The merchants want you to visit all of the enclosures.
Chairman Ross: There are probably three or four that have boxes everywhere, and then a few
start to tail off. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal probably are not going to be in
every enclosure. I think it will be very interesting. This is our biggest split. The fallback is the
homogenous enclosure with differentiated faces. What is the next step, Virginia?
Ms. Warheit: The only other one is identifying locations for newspaper racks, but that will come
back to you.
Mr. Peterson: What about the issue of a maintenance program for upkeep of landscaping, etc.?
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Ms. Warheit: I was identifying things over which we have control that are actually going to
happen, one way or another, in this plan.. In addition, you may want to send a recommendation
to the council, as the Planning Commission did, about the bathrooms being installed in this first
phase. You may want to send a recommendation that the city place a very high priority on
landscaping and recycling. Would you word those for me?
Chairman Ross: The first one would be that the city engage with PASCO in discussions about a
recycling program for the streets downtown. This is the issue I feel the most strongly about.
Ms. Piha: Could we say we want an appropriate vendor?
Chairman Ross: Well, we could, but nobody will do it. There is kind of a monopoly thing that
takes place in this industry that does not provide many options for the city.
Ms. Piha: Are you sure?
Chairman Ross: Well, ! have actually spent many years looking at this issue, because in
construction, you have the same issue. In a certain area, only a certain vendor will provide you
with a debris box for recycling services, even though theoretically, it is a free market. Within the
City of Palo Alto, for example, BFI will simply not deliver a debris box. The legal issues are too
deep to get into here, but it is an interesting situation. I do not have any trouble with stating "or
alternate vendor" but I know it is going to be PASCO. We can include the alternative vendor
wording in order to maintain the fiction that some other alternate vendor would do it, but to
develop a downtown district street side recycling program that would include providing the
appropriate containers and an education program in as many locations as possible, preferably
everywhere there is a trash can. That includes the potential for newspaper recycling at
newspaper racks. That is a recommendation, not a condition.
Also, I don’t know if this is yet an ARB issue, but I am happy to throw in as a recommendation
that there be public restrooms in locations as suggested in the discussion at the Planning
Commission, at the public plazas. Our concern is not whether one is provided or not. It is more
a land use issue, but we Want to indicate that our concern is about aesthetics in public places. We
do not object on an aesthetic basis to the provision of public restrooms, but we would certainly
like to see what is being proposed when it comes up.
Ms. Piha: What about the phasing? Do we feel strongly about that being in Phase One?
Mr. McFall: Not if it means portable toilets.
Ms. Piha: I would agree. I think the Planning Commission took a different approach, that
regardless of what they looked like, they needed to be included.
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Chairman Ross: Well, Virginia, if you think it is appropriate for us to comment on the timing of
public restrooms in public places, I am happy to support early phasing of it. I don’t know if the
council really cares what this body thinks about the timing of public toilets, but to the extent that
they do, we are unanimously in favor of its being in Phase One.
Ms. Piha: But not at the cost of the aesthetic issues.
Mr. Peterson: Exactly. Not if it is a portable toilet.
Ms. Warheit: That is helpful, because the Planning Commission was saying regardless. If the
ARB is not likely to recommend approval of portable toilets downtown, it is helpful for the
council to know that.
Mr. Alfonso: I would add that my interpretation of last night’s discussion was not necessarily
that anything be done now. I think the spirit of it was primarily to get something happening,
with the fear that it would just die out and not be phased in. There were a lot of concerns about
what it would cost. There was a fear that if they were going to be too expensive, based on the
information that they had now, it would never happen. I don’t think we have enough information
to actually say that it boils down to a question of aesthetics versus practicality. I wanted to put
that out there, as I feel that would be a fair assessment, based on what I remember from last
night. There was quite a debate regarding how do we get this in now without even knowing what
it is going to cost. That was my interpretation. And what it is going to look like.
Chairman Ross: Can we say that we recommend accelerating the provision of public restrooms
into an early phase, or as soon as possible?
Mr. Alfonso: I think that would be consistent with the Planning Commission’s discussion.
Chairman Ross: With appropriate review? I do agree with my colleagues that hiring one of the
portable sanitation companies to plunk construction or vent style portable toilets in the plazas is
not desired. (That was unanimous)
Mr. Peterson: What about the maintenance issue?
Chairman Ross: Yes, we strongly recommend that there be a maintenance program and an
annual budget for upkeep not only of the landscaping but of these physical features that are going
to be put in, such as the street furniture, so that they do not become another CIP item to be
replaced in 15 years because they are decrepit and aging. Let’s do something that is for the long
haul here, and maintain it, including repair of artist’s work. Inevitably, there is going to be some
bent metal pieces, some chipped tile, that sort of thing, and there should be provision made for
that now in the budget.
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Ms. Warheit: Maybe I can just fill you in on conversations I have had with the city manager on
the maintenance issue since your last meeting when you raised that. She confirmed for me that
without trying to specifically address how that is going to take place, it would not be
appropriately handled as a part of this particular project. However, she is very concemed about
ongoing maintenance, and the city has put a lot of attention on this in the last several years and
has made efforts to try and work with downtown merchants, but it does not seem to have come to
a solution yet. ,
When I conveyed that message back to the three members of the steering committee who were
the most concerned about this and who really wanted to see that something was done about this,
they initiated contact with the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber invited them to come and
talk with them about how the business interests downtown can take the initiative here and get
back to the city with a proposal about how those two bodies can work energetically on this now
to solve this problem. So that activity has happened since your last meeting. The Chamber
submitted a letter just yesterday saying they would be coming to the council with a proposal
when this goes to the council about how the city and the merchants can begin a cooperative effort
to see that maintenance happens. That is a little different from what you just said here, so the
recommendation that I have that you are making is that you are strongly recommending that the
council recognize that there is a need for an ongoing, annual maintenance budget for the
downtown to keep all of the downtown clean and in good repair.
Chairman Ross: Let me clarify what I mean by that. It is that I would not want the city, as a
entity, to punt on the issue of maintenance to the downtown merchants. I do not think that is
appropriate. It is in the city’s area of responsibility to maintain the physical improvements that
the city provides, particularly when they are making an investment like this, and not count on
some merchant to go out on the street comer and fix a piece of bent art work where a vandal did
something to one of the screen walls. So I want to make it very clear that at least my personal
point of view is that it is not appropriate for the city to defer, budgetwise or scopewise, the
maintenance issues of the street improvements to private merchants. I am not trying to protect
private merchants here. I am just trying to protect the investment that the city is making in these
improvements.
Mr. Peterson: I agree.
Chairman Ross: And a public/private partnership thing is great. I am very supportive of that.
But that does not mean that the city merely provides direction and someone else provides the
money. That is not the kind of public/private partnership I had in mind. Any other
recommendations that we want to make?
Chairperson Piha: What about a gateway sign?
Chairman Ross: Yes, in Phase Two --
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Ms. Piha: Is that a recommendation or a condition?
Chairman Ross: Well, it is not. before us, but we know it is out there, so let’s make it a
recommendation and say that we are unanimously in favor of deleting the gateway.
Ms. Warheit: Well, the master plan is before you, and the gateway is a concept in the master
plan. So if you want to say, don’t pursue that concept’anymore, that would be appropriate.
Ms. Piha: As a condition? (Yes)
Ms. Warheit: Actually, that is very helpful, so that as we get into the next phase, we will know
where to focus.
Chairman Ross: All those in favor? Aye. None opposed.
Ms. Ochi: Thank you very much for all of your input.
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PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Wednesday, May 14, 1997
Regular Meeting
MEETINGS ARE CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 16=
ATTACHMENT 6
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 1997.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
DRAFT EIR: During the Planning Commission’s deliberation and
decision-making for the Draft Comprehensive Plan and DEIR, staff
recommends that the Planning Commission proceed in the order of the
Decision-Making Guide, although the commission has flexibility to
discuss all aspects of the DEIR and Draft Comprehensive Plan in any
order and may make decisions on the two documents in any order.
Discussion and setting of additional dates for consideration of the Draft
Comprehensive Plan.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS MASTER PLAN:
A schematic design and feasibility study for improvements to the public
space in the University Avenue downtown area bounded by Lytton and
Hamilton Avenues, Middlefield Road and Alma Street. The proposed
improvements include new street furniture such as newspaper racks,
benches, bicycle racks, information kiosks, trash containers, street and
parking lot lights, accent lighting, and tree grates; directional signs such as
street and alley name signs and parking lot location and information signs;
art enhancements on existing bunker walls on University Avenue; sidewalk
widening at selected locations; improvements to Lytton Plaza and Cogswell
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Plaza; gateway markers; refurbishing of landscaping; paving repair; location for future public
toilets. Environmental Assessment: A negative declaration has been prepared. File Nos. 97-
HRB-60; 97-ARB-43; 97-EIA-7.
The Planning Commission met in a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 1997 at 7:00 p.m. in
the Council Chambers with Chairperson Cassel presiding.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Absent:
Commissioners Bialson, Byrd, Cassel, Ojakian, Schink and Schmidt
Commissioner Beecham
Staff Present:Debra Cauble, Senior Assistant City Attorney
James Gilliland, Assistant Planning Official
James Harrington, Public Works Department
Nancy Lytle, Chief Planning Official
Kenneth R. Schreiber, Director of Planning and Community Environment
Virginia Warheit, Senior Planner
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Vice Chair Schink: The first item on our agenda is Oral Communications. At this time, any
member of the public may speak to any item that is not on the agenda. We have one person who
wishes to speak.
Bill Kane, 832 Kipling Street. Palo Alto: Included in your packets should be some
communication that deals with an addition that we would like to make to our house at this
address. It involves the expansion of a room on the main floor to make room for our daughter to
have a bedroom. We are a bit stymied because of the downzoning in that area, making our lot a
nonconforming lot. We ale not sure how to appeal to you or what our next step ought to be to try
and get what we consider to be a very modest expansion of our living space. I don’t think it
ought to be considered a nonconforming use, even though perhaps it could be technically
interpreted to be such, according to statute. It seems to me that the Planning Commission can
consider the reasonableness of any request and make an appropriate decision. So I just wanted to
bring it to your attention. I am not sure whether we should be put on the formal agenda or if we
should go through an appeal process. I did not even know that an appeal process exists in our
situation. I am still not sure that it does, but in any case, I would like to hear what you have to
say about it.
Vice Chair Schink: Unfortunately, during oral communications, it is not the time for having a
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dialogue, or to discuss items with you and give you any direction. My advice to you is that we
have heard what you have said, staff has heard what you have said, and hopefully, someone will
be able to respond to your inquiry.
Mr. Kane: So would you redirect this matter back to staff?.
Ms. Lytle: Staff is in the process of responding to this member of the public.
Vice Chair Schink: That brings us to the next item on the agenda.
AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS
Vice Chair Schink: Does staffhave any suggestions for modifying the agenda?
Ms. Lytle: Our recommendation would be that you move the Downtown Urban Design
Improvements Master Plan forward and conduct a public hearing on that item. Then take up the
Comprehensive Plan item second.
MOTION: Commissioner Ojakian: I so move.
SECOND: By Commissioner Schmidt.
MOTION PASSES: Vice Chair Schink: Is there any further discussion on this motion? All
those in favor, say aye. All opposed? That passes on a vote of 6-0, with Commissioner
Beecham absent.
AGENDA ITEM 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 1997.
MOTION: Commissioner Ojakian: I would move approval of the minutes of April 2, with one
modification. On Page 35, in the first paragraph, the last sentence says, "They way they have to
do that right now is..." and should read "The way..." With that one typographical error, I move
approval of these minutes’.
SECOND: By Commissioner Schmidt.
(Chairperson Cassel joins the meeting.)
MOTION PASSES: Vice Chair Schink: Is there any further discussion on this motion? All
those in favor, say aye. All opposed? That passes on a vote of 4-0, with Commissioners Bialson
and Byrd abstaining due to their absence from that meeting and Commissioner Beecham absent.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
AGENDA ITEM 4.DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS MASTER
PLAN: A schematic design and feasibility study for improvements to the
public space in the University Avenue downtown area bounded by Lytton
and Hamilton Avenues, Middlefield Road and Alma Street. The proposed
improvements include new street, furniture such as newspaper racks,
benches, bicycle racks, information kiosks, trash containers, street and
parking lot lights, accent lighting, and tree grates; directional signs such as
street and alley name signs and parking lot location and information signs;
art enhancements on existing bunker walls on University Avenue; sidewalk
widening at selected locations; improvements to Lytton Plaza and Cogswell
Plaza; gateway markers; refurbishing of landscaping; paving repair; location
for future public toilets. Environmental Assessment: A negative
declaration has been prepared. File Nos. 97-HRB-60; 97-ARB-43; 97-EIA-
7.
Chairperson Cassel: Does staff have a presentation to make?
Ms. Warheit: Our consultant is meeting with the Public Art Commission tonight to work on
selecting a metal artist. So I am here with their display boards. We also received letters from the
Palo Alto Daily Neu,s and one from the Palo Alto Vgeekly, also one from the Chamber of
Commerce. Those were put at your places tonight.
The main concept of the design is to expand the concept of the downtown from just a spine along
University Avenue to a two-block-wide district. While University Avenue is recognized as the
main part of the downtown, and therefore, special features tend to be located in the four primary
intersections where the seating areas are already established on University Avenue, all of the
features that are included here are also found on the side streets and on Lytton and Hamilton
Avenues. I will begin with those four basic seating areas. Another basic principle that came out
in our workshops (we had three public workshops as this project evolved) was that we take a
conservative approach. A lot was done right in the 1970s with sycamore trees put outside the
curb line and brick paving on the comers. The spacial arrangement is all pretty nice and works
very well. It is very heavily used for informal gatherings. So there was no interest at all in
scraping everything and starting all over again. We tried to work with what was working and
generally spruce up and upgrade the quality of everything.
The brick paving is going to be left in place but repaired. Some of it is in extremely good
condition after 20 years, and some in not such good condition. So that will be repaired in kind.
The benches and the bunker walls are the features that have the least artistic merit about them or
any evidence of hand craftsmanship. This was done in the 1970s, and the whole thing has kind
of a machine quality about it, with the shoebox lights, etc. So the benches will be replaced, but
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that is probably the most unresolved issue. The designers have proposed a metal bench which is
displayed on the plaza, and they think it is very nice. Aesthetically, everyone likes it, but the
comfort of metal versus wood is something we are hearing a lot about from people who use the
benches. People have responded to the newspaper articles about it, etc. so the designers are
looking for a wood bench. It is a little harder to find a handsome one, so they are still searching
for the perfect wood bench. When they find it, we will get a sample, so we will have a real one
here before we order several hundred of them. Benches will be replaced in the same locations
and of the same dimensions as are there now. There is some rumor out there that we are going to
be eliminating benches, but that is not the case. The amount of seating on the street will be the
same or increased.
The bunker walls are going to be left in place, that is, the bottom portion of them. The top 15
inches will be cut off and the remaining part resurfaced by sandblasting and retopped with a
handcrafted tile cap on which will be handcrafted metal art work. So the entire bunker area is
being treated as a single, artistic composition. That is what is being discussed at the meeting
with the Public Art Commission tonight. They are going to select a team of two artists, a tile
artist and a metal artist, and those two, working together with the Public Art Commission’s
oversight and Wallace, Roberts and Todd, the design consultants coordinating everything, and
they will redesign those bunker walls to be completely different from what they are now.
Another feature we should touch on is the newspaper racks. That is something that has gotten a
lot of attention. The way the designers are proposing to handle news racks is to design the new
screen railing in a way that a shelf can be attached, with the news racks sitting on the shelf. So
instead of news racks having their own feet on the ground, which can collect trash, they have
designed this metal frame that will continue the same design theme that is on the top of the
bunker walls around and down the side streets. They will probably be laser-cut panels with the
same artist’s handcrafted piece on the top that is on the University Avenue comers. The news
racks will just sit on those. They can be one-high or two-high, and they can be four-wide or
eight-wide. The spaces that they occupy tend to be shared in some locations with bicycle
parking. That is the main constraint on increasing large numbers of them. Those comers are a
good place for the news boxes and also a good place for bicycle parking, so those two are sharing
space within the comer. Then both occur on side streets wherever there is at least eight feet of
clearance. That is one of our constraints on the side streets. Some areas are not even eight feet
wide, but wherever there is enough sidewalk space on the sides, bicycle racks will be installed,
and newspaper racks could be installed.
Benches will be made available for any business owner who does not object to having a bench, to
put against the building wall facing the sidewalk in an attempt to move this furnishing off of
University Avenue, around the comers and onto the side streets.
The downtown lights will be consistent. There will be three types of lights throughout the entire
downtown core area. A type of light that is on the street now (a lot on Hamilton and some on
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Ramona) is the old, traditional cast iron lights called "The Birmingham." Happily, it is still
manufactured and still in the Utilities Department’s repertoire of available lights. So the only
change to that is that they are getting a more decorative, teardrop shaped light fixture just on the
main corners of University Avenue. In other places along Hamilton and Lytton, it will have the
same cobra head light that is there now. These new lights will replace the spun aluminum poles
and the highway scale lights that are in some places downtown. The acorn lights on University
Avenue will stay, and there is a proposal to raise them, about two feet for various reasons that are
explained n the plan. The third light is one that the Utilities Department got approved through
the ARB several years and is using as their standard in downtown. It is an octoflute pole whose
shaft is similar to the Birmingham, but just does not have a fancy base. Those three types of
lights will be consistent throughout the downtown.
There is a signage program that identifies the alleys and provides direction to parking lots and
other destinations. The alleys will be named through a street naming process that the city already
has in place. The concept is to treat the alleys and the parking lots as a continuous system, trying
to make an identity that connects those two, so the signs will be a similar color throughout. The
exact design is still under review by the ARB. This will go to the ARB tomorrow for final
approval. That covers the high points, and now, I can answer your questions.
Commissioner Schink: How did you establish the priorities between bicycle racks and
newspaper racks? You made the comment that in many locations where there are newspaper
racks, there are also bicycle racks. I wondered from a policy standpoint how we reached a
conclusion that we needed as many bicycle racks as we did in those locations.
Ms. Warheit: We were advised by the Transportation Department that the number of bicycle
racks and location of racks has been very carefully worked out over a period of time. They feel
that every rack they have downtown is needed. Some places are heavily used. They have tried
to locate more of them at corners that are popular, like Noah’s Bagels, for example, where people
want to be able to see the bike while they are sitting there having their coffee. So they, together
with the Bicycle Advisory Committee, asked that we not reduce bicycle parking, and to try and
replace all bicycle parking with the same number and location of racks. So that is what we did.
With the newspaper racks, we had a base count that we did in July of 1996, counting exactly
what was on the street in terms of numbers, also whether it was a free newspaper or not, and the
name of the paper. Then we did not just pick 60% out of the air. As the designers worked on
fitting everything into these spaces, they put in as much as they felt they could include and not
overcrowd the sidewalks. It happened that it was about 60%, and the attorney’s office felt that
that was close enough to what was originally on the street. That is how we arrived at locations
for the bicycles and the benches and the newspaper racks.
In addition, let me also point out that we tried to accommodate the newspapers by assuming that
where they were located was where they wanted to be located. Wherever there were more of
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them, we put relatively more. We put hardly any on the side streets or on Lytton and Hamilton,
as there were hardly any located there. We thought they did not have a desire to be there. Since
then, I have been told that they want to be on University Avenue if at all possible, and that is
why they are all clustered there. If they are limited to how many they can have there, the side
streets and Hamilton and Lytton become much more desirable to them, and they would like to
have boxes there. That can easily be accommodated.
Commissioner Ojakian: When you say that could be easily accommodated, exactly how many
more newspaper racks could we actually put into the downtown?
Ms. Warheit: I have an appointment to walk the downtown with the plan in hand, along with
representatives from the Palo Alto Weekly and the Palo Alto Daily, on Monday afternoon. We
are going to try and answer that question. I don’t think that very much more can be added on
University Avenue, because we have tried to put as much as we could of everything there as we
went through the plan. For example, in theory, you could have two newspapers at every one of
those D-rings along the street, which is a place where, because of the D-ring being there, people
are not parking and needing to get out of the car and onto the sidewalk. But the design team and
others were in support of the notion that it would not be desirable to use all of those spaces just
for news boxes. There is planting in there now, and there is going to be some improved planting
there. It is one place that is somewhat open on the street and you are not hemmed in by parked
cars, so they felt it was a good place for benches, for example, to add more seating. We need
more trash cans, and it is one place where we can add trash cans and many of them already have
bicycle racks by them.
Commissioner Ojakian: I was going to say off of that, Virginia, just as a follow-up. I don’t
know if they necessarily have to go in those D-planter areas which were talked about in the way
that you are describing, to be used for other things like benches. One of the things we are talking
about in this plan is going from a corridor concept to a district concept, and in the process of
doing that, if the signage and some other things are right and people are diffused over an area,
where we put the news racks becomes a little bit different than where they are being placed now
in terms of people getting to them. If we do a good job, I think people will get their news racks.
So I will be interested or I think it is important that you do meet with the two newspapers and
any others to find out where you can put additional racks. It is a little hard to talk about that
tonight, because we do not have that data in front of us, but I probably will speak to it before we
are done.
Ms. Warheit: Yes, you are right. There are lots of other places out there, now that we know that
University Avenue is not the only place where they are interested in being.
Chairperson Cassel: Virginia, how many of those newspaper racks are empty? Most of the time
when I go downtown, a considerable number of them are empty.
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Ms. Warheit: I have noticed that, too, but I have to remind myself that some of them are empty
because people have taken all of the newspapers. It is a daily paper, and the next morning, they
may all be full again.
Chairperson Cassel: Is there any way of knowing this? There are a number of non-major
publications and advertisements, etc., that are called newspapers in those boxes. Is there any way
of knowing how many are really being used? ,
Ms. Warheit: When we did our count in July, we did notice that some boxes seemed derelict or
deserted. Sometimes, it was quite clear that there had not been any action for a long time with
certain boxes. So we made note of that. It was about 5%.
Commissioner Schink: Say that this program goes into place and we have all of these new news
racks. From the letters we have received, they are all obviously going to be used up. If in two
years from now, I want to start a new Daily Planet in Palo Alto, how do I gain an opportunity to
put my Daily Planet out on the street?
Ms. Cauble: The process by which existing and future publications will be able to compete for
space is subject to the news rack ordinance which is mentioned in the staff report. That
ordinance is being developed in conjunction with a committee of representatives from various
publications including, but not limited to, the two local newspapers. There is new draft of that
ordinance which is forthcoming but not yet finalized. It is the vehicle that will be used to try to
come up with a fair process to allocate the space. I don’t know what more to tell you at this
point. The master plan itself is not going to be the vehicle to allocate the space. The ordinance is
going to attempt to be fair and give people the opportunity to have their publications out there for
us to read.
Commissioner Byrd: I would like to ask about a different subject. The staff report says that
public toilets in the downtown were outside the scope of this project. Was that decision to place
toilets outside the scope a council or staff decision, and what was the rationale for doing that?
Ms. Warheit: It was a coUncil decision to the extent that the council reviewed the Scope of
Services, and they approved it. Whether or not to have public toilets downtown was an issue that
had been hotly debated and considered by council and had a lot of review and attention and
policy discussions a couple of years previously. The decision was made than not to have them,
so we did not feel that we could include it as a part of the design plan when the council had not
made a policy decision to have them downtown. So it was not excluded to the point of saying,
"We are not going to have toilets or we are going to try to avoid having toilets." It just did not
seem appropriate to include them in a design plan when the policy basis was not there for
including them. But as you see, during the public review process, the public made it very clear
that they wanted them, so the city manager has informed me that she believes that we now have
policy direction to continue to look into the possibility of including them..
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Commissioner Byrd: But that is policy direction to pursue toilets in a next phase or stage of
downtown improvement. Perhaps this is a question for Debbie -- is it within the jurisdiction of
the Planning Commission to propose as part of this plan that it be revised to allocate money and
include designs for public toilets7 If we made a decision that that was a higher priority than the
improvements that are before us, could we do that?
Mr. Gilliland: One of the things you are doing tonight is for how the first phase dollars should
be spent. If this commission thinks it should be reverged or another item should have a higher
priority, that is certainly within your jurisdiction.
Commissioner Byrd: Thank you.
Commissioner Ojakian: Sort of along the same lines as what Owen is talking about, without
going back to the public toilets issue at this stage, there are several things that are left out of the
first phase of this project that I think have been discussed for awhile. One of them that I am
interested in finding out a little more detail about is Lytton Plaza, where we have put a $350,000
price tag on what needs to be done there. I am curious what constitutes that number, or maybe
another way to say it, how much of that number is made up of the concept that got brought out of
the workshops, and that is, the piece with the fountain in it. If that was not put in in the initial
phase, how much money would be saved, or to say it the way I originally did, what constitutes
the $350,000?
Ms. Warheit: That amount includes everything. And we did not look at doing just a little bit
there. That is an option that you are suggesting we could have looked at. If I can speak for the
design team, probably the reason they did not pursue that is that no one ever suggested it. The
rationale may have been that it is a very important space, and there is almost nothing right there
now. Rather than trying to piecemeal it, it really needs to be fully thought through very
carefully, fully redesigned, and people did take it very seriously. In fact, neither of the
preliminary concept schemes that the design team came up with had any consensus support. It is
very important, and we did not want to go forward with something that was not really right and
was not done right. That was the rationale, I believe. To really do it right, it would have taken
over half the budget, which means that we could not have done the basic housekeeping things
that are 25 years old and that now need to be replaced. That was the rationale in doing all of
those smaller things that are long over due and then, doing this in the next phase, not far off, but
probably two years from now, making it the centerpiece and having the high priority, doing a
really good job of it.
Chairperson Cassel: I have a question about bus stops. There is only one bus stop in this plan on
University Avenue. Can you explain why, and why those were not planned for the future? There
is no mention made of them, other than the current Marguerite stop.
Ms. Warheit: Are you referring to the Marguerite stop there at Lytton Plaza?
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Chairperson Cassel: Yes, there is one bus stop for the Marguerite at Lytton Plaza, but there is no
mention made in the layout as to where we are going to be putting bus stops, if we are going to
need them, just some comment about taking space out to make space for pedestrians. Where do
busses stop now, and how does that fit into the parking spaces, etc.?
Ms. Warheit: The busses are not on University Avenue. I think Ken can speak to the history of
that. They have not been there for many years. They ,are on Hamilton and Lytton. We
addressed bus stops in terms of Lytton Plaza, and the proposal is to move that one across the
street so that it is at the plaza, the sensible place for people to wait for a bus. Because there is not
a route there now, and since we have no way of knowing exactly where Marguerites or shuttle
services might go in the future. This plan does not move any curbs, except at the T-intersections.
It does not in any other way widen or narrow the streets, so it does not preclude bus stops from
happening pretty much wherever you may want to have them, except at those three T-
intersections. Furniture could always be adjusted and moved later if that turned out to be the
case where you needed the space for a bus stop. So I think that is why it was not incorporated
into the plan.
Mr. Schreiber: To the best of my recollection, I do not believe there have been either Santa Clara
or San Mateo County bus stops on University Avenue for at least 25 years. The routes have been
on Lytton and Hamilton. The thinking behind that is, certainly in some significant part, related
to the level of congestion and the level of delay on University Avenue, also the fact that
University Avenue is narrower, with cars backing out at angles, etc. It is a high priority for the
bus companies in the district to keep the busses moving and to maintain their schedules. Putting
busses out on University Avenue was felt to be both a cause of congestion and would be
impacted by congestion to the point that those routes would become much more difficult to
maintain and move busses along in a prompt and orderly way. The thinking also was that
Hamilton and Lytton are certainly close enough, by any reasonable county standard, to serve the
University Avenue area, so again, it has been at least 25 years, maybe notably longer than that,
since there has been any major bus activity on University Avenue.
Chairperson Cassel: Thank you. I will now open the public hearing.
Faith Bell 536 Emerson Street, Palo Alto: This is the Bell’s Bookstore location. As a
downtown merchant, I have a lot of concerns about downtown improvements. First of all, I
would like to thank everybody who has worked on this, because I think it is starting to shape up
really nicely. I love the idea of U-bar bike racks. They are nice and streamlined. I would love to
see them go in the alley between Mac’s Smoke Shop and us. Then they would not take up space
along the walkway. There are telephones there now, so if there were bike racks on the same wall
as the telephones, they would not get in the way.
I love the signage. It is clean; it is sweet. I do not like the starburst. I love the ironwork details
proposed. I think they are really creative, and I would love to support that, but do think about
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cleaning. When you have garbage cans that have metal strapping or decorative work, they are
going to look pretty messy. I have the same concern about tree grills. Those heavy, iron grills
are very attractive, but unless you make them in a way that they are hinged so that heavy grills
can be lifted by local merchants, you are going to end up with a lot of stuff that has fallen
through that we cannot clean out, and we clean out every day around all of the trees nearby. We
really need to be able to do that, so please make it possible. Otherwise, it is going to work like a
trap.
Carolyn Willis spoke up at the HRB meeting in favor of beverage recycling containers, as well as
garbage containers. I would really like to see that prioritized. Let’s get the garbage level down
and the recycling up.
Crosswalks in our block of Emerson need a little reconfiguring. Virginia, I don’t know where we
are with that, but I am putting in my plug for what I talked with you about that. The alley that
runs between Mac’s Smoke Shop and ourselves from Emerson Street to High Street going into
Parking Lot P is very dark at the telephone end. I think that is very unsafe. It is lit at the far
parking lot end but not at the Emerson Street end. If we are going to try and focus on these
alleyways being walk-throughs, we need to get good public lighting in there. Right now, it is
actually scary at night in there.
I have concerns about widening sidewalks at delivery zones. We use these delivery zones all the
time. I can guarantee you that at those T-intersections, the merchants there have the same
situation that we have, which is that customers who cannot find parking call us in advance, and
have us run out with their package when they pull into those delivery zones. Those save
expensive parking spaces from having to be built when we can do this. Please don’t narrow or
reduce the number of places where people can pop in and out frequently for a short time period.
This frees up parking for other people.
My two other major concerns are Lytton Plaza and public restrooms. I am very disappointed not
to see those covered in this. I can see Lytton being a massive job, and hopefully, two years
would be the far reaching .end of when that project would get going. It really needs a facelift
badly. Regarding the public restrooms, it is really a disappointment not seeing that covered. At
this point, we have people from every committee and from every part of this city speaking in
support of them. Everybody keeps kicking it back, saying the council has not given us the okay,
or maybe council has given the okay, but just to think about it. When are we going to think
about it? When are we going to do it? It really needs to be be done.
I would like to read briefly from something I submitted to the Downtown Improvements
Committee when this first started. I said, "Let’s encourage our visitors by providing them with
scrupulously clean and attractive public restrooms. If locals, as well as out-of-towners, find it as
comfortable and convenient to shop downtown as it is in the malls, they will choose the
interesting individuality of downtown over the shopping centers. Keeping the restrooms open 24
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hours a day would be a courtesy and health convenience for those of our population who are not
fortunate enough to have their own restrooms. This would require regular supervision and
cleaning, but it would be well worth the price. I have polled the merchants in my immediate
vicinity on Emerson and Hamilton, and everyone I have talked to, everyone has been in support
of the public restrooms, including Peninsula Creamery, Wheelsmith and their landlord, Don
Mullen, Max’s Smoke Shop, the Renaissance Bookstore, Care Verona, California Shoe and
Luggage Repair, UNICEF, Turner Martin, Phyllis Clqthing and ourselves. There were 1,200
petition signatures gathered in support of bathrooms. If they are not going to go in this phase,
give us a date. Tell us when we can look at this happening. Let’s move on it. Carolyn Willis
spoke in support of it. Francisco Alfonso of the ARB said, "Public restrooms are an essential
component. In other countries, they are connected solidly and in a historic context. They should
be considered either in an extensive or limited capacity, but they should be part of this proposal."
Robert Peterson spoke in support of it, and so did James McFall and so did David Ross. So it is
there, folks. Thank you.
Ellen Christensen, 4217 Dos Palos, Palo Alto: I want to support the Planning Commission’s
taking the initiative to revise the scope of the first phase of this Downtown Improvement Project.
I think the most critical thing you can do, as part of this project, is to direct staffto develop and
implement immediately a plan to create public restrooms downtown. It seems to me that a quick
and easy source of almost immediate access would be City Hall’s own restrooms. They are open
over long periods of time during the day anyway, and they are open many evenings. It seems to
me that a plan to staffthem on weekends for longer hours and also for longer hours in the
evenings when they are not open is a quick and not very expensive fix that could make public
restrooms almost immediately accessible. It is not the only place that we need them, but it would
certainly be a quick first start. I would have to say that I would much rather see money used for
this vital purpose than the money that is currently being proposed for creating what I call the
high-tech Taj Mahal hall of the council chambers. Thank you.
Litzie Indergand, 336 Ely Place, Palo Alto: I am a member of the Human Relations
Commission, but I am not officially representing the HRC, although the HRC is on record as
being in favor of what I am about to say. Obviously, I, too, am going to beat the drums for
public toilets. We have been urging the city to provide public toilets ever since I can remember.
As far as I know, there are only two places right now where there are toilets available anytime at
all. One place is City Hall, and the other is the senior center. There are other places you can go
if you happen to know where they are and you are there at the right hours. This is a problem for
all of us citizens, no~ only for those who do not have a home. It is a problem, I know, for my
husband who has a home, I hope, and even for myself. I went to some of the early meetings of
the downtown plan, and Virginia said at that time that originally, probably toilets had not been
within the scope of the plan, but there had been enough emphasis on it so that it had become a
part of the plan. I have spoken to the city manager, who has definitely said that this is an
essential ingredient of the downtown redesign. I have read the city manager’s report, particularly
in regard to the new parking structures, which specify that public toilets in the new parking
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structures are definitely a part of that plan, and it even talks about the funding for them. So I
would urge the Planning Commission to take the lead on this and urge that the public toilets be
established in existing facilities now, because the new parking structures are a long way off. If
we have to make choices, there are a lot of things that are wonderful, aesthetically, but nowhere
near as important as public toilets, which are a necessity, not a point of beauty.
The other thing is on signage. I am all in favor of the ,signage that you are proposing. I would
also like to see signs pointing to other services such as the post office, City Hall, and the location
of public toilets, thank you! As an aside to what Faith Bell said, I don’t know if you are going to
do anything about sidewalks, but I have been fighting a battle unsuccessfully for a number of
years about a sidewalk on Emerson Street. There is a parking lot on Emerson Street right across
the alley from where Mac’s Smoke Shop is that has a handicap parking space, and the driveway
serves as a curb cut. There is a painted crosswalk in the middle of that block, but when you get
to the other end of the crosswalk, there is no curb cut, so if you do not look carefully and you
happen to be in a wheelchair, you would then have to turn around, go back and go to the comer.
I have been told that it is for safety reasons, because it is not safe to cross in the middle of the
street, but if it isn’t safe to cross in the middle of the street in a wheelchair, why is it safe for
people with small children and many packages to cross in the middle of the street. ! really wish
somebody would consider cutting that curb so as to make it a viable crossing for disabled people.
Thank you.
Kathleen Haney, 235 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto: As you probably know, I served on the
downtown steering committee and helped develop this plan. One of the things that the Chamber
of Commerce is concerned about is the cleanliness and the maintaining of the downtown area. I
think all of you will agree that the current level of garbage and debris downtown cannot be
tolerated. We are hoping that that gets addressed, and we are asking the City Council to look at
the problem. Additionally, regarding the number of newspaper racks, I would ask that your
commission refer this back to the newspaper planning committee. We have not met since last
July when the original survey was done, and I quite frankly do not know where the number that
was arrived at in this plan came from. It did not come from the newspaper rack committee, and I
don’t think we would have supported a plan for this few number of racks downtown. So I would
hope that you would refer’it back to that committee. We are planning on meeting a few times in
the next couple of weeks, so I would hope you would do that.
All of us on the committee supported public toilets in the downtown area, but we were told that it
was not in the scope of our planning, but that it would be brought up at the City Council. We are
asking that the City Council relook at that issue. We are definitely supporting public restrooms
in the downtown area. Thank you.
Carl McConnell, 3775 Wright Plaza, Palo Alto: I am joining with the other speakers in urging
this commission to address the need for public restrooms in the downtown area as a priority
matter. What they have said needs not be repeated. I would simply join in their comments.
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Chairperson Cassel: Thank you. Seeing no other speakers, I will now close the public hearing
and return this item to the commission. Are there any questions of staff by commissioners? I see
an ARB representative in the audience. Do you wish to speak to us?
Frank Alfonso: I am representing the Architectural Review Board this evening. Many of the
questions that were raised by the commissioners this evening were also raised at the ARB. I
don’t think there is anything else that I can add at this time. We are scheduled to review this
tomorrow morning, as well, and I will pass on your comments to my fellow board members.
Commissioner S~hmidt: I have a couple of questions for staff. I believe there is mention made
of some mid-block crossings to relate to alleys. I was wondering if there is any conflict with the
stance we are taking on J-walking at the present time. If this mid-block crossing is marked, then
is it therefore a legal crossing location?
Ms. Warheit: I checked on that with the police department. The police department does not
consider crossing mid-block to be J-walking when you are going from one alley to another.
Someone also asked that at an ARB meeting, concerned that they would be fined $65 for
following the alley system. I have been told that is not the case.
Mr. Schreiber: That is a provision in the municipal code. It is not J-walking. There is a de facto
crosswalk when you have an alley situation in a street.
Commissioner Ojakian: On the subject of public restrooms, I know that staff has done some
research on some of the different types of available units. Could you give us an idea of what
those cost, or where your research is at at this stage?
Ms. Warheit: We have made two contacts about using the automatic public toilets. One was
with the J.C. Decaux Company who manufacture the toilet that is in place in San Francisco. The
other is with the staff of the City of San Jose who have been researching this for about two years
now. I almost hesitate to give a number here, because the number I was quoted was not the same
number that San Jose was quoted. It varies tremendously, depending upon the proximity to other
toilets and whether they have to make up a new maintenance team for your area, etc. I was
quoted a case by J. C. Decaux last year between $60,000 and $80,000 apiece per year. Let me
say that that includes the entire package, and that is the only way they provide those units. You
cannot purchase one of those toilets and maintain it yourself. J. C. Decaux only provides a
package which includes manufacturing the toilet, installing the toilet, maintaining the toilet, and
visiting each one at least once every 24 hours for the duration of your contract. So you are
buying the whole package for that price. San Jose was quoted a higher figure but I was also told
by J. C. Decaux that San Francisco is the only place where they have these, but if other
jurisdictions can get a critical mass of numbers within a certain proximity so that servicing them
has economy of scale, that would keep the cost down.
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Commissioner Ojakian: The number you said was $60,000 to $80,000?
Mr. Schreiber: Per installation per year. That illustrates why the issue of public toilets was
originally, and continues to be, separated from the overall issue of the master plan and the
attempt to implement the public features of the downtown Urban Design Guide.
Chairperson Cassel: We have never used these public, toilets as a PC benefit, have we? Is that
something that someone doing a PC could offer while they were open for business, instead of the
toilet being considered a private toilet?
Mr. Gilliland: We have always encouraged it as a PC benefit, but we have never had anybody
who wanted to take it on.
Chairperson Cassel: Most of the people using public toilets downtown need to use them when
they are doing business downtown. The Chamber of Commerce is one of the groups making a
lot of the requests. Some of these stores are larger than others, but it is awkward to use the
bathrooms when you are in that store for many of these places. How did that happen? In some
cities it is more common to use the public restrooms in a store. They are more easily accessed.
In one part of town, in some very large stores, these bathrooms were moved from the first floor
to the second floor. And this is not just a problem downtown. As part of this problem, why
aren’t the larger private stores making these easily available? In Border’ s, for instance, the
bathroom is upstairs. It is very public. You can walk in and use it, but instead of its being
downstairs, it is upstairs. The building that was put in the Times Tribune site has public
bathrooms as you walk in the front doors, but they are locked and no one can use them unless
they have a key.
Mr. Gilliland: I don’t know that we have a real good answer to that, other than to say that it is
obviously the choice of the merchant or business that has the operation. I am certain it has to do
with maintenance and security issues for them.
Chairperson Cassel: It is sort of a public/private issue here, working together. Some of the
options might be available there. That is something we have not looked at from that perspective.
It is a tough issue.
Commissioner Ojakian: Since we are still on the subject, getting back to the cost question for a
minute, has anyone ever looked at a lease to purchase agreement? Would they be willing to lease
one out over a period of time, and we would put in a clause that says, whatever money goes
towards the lease, if we, in fact, felt the system worked, we could convert it into a purchase?
Mr. Gilliland: That is not the way they structure their deals.
Commissioner Ojakian: Nobody ever does it that way?
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Mr. Gilliland: No.
Chairperson Cassel: Well, they only exist in San Francisco at the moment. And in France.
Ms. Warheit: What San Jose has found is that Decaux is the only provider so far that they have
been able to identify that is actually providing them now in this country. They found several
European providers, and actually some American providers who only have them in Europe, for
some reason. Some of the providers do not even respbnd to their inquiries. They are wondering
why they would not be interested in more business. It is an odd kind of field; so far, the only
active response they have gotten from someone who is really providing the service in this
country is Decaux. They are still researching some other possibilities they have heard of.
Commissioner Schink: Maybe we are trying to get a Cadillac where a Volkswagen will do the
job. I know that in our business, we get those relatively inexpensive portable toilets at our
construction sites for several hundred dollars a month. That totals up to $2,400 a Year as
opposed to $60,000. So maybe they are not particularly attractive, but there may be an
opportunity to put a little trellis structure around the thing and hide it somewhere in the
downtown. Has that been looked at?
Mr. Gillitand: I will give a little bit of the history as to why restrooms were not included in this
phase. Back when this Scope of Services was going forward, there was the issue at Johnson
Park. We thought about putting restrooms in at Johnson Park. One of the thoughts at that time
was to do just that. It was eventually rejected as a possible solution, mostly out of meetings with
the public at that time. Certainly, it has probably changed. I think what will happen is that we
will eventually get some direction as this goes to council to look further into the restroom issue.
This report was put together specifically to identify locations where they might occur as it
changed over time, and that we would look at it and certainly increase the interest in looking at
restrooms. I think there is general agreement and we agree that it is an important issue that needs
to be addressed. But how it is done, whether it is a built type of facility in the parking garage in
the future, or using J. C. Decaux, or even as you suggested, using some of the portable facilities
or opening up the City Hall for a longer time, that is a bigger issue than was taken on with this
study.
Chairperson Cassel: What you are saying is that we are looking at a master plan that says this is
an issue that is important, but it just isn’t a component that has been completed at this time, and
we are pushing you for obvious reasons. There is also the issue of cleanliness. People are not
going to use it if it is not clean and accessible. That recreates a problem, because you have to
continuously keep them clean.
Mr. Gilliland: There is also a real issue of security around the restrooms.
Commissioner Schink: I would like to return to the newspaper rack question. We have gotten
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various bits of information, and part of the answer to the previous question, as I understood the
answer to be, was that a newspaper rack ordinance was going to be put into effect that would
ensure that we were not infringing on anyone’s first amendment rights. Without that ordinance,
it is hard for me to know from all of the facts we have gathered whether 150 newspaper racks is a
fair number, or if it is 300 or 400. So the answer I am looking for now is some assurances from
staff that this plan provides us with reasonable flexibility. Once we get a newspaper ordinance
and review that ordinance, if we determine that first amendment rights can only be achieved with
300 newspaper racks this year, but maybe within five ~,ears, it has to be 400 newspaper racks,
that the plan has that kind of flexibility, and by approving this plan, we are not locking ourselves
into something that will not allow us to comply when the ordinance comes forward.
Mr. Gilliland: The way the newspaper racks have been designed in this plan, there is a great deal
of flexibility to add them, putting additional racks in at any location. The one area where it may
not be possible is that the maximum in any one location is about eight news racks. There are
some areas we have looked at where you might be able to put in one more module and get twelve
at one location. Obviously, there are a few places where the newspapers have a lot at this
particular time. I will use the front of the post office as an example where there are a large
number. That is a place where we can put more than eight in at one location, but if you go to an
intersection, such as in front of Walgreen’s where there are quite a few, it will be very difficult to
get more than eight in one location under this plan. Other than that, there is plenty of flexibility
to add them in other locations as we go through the news rack ordinance. We are going to be
meeting with the newspaper representatives. As Virginia said, she is going on a walking tour
with them, and will be meeting with them further as the newspaper ordinance goes forward and
actual locations are specified. So there is flexibility to add additional racks. To get up to this
400 that they say is up there now, no, that is not possible.
Commissioner Ojakian: Since we are on newspaper racks, it looks like what we have done is put
in a single size box, meaning one paper fits all, when in fact, we’ve got papers out there that are
shaped in different ways. So for instance, our local newspapers, both of them run in a format
that is totally different from, let’s say, the Mercury and the Chronicle. How do those get
accommodated under the one size fits all concept?
Ms. Warheit: The ones that are called broad sheets like the New York Times and the Mercury,
etc., that format is displayed in the box folded in half, and you see the top half of the paper. The
Palo Alto Weekly and the Palo Alto Daily can be displayed in the same way. In fact, they can
show more than half if they would choose to as there is enough space there. I have raised this
issue with the attorney’s office. Accommodating different shapes would be extremely difficult
when you are dealing with many different papers of a couple of hundred different sizes, and you
would have to design a piece of furniture that is going to accommodate all of them, and you do
not know which size paper is going to prefer which corner, etc. I cannot recall ever seeing
standardized racks in any other city where they are not all the same broad sheet size. These are
standard boxes that are ordered from manufacturers, and it is what everybody uses. The reason
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the rack accommodates the Palo Alto Daily showing the entire front page vertically now is
because they have their own type of free-standing box. They do not have to accommodate
anyone else’s furniture or box. I don’t think that will be possible in a system in which they are
all interchangeable and will have to fit into predesigned furniture. The way we expect them to
display their paper will be like everyone else does it, that is, fold it in half and put the paper in
the window.
Commissioner Schmidt: I have a question regarding the concrete bunkers at the comers. I very
much like the idea of remodeling those to bring them more into the next century. I was
wondering if it is cost-effective to remodel them by cutting them down rather than just replacing
them altogether.
Mr. Harrington: That was a question that was posed earlier on. We had some misgivings about
having to cut the top eight to twelve inches. When they researched that a little more, they found
it was a reasonable option. Further, the fact is that you are still maintaining a good two-thirds of
it. Other than some exterior treatment like sand blasting and tile work on the top, there is a
considerable savings in keeping it as it is, recognizing, of course, that we are removing some of
the bunkers that are around the comer on the side streets. Those will be removed.
Commissioner Schmidt: I also have a question about the change of uses for the D-planters. Over
the years, the D-planters have suffered attacks from vehicles, and they probably suffer less in the
blocks that now have the 45 ° parking rather than the parallel parking. I have continued to see
vehicles drive over them, especially the large sport utility vehicles, continuing to mash at the
concrete. So I am expressing concern about the idea of adding taller plantings, adding benches
and trash containers there. I like the idea of being able to add benches and being able to add
useful items there, but I would hope they would be able to tolerate the abuse they might possibly
get.
Mr. Harrington: My recollection is that there are wheel stops in certain of the parallel spaces, so
to that extent, that problem has been mitigated.
Commissioner Schmidt: I fear that the wheel stops may not stop some of the larger vehicles.
Chairperson Cassel: Are you suggesting that we may need larger wheel stops?
Commissioner Schmidt: I don’t have any good suggestions. I am simply posing the question. I
am sure there is some solution to a possible new problem.
Ms. Warheit: That is a good point. For everything we have put on the street, we have asked
ourselves, what is going to happen if somebody hits it. In the comers, what the designers tried to
do is to design the framework out of stock metal, and the only handcrafted or specialized thing is
the laser-cut panels that go on it. So if somebody would jump the curb, of course any vehicle
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that hits any of these things is in a place where people could be, so obviously, one would hope
they would not do that. The benches that go on the D-Planters have nothing special about them,
so if somebody does hit one, it is not a huge loss. I think the plan recommends that the broken
D-Planters be repaired. They have actually held up reasonably well, considering the abuse they
receive. There are a few that are broken and need to be repaired. Also, the Plan recommends
sandblasting them to make them have a better appearance, if it turns out not to be too costly.
Ms. Bialson: I have some concerns, first with regard to cutting down the bunker walls. Is it the
process of cutting them down that requires putting in broken tile or other types of tile on top of
those bunker walls? Or could we just not have the tile cap?
Ms. Warheit: You need a new cap, because when you cut it down, it has rebar sticking up in it,
for one thing. There is a cap on it now, a poured concrete cap. Once it is cut down, there needs
to be a new cap. In fact, what is proposed is a new poured concrete cap that would then be the
base for the tile. They are not going to tile right on top of the cut concrete. There will be a new
cap put in that is shaped in a way to take the tile.
Ms. Bialson: So from what you are saying, I understand that we could just have a new concrete
cap and no tile. Is that part of what you are saying?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, you could do that.
Ms. Bialson: The concern I had is that I know that the ARB and the Public Art Commission
probably have a really good handle on this, but as I read through the master plan, I was a little
concerned about having these three elements on what is now a relatively homogeneous surface.
We are going to have the concrete, then we are going to have tile, and then we are going to have
metal on top of the tile. Even though you will have the tile artisan and the metalwork artisan
working together, some of the language in the master plan concerned me as to just how much of
an emphasis there was going to be on the tile. I noticed that in one place in the master plan, it
indicated that you are going to have earthtone shades to the tile, but that accent tiles may be put
in, so we would possibly have a broken tile cap on some of the walls. The design of the
metalwork looks very attractive, but to mix that with the tile and then have the concrete on top of
it sounded like we had three design elements there which could work fabulously, but could also
expose us to perhaps having somewhat of a hodgepodge. I also wondered how one was going to
maintain those tiles. It seems sort of handy to have the suggestion of broken tile tops because we
are a little concerned about the tiles being broken, so we might as well start out that way. I
wanted to express my concern, especially since we have a member of the ARB present tonight
who could look at the impact on the metalwork that is going to be put on top. I was in downtown
Menlo Park today to look at the tile on their walls to see how that has stood up. It has not stood
up very well. It does not look very good. There are large portions where the grout is wearing
out, portions where tiles have either been cracked or otherwise damaged. It seems to be the most
vulnerable portion of the walls in Menlo Park, so I wanted to share that with the ARB and other
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design people.
With regard to the newspaper racks, in a part of the master plan, there was a suggestion that the
individual colors that each of the publications used try to be maintained in order to make it easy
for people to spot their paper. Who would be maintaining and cleaning these boxes, repainting
them as necessary? Would it be these various publications, or would it be the city?
Ms. Warheit: The newspaper ordinance will require that the vendors keep their boxes in good
condition.
Ms. Bialson: ¯ Thank you. I just want to add that I, too, am in support of having public toilets,
and that would be a way to have it happen, other than spending $60,000 to $80,000 per toilet.
Commissioner Ojakian: I want to ask one question about an issue we have not gotten to yet.
That is, around Lytton Plaza with the suggestion that we extend the pedestrian walkway through
the parking lot and then in the process lose, I think it is a dozen spaces?
Ms. Warheit: Eight spaces.
Commissioner Ojakian: But in the whole downtown plan with the T-intersections expanding
those, we end up with I think it was 19 spaces?
Ms. Warheit: Yes, I think that is right.
Commissioner Ojakian: And I am assuming all those spaces are in the assessment district.
Actually, I know they are in the assessment district. What impact does that have? Is there
something that has to be worked out with the assessment district, or is there any ramifications of
taking the spaces up that are in the assessment district?
Mr. Harrington: The assessment district really only governs the structures and the parking lots
themselves. The street is the domain of the city.
Commissioner Ojakian: So then to get to the eight spaces that we were talking about, because
those are in a parking lot, what impact does that have and what ramifications?
Ms. Warheit: Those issues are discussed in the EIA. Maybe that is what you are referring to.
Mr. Gilliland: The short answer is that over the long term, we keep track of the number of
parking spaces in the downtown area and how many are added and how many are deleted. In
fact, I believe it is an annual report that we put out. Several years ago, we did quite a bit of
restriping, and we added parking spaces downtown. Right now, we are ahead of the game, if you
will. We actually created more spaces recently than we have lost. This would still fall within
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that range.
Ms. Warheit: The nineteen was our best guess of an outside maximum possible number of
spaces that could be impacted. Seven of those are street spaces. They are not lot and structure
spaces. Twelve are in lots or structures, that is, eight of them being there at Lytton Plaza.
Commissioner Ojakian: So my question is, when you are looking at that, is there any
arrangement that has to be made with the assessment ~tistrict, or can the city just go ahead and
remove spaces and there is no other action required?
Mr. Gilliland: Yes, the City Council can, in approving this plan, and quite honestly, that is one
of the reasons that we wanted to further look at the Lytton Plaza plan, and we have not developed
it at this time. I do not want to minimize your question, because the loss of those spaces is very
important. We are equally concerned about it, and that is one of the reasons why it did not go
forward. The short answer to your question is yes, the City Council does have that authority.
Commissioner Oj akian: Okay, because I am having trouble sort of weighing this particular
aspect of looking at the downtown, because 19 spaces adds up to a considerable amount of
money and the fact that we are losing those in an area where we have a deficit right now to me
makes it sort of a tough decision to make between a tradeoff of improving the alleyways and
some of the other things versus losing the spaces.
Chairperson Cassel: Is that a question?
Commissioner Ojakian: It is more of a statement at this stage, because if you assume that spaces
cost roughly $20,000, and you are going to lose 19 of them, that is about $400,000 worth of
parking that we are losing.
Ms. Lytle: It helps us to think about it conceptually as improving pedestrian amenities and
walkability in the downtown which will hopefully go to offset some of the auto dependency that
creates the need for parking. If we can think about it in those terms, the EIA also brought up
those issues that the point of these improvements is to make the downtown a very walkable and
easily negotiable place for other than cars.
Chairperson Cassel: What you are saying is that you are hoping to reduce the need for parking,
at least by 19 spaces or more, at any given moment, because it would be a continuous use.
Ms. Lytle: That is a nice, conceptual way of thinking about it.
Chairperson Cassel: I have a question concerning cleaning. When I did my viewing of other
cities, my concern was cleanliness. More than anything else, the issue of whether something was
clean had to do with your perception of how comfortable it was to be in that area. That seems to
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be a combination of the retail responsibility and the city responsibility. How are we planning to
work with that? Who cleans the sidewalks and how is it done? How do we handle this cleaning
issue? It is a problem downtown.
Ms. Warheit: That is a little like the bathrooms. It was not a part of the scope. The council
approved scope for this project did not deal with the ongoing cleaning of downtown. However,
being keenly aware of the importance of that, we tried to keep that in front of us as we were
designing this, and do things that would not increase the cleaning problem downtown. For
example, bringing the news racks up off the sidewalk and hanging them from shelves reduces
several hundred times four legs that are now collecting trash. Regarding the trash cans that we
have selected, Faith Bell mentioned that they have metal slats which she thought might be hard
to clean. In fact, the design concept behind those metal slats is that they are a visual screen from
the solid surface. The solid surface is more likely to have spills and stuff sticking to it and
showing that. Those metal slats continue up past the top of the can, straight up and then curve
out, so as you are walking down the street, you do not see the top of the can. You also do not see
the bottom of the can where it connects with the sidewalk, because about two inches from the
bottom, it is recessed several inches. So that particular can was selected because it is likely to
look clean and neat even when it is not clean and neat.
We selected a metal bench because we thought it would look cleaner, and we will only go with
wood if we hear from the public and the decision makers that comfort is more important than
looking shiny. And that is one reason why we veered away from any fancy paving. I was in
Santa Barbara a few months before this project started, and I was astonished to see a lot of
improvements down there that I thought were failures, new stuff that looked really dirty because
it was the wrong surface, the wrong color, so we tried to avoid anything that is going to add to
the maintenance problems. The downtown steering committee that was part of our project felt
that the issue of ongoing maintenance was very important. Since it was not a part of this scope,
they have taken that up as a separate issue and are now working with the Chamber of Commerce
and with the city manager. They will be coming to the council with a proposal for how they
think the city might enter into a working relationship with the downtown merchants where the
merchants will start taking a more active role than they are now, working cooperatively with the
city to address those ongoing cleaning needs.
Commissioner Schmidt: We also heard when we reviewed the CIP that the city is purchasing
something called a Green Machine that was to be used downtown or in public areas that would
help in the regular maintenance of sidewalks and streets, I believe?
Mr. Harrington:
being delivered.
day basis.
I believe you are correct. I overheard in the hallway that it is on order or is just
Other than that, I cannot comment. It is not an area that I deal with on a day-to-
Ms. Warheit: I only know what the downtown sweeper tells me. When I see the sweeper, I stop
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and chat with him and ask him how things are going downtown, what his cleaning problems are,
etc. I also heard in the hall that we had a Green Machine coming. He has actually ridden the
Green Machine and can describe how it works. He told me recently that it will be arriving soon.
Ms. Bialson: Again in the same vein of cleanliness being of great importance as to whether we
enjoy the improvements or not, looking at the fountain or the active water feature that is planned
for Lytton Plaza, what is being done to ensure that we do not end up having it be not just a place
where people perhaps toss coins but other things as will? Has that been looked at, or has the
design of that water feature been worked out enough?
Ms. Warheit: Since Lytton Plaza has been postponed to the next phase, no more investigation
was done about things as specific as that.
Chairperson Cassel: If there are no further questions, we are ready to begin our discussion. It is
recommended by staff that we look at three issues to be discussed. One is the design of the
initial set of proposed improvements, the second one is in regard to the merits of the proposed
sidewalk widening in three types of selected locations, weighted against possible loss of a small
number of parking spaces and/or loading zones, and the third is in regard to the proposed
locations for future installation of public toilets in the downtown.
Commissioner Schmidt: I am very happy to see these improvements come before us. I will be
even happier to see them implemented. They are a lot of small things, but together, they will
really bring an updated look to the downtown, making it much more user-friendly. We have a lot
more users than we used to have. We are not turning them away, but over the last few years, I
have heard more and more people say that downtown Palo Alto is dirty and they don’t like to go
there anymore. So what these things will do is to really help revitalize the look of the downtown
district. I think they are really important to do, and I am very happy to see them. Things like
good signage and better lighting will just make things much easier to find, make things look
better. Organizing the newspaper racks and adding better and more street furniture and updating
those comer bunkers are all great improvements.
We have already mentioned a couple of really important things, such as the number of newspaper
racks should certainly be adequate and should be flexible enough to support any future changes.
We realize that that will come along in the ordinance, but we have discussed it tonight, and I
suspect that most of us would be in support of that.
Also, public restrooms downtown is a very important thing. We have again heard that many
times tonight, and many, many times in the past. We discussed it with the Comprehensive Plan,
and we have discussed it a lot over the last couple of years since this project started. I would
hope that we could find some way to do something in the near future versus just saying, yes, it is
a good idea to have some improvements sometime. We could try one of these automatic toilets
for a year, or a couple of them for a year. We can return them if we do not want them. Or we
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could try something with some of the more conventional, construction type restrooms
somewhere and get merchants and City Hall to make existing restrooms more available.
I also would really like to see the Lytton Plaza changes occur as soon as possible. Lytton Plaza
is our only public space of any magnitude on University Avenue, and it is a shame to do all of
these other nice things on University Avenue and not have Lytton Plaza come along at the same
time. I realize that it is not designed now, and the oth,er features are to be implemented shortly,
but I would just hope that it could come along as soon as possible and we could find some money
that would get that going right away.
I also am concerned that we have good maintenance of all of these new features. It sounds like
the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the city, are concerned about this. Hopefully, we will find
some good solutions.
I also want to mention a few details about the particulars here. I think the D-planters might need
a little more investigation, in light of what might happen with vehicles around them. I hope that
the signage is very, very readable. I understand that you are saying the specific design is still
undergoing evolution. I hope that the signage is located appropriately so that trees do not hide it
from vehicles or from places where people need to see it. I would offer a challenge, if there is
some way, as you come into Palo Alto from University Circle, that there be some signage
directing people to the Stanford Shopping Center, to MacArthur Park, to places like that. Many,
many people get lost at that end of town because of the confusing circles. I worked in that area
once, and was frequently asked by people stopping in their cars on the street, asking how could
they get to some location. This may be an impossible thing to solve, but it is a suggestion.
Also there were comments about making use of the parking color scheme. I would like you to
think about that a little more in that the parking color scheme may not be used in a few years, or
it may change, so permanent ideas tied into the parking color scheme may not be the best idea.
My last comment is that I like the suggested treatment for the T-intersections. I am not overly
concerned about losing a few parking spaces. I would like to do anything we can to encourage
better pedestrian and bicycle use of the downtown. Finally, I am very happy to see these
improvements. They look great, and the consultant is doing a great job with them, as well as all
of the other committees, etc., that have participated in this plan.
Mr. Schreiber: To help facilitate the commission’s discussion, the third recommendation relates
to proposed locations for future installation of public toilets. I would refer the commission to
Page 38 of the master plan, where there is a listing of potential locations for public restrooms.
Those locations are also identified on the maps near the back of the master plan, the maps that
cover the downtown study area. There is a star symbol for potential sites for public restrooms. If
commissioners have any specific comments on those locations, either pro or con, or suggestions
for other locations, that would certainly be appropriate to pass along to the City Council.
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Chairperson Cassel: Thank you, Ken. Commissioner Byrd will make his comments next.
Commissioner Byrd: I would like to start where Kathy left off. I think the city sometimes takes
a hit for the money it spends on consultants and the processes that it establishes for public
outreach. In this case, I certainly think it worked. This is a terrific master plan. The process that
led to it clearly worked, and I think its content is certainly something we should follow. The
challenge, for me, is not so much in the design details. It is in the budget. That comes back to
this issue of public restrooms. One of the speakers put it best when she said there may be a
tradeoff here between aesthetics and a more compelling public need. From that perspective, I
think we should consider proposing to the council that it consider earmarking a portion of the
money that would otherwise go for these improvements and provide public restrooms downtown
instead. We have heard enough about the need, and there seems to be a growing consensus in
town that we ought to do it. Tonight, we have an opportunity to actually do something about it,
that is, to move some money from one pot to another, so when the time comes to make a motion,
that is what I will propose.
On the subject of the locations, as Ken has brought out, I am extremely enthusiastic about the
locations in the public parks. They would be easy to find, and they are logical places. I
understand the rationale for additionally placing public restrooms in the parking garages and in
the parking lots. They are publicly owned, and they are accessible. Some of the security and
cleanliness concerns that arise around public restrooms seem more urgent in those parking garage
locations. At a look-and-feel level, I am not sure whether they will be safe, feel safe or stay
clean. I think that it will be a challenge to site them there in a way that works, but I do not
necessarily have another alternative, because we have a constrained number of sites downtown
where we could locate these public restrooms.
Finally, on the matter of sidewalk widening, I agree entirely with Kathy. I happen to have been
having dinner outside on the sidewalk at Palermo last Friday night where there was a great crush.
It is narrow and it is at one of the T-intersections where there is a proposed widening. I talked to
the owner about it, not knowing that it was coming to us in this report as a way to ease the traffic
flow around it, creating a more lively pedestrian environment at that T-intersection, so I was
pleased to see it in here, and I think that it would work well.
The merchants have a legitimate concern about the loading zones, and I, for one, would want us
to look at perhaps resiting some of those loading zones, even if that costs us another parking
space or two elsewhere. In descending order of priority, I would like to enhance the pedestrian
environment, preserve the loading zones for the merchants, and then continue to meet as much of
our parking need as we can.
Commissioner Ojakian: Maybe before I get started, I was jut going to ask Owen a quick
question. When you said "parks" Owen, for public restrooms, you meant plazas? So each of the
three plazas, City Hall, Cogswell Plaza, and Lytton Plaza? (Yes). I guess similar to my
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colleagues, in taking a look at this project, the first thing that leaped out at me is that it has been
20 or 25 years since the initial improvements went in downtown. I think it is probably long
overdue that we do something about taking a look at that and trying to improve it. The thing that
has been interesting to me in following this process when I went to some of the workshops is the
level of detail that we have gotten into. It has been microscopic. The first workshop I went to, I
left amazed, thinking to myself, is this the downtown I have walked through for 20 years and
probably never paid attention to half of what is down there? I just took for granted the benches
and the street lighting and some of the other things, so it has been, for me, and probably for the
public, if they follow this, a very interesting learning experience. It raises your level of
awareness of what constitutes an area and the things that go into it, so I think just for that alone,
it has been a worthwhile endeavor.
There are several features I think of the plan that has stood out to me that I think are excellent,
and I am happy to see them in there. I think the first thing on the list is the whole concept about
going from a corridor design to a district design. I think diffusing sort of the interactions and the
way the downtown works is a beneficial thing to do from many angles, not just from a design
angle, but it is a good thing to do in terms of the people who are going to use it, and it is a good
thing to do from the business end as we get some of those businesses on the side streets, more
advertising and more awareness that they are there so that the public will use them.
I guess of a similar nature, just looking at the plan generally, the whole notion of improving the
pedestrian place in the downtown. I think that is something very beneficial in this plan. Going
through a couple of the other elements that stood out to me, I think the signage is very important
to have. I like the way it is being treated in terms of the number of signs. It is sort of a variation
of it is as it relates to some of the different elements in the downtown. I don’t have the same
sorts of overwhelming feelings about the logo that I know several of the ARB members had, and
I think Ms. Bell has spoken about it on two different occasions here and at the ARB. How that
plays out and what is decided there is not as of great significance to me than the fact that we have
the signs, that we are locating them well, and we are designating areas.
I like the bike rack feature. I think Ms. Bell, again, has spoken on that on a couple of occasions.
It is a different sort of design, and their locations to me are important. I think we have done a
good job there. I think it is important to remodel those bunkers. Just the use of the word we are
using for them probably indicates sort of the general feeling that people have about them, so
anything we can do to improve those. One of the things that came out of one of the workshops in
regards to talking about maybe removing those bunkers, I guess in counter response to that,
people suggested that they are a form of protection from automobiles in busy intersections, so I
am happy that what we have done is sort of go halfway and treat them in a way that they will still
be there for the utilitarian purpose, but in the meantime, add to sort of the beauty of the
downtown.
I think most people I have heard speak or in looking at the various minutes of meetings, most
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people have spoken favorably about the lighting, and I certainly am in support of that.
One of the interesting elements that I think came out of this process as we have gone along is the
addition of drinking fountains, which were not in the original plan, sort of an indication, I think,
of people stepping in and putting in something that is an important public need to have. It has
been able to get into the plan, just like I am going to talk about with another element in a minute.
I think that is a great aspect of this. In fact, when I have looked at other downtowns, the three
things that you tend to see in them that are a benefit to people are public restrooms, drinking
fountains, and in some cases, telephones, so that people have phone access if they need it,
especially later at night. That element does not seem to be in this plan, and maybe it is
something down the road that we should take a look at. Maybe some of the people from the
ARB can comment on that when they get a chance. So those are the things that I like.
There are a few areas where I have a littlebit of concern or I think we need to take some further
looking. I will raise the parking issue again, although I know other people do not have as strong
feelings about that. I think if there is a way of accommodating what we are talking about while
not reducing the number of spaces that we are talking about, that would be great. I don’t know if
that is possible, but I think we should take a very serious look at that, especially given the fact
that we are 1,500 cars in the hole in terms of available parking spaces downtown, so to lose
spaces is always going to be something I am a little bit sensitive about.
In terms of the news racks, it seemed to be talked about in three different ways -- color, shape,
number, and I guess locations, so actually four ways. I agree with the fact that they should be
different colors. I think everybody is probably like me although they wouldn’t admit it. I go
downtown and look for the right color box, make a beeline towards it, don’t waste any time, and
get the paper that I want or the papers that I want, so I think that is an important feature to keep
in the plan, although I notice that some of the people during the ARB meeting spoke against that.
In terms of the numbers of the boxes, which is the only other issue I am going to talk about, I
don’t think we are in a position or at least, I don’t feel like I am in a position to decide on that
tonight. I think the best approach there is to have staff continue to talk with some of our local
papers and any other paper, for that matter, with some of the other suggestions that were made
tonight by Kathleen Haney. I thought she brought a good suggestion up. I think the more input
we have in looking at this issue, the better off we will be, so I hope the staff does some of that,
and I hope other commissioners speak to that so we can have a more comprehensive look at what
is going on. I am certainly, as an aside, very much in support of our two local newspapers. I
think we all know we had a good daily publication in Palo Alto. It went away. I think most of
us were probably surprised, at least I was, that we ended up getting not one, but two papers back.
Frankly, I talked with Mr. Price about this the other night. He brought up a very interesting fact,
and that is, there has seldom been an occasion in the United States where a daily publication has
gone out of business and been, in fact, replaced by another daily publication. That is a very rare
thing to have happen. I feel blessed that we have the types of papers that we do have, so I don’t
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want to do anything that jeopardizes them, so for me, it is a tradeoff between looking at design
and what is good design, but also keeping practicality in mind.
One of the issues we haven’t talked about yet, maybe other commissioners will, or we talked
about it in a very brief way, is the whole notion about trash receptacles and recycling receptacles.
I thought one of the ARB members did us a good duty by really emphasizing that. It stood out in
the minutes. That was Cheryl Piha who said that we should take a look at this, because we are
trying to emphasize recycling, and the more that we do that, the better off that we will be.
And then sort of along the lines of what Kathy was talking about, I think some of the things that
are missing from this plan that we should take a serious look at before it is finalized is, how do
we treat Lytton Plaza. That is why I asked the question at the beginning. If there is a way of
going part way without sinking the types of expenses into it that are mentioned in the report, then
I think that is what we should do. That is a better way of phasing it in. That plaza is long
overdue for treatment, and I am glad Ms. Bell spoke to that tonight.
On gateways, we have talked about gateways a lot in Palo Alto. We talked about that a lot in
terms of the downtown. It hasn’t been mentioned much by too many people. The report sort of
handles it like we have to treat it as a monumental event. My preference would be, if we had
some sort of a short-term way of dealing with that. By that, I mean not a final solution but some
way to emphasize either end of the downtown so that people realize they are entering it, that
would be a beneficial thing to do. When you look at cities like Redwood City and Mountain
View where they have put in just fairly simplistic iron archways, but they sure as heck let you
know that you are out of the residential area and are entering the commercial area or vice versa, I
think it is important to do that. I am sorry that we are not considering that now or trying to look
at it in terms of doing something immediately that is not significant and then picking it up later
and doing something that stands out more.
Finally, to talk about public toilets, the numbers mentioned tonight are somewhat staggering, but
the public interest in this is, I think, very significant. Ms. Bell was correct. I went through the
minutes of the ARB, and four of the five members basically, the way I wrote it down, said yes.
We have heard everybody in the public say yes. We went through this before when we were
dealing with the parking structures. I think its day is long overdue, and I don’t think the solution
has to be one that is necessarily the final solution here, either. If we can put something in place
short term, like what Jon was talking about, or get creative in some way to do something that is
maybe less costly but meets the immediate need, then I think we have served ourselves well.
Then in the process, if we can take a longer-term look at this and determine how we would
finance something of a more substantive nature, then great. I agree with Owen. I think the ideal
places to put these right now are City Hall Plaza, Lytton Plaza and Cogswell Plaza. That might
work as well, especially if they are more of a portable, less established unit or whatever we want
to call it, because then when we do get around to building the parking garages, and we have
talked about putting in permanent structures, the two will play off of each other and we will get
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what we need without it being a major financial impact. So those are my major comments.
Ms. Bialson: Most of my issues have been discussed. I would like to reaffirm the prioritization
that Owen placed, which is to create a lively pedestrian environment, also reestablish some
loading zones when we go through the widening of the sidewalks at various T-intersections
downtown, which I support. Lastly, the replacement of private parking. If we could have it all,
that would be great, but if we have to choose one above the other, I think we have to go with
improving the pedestrian environment. I, too, have hdard from friends and acquaintances that
they have stopped visiting downtown as often as they used to because of issues having to do with
its not being as friendly either as a result of cleanliness or poor flow, a number of issues. So it is
great that we are addressing some of those problems.
I do agree with one of the speakers who mentioned that we should have some signage to the City
Hall public toilets as being something we could immediately have. The hours of operation might
be an issue there, but City Hall seems to be the place where we can most quickly get public
toilets available for those who are downtown.
As to another issue which no one has mentioned except for one of the speakers, that is, the
lighting of the alleys between Bell’s Bookstore and Mac’s Smoke Shop. It is very, very dark,
and a hazard. I would like to see lighting improved there, and whether it be the merchants or the
property owners nearby that alley or other alleys, I think we need to start using alleys as an asset
to downtown. That would certainly be helped by improving the lighting. Whether we create
some sort of design guideline to assist them with regard to what we would find would add to the
other design elements downtown or some other feedback that we give people who come to us
with perhaps some proposal as to lighting the alleys, whatever we do I feel would be quite
helpful.
With regard to the potential sites for public toilets, I agree that security is of primary importance.
I would like to get some input from the police department as to their thoughts with regard to
what we could do to perhaps avoid as many security issues as we possibly can. I think we are
looking at having to use some of the parking structures that are planned for downtown as perhaps
the most likely place for public toilets and also the plazas that already exist, which perhaps cry
out for the French toilets, as mentioned by Vic, who seem to be the only suppliers of this sort of
toilet that seems acceptable. I like Jon’s idea of perhaps something less expensive. I know that a
lot of private clubs, schools, etc., such as Cafiada College where I just was this week, which use
those sorts of"temporary" facilities quite often, although I think I have seen the same toilets at
Cafiada College for about five years, so I don’t know where the definition falls, exactly, but
something is better than nothing. That completes my comments, and I do support all of the
comments made by Owen, Kathy and Vic in this regard.
Commissioner Schink: I agree with all of the previous comments. Everyone has covered the
various subjects very well. I only want to place some emphasis on two subjects that I feel
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strongly about. The first is newspaper racks. I feel that in approving this project, we have to be
certain that there is absolutely adequate capacity for the existing press publications that we have
in our community, as well as providing opportunities for me, when I want to start The Daily
Planet in a couple of years and compete with these other publications. There is nothing in the
constitution that guarantees that I have the right to park my bike downtown, but there is a
guarantee that the newspapers will be distributed. So we must have flexibility in the design that
goes forward. Some day in the future, if it means we l~ave to start taking out bicycle parking to
accommodate newspaper racks, that might be something we will have to look at. I am
supporting this plan knowing that what we do tonight will allow for adequate newspaper racks in
the future.
A final comment I would like to make, which hopefully has gotten attention previously but is not
really covered here, is that doing all of this will lose its value quickly if it is not maintained and
kept clean. You have heard that time and again. I really believe that the long-run solution is for
the city to look at contracting out the cleaning of the downtown. Most private businesses
contract out the cleaning of their facilities, and I think the city should treat the downtown core as
a business, just like a department store, and contract out the cleaning. In the long run, we will
get a better cleaning job. I feel it is the right way to go.
Finally, I think it is appropriate that we compliment staff on a wonderful proposal that they have
brought forward. It shows a great deal of work, imagination, and thoroughness.
Chairperson Cassel: I agree with the concern that there be adequate space for newspaper racks.
But I think we also have the right to walk down the sidewalk. I think that is what people are
feeling the frustration about. We have not mentioned that, so a lot of this effort in doing the
work for the newspaper racks is so that some of us who would like to walk along the sidewalks
without bumping into them and cross the streets can do so. That does not speak to aesthetics.
That speaks to basic safety issues. My concern is, will the newspaper customers find that they
can use these racks and use them easily and effectively at the same time that people can move up
and down the street. I feel that we must keep that focus in mind.
I have a couple of concerns about the T-intersections when we widen them and that the furniture
that is put in them is done in such a way that you can still see the businesses as you come along
the street so that it does not look cluttered at the end of the street.
I am delighted to see that we are working with Lytton Plaza as an informal gathering place. No
one here has mentioned the Civic Center as the larger, more formal, official gathering place. I
must be the only one in town who does not think this is an ugly building. I like the white
building, I like its height, I like the setting. I am sure the plaza could have been done better if it
were done today instead of 25 years ago, but it isn’t the worst thing around, having been
elsewhere.
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We have talked about the cleanliness, the intersections, the street furniture. I was disappointed
that the bunkers were not lowered, rather than being kept at the same height, that is, just cut off
and capped and not have something put on them. Somehow their height gives them that bunker
feeling, so for me, it would have been fine to have them lower. I understand the need for
protection, but it would seem more open.
I am a little concerned about the formality of the seating and that some of it is not less formal and
without backs so that it does not look empty when people are not sitting on the benches. When
you have some informal seating that does not have backs, people can just sit and rest but not lay
and stay, which is the cause of many concerns that people have with the current seating. There
are complaints that people tend to go there, lay down and spend the day there. You do not tend
to do that on seating that has no back to it. That has not really been proposed for any of these
spots, but perhaps could be done in the plaza area. It has been done elsewhere.
I was a little concerned about the D-planters and the furniture that is mounted there, to be sure
that it comes over with an adequate lip onto the sidewalk so that as people use that equipment,
that they are close enough that they do not turn their ankle. That may be the case now, but from
the pictures, it does not appear that way.
The other issue I brought up before about the public restrooms is that we have public restrooms
in the sense that the public owns those restrooms, and we have retail spaces that attract the
public, and thus have some sharing in the responsibility for providing that service. In one new
store downtown, we had two public restrooms go in. It now has one, and for some reason, the
other was closed off to be used only by staff. There are opportunities where facilities in stores
can be made available with signage easily done so that people using those stores can use those
restrooms and not feel embarrassed about having to go and ask for a key or inquire about where
the bathroom is. That would ease some of the concerns, as after all, the largest use downtown is
for people who are actually using the facility. When those stores are closed, of course, there is
no need to use the facility in that store. So there are two ways of looking at those restrooms.
I want to thank you for the good report that we have. Are there any other comments or does
someone want to make a motion
MOTION: Commissioner Schink: I would like the Planning Commission to recommend
approval of the Downtown Urban Design Improvement Project Master Plan and the proposed
initial set of improvements, as well as adoption of the negative declaration of no significant
environmental impact.
SECOND: By Commissioner Bialson.
Chairperson Cassel: Are there any further comments?
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Commissioner Byrd: As stated earlier, and Jon may not accept this as a friendly amendment or
we may have to do it separately, but I would like us to consider the cost of these improvements,
and earmark a portion of the money that would otherwise go towards the improvements to go
instead toward getting started on public restrooms. Perhaps staff could remind us. I know that
there is a financing options paper that is going to the finance committee and City Council, but
what is the rough budget for implementing this program?
Chairperson Cassel: Before he does that, Debbie, I don’t think we can do it in the format he is
suggesting. We would have to make a recommendation to the City Council. We do not control
budget.
Ms. Cauble: Certainly, the Planning Commission has the plan before it, and you can make
whatever recommendations you want to the council.
Chairperson Cassel: So Owen’s suggested amendment could be made as a recommendation to
council. The way he was wording it, it sounded like we were going to decide what items --
Commissioner Byrd: I don’t think that is what I said, and that is not what I meant.
Commissioner Schink: Maybe we can talk about this a little further so that I can make up my
mind whether I want to get it into a form so that we can include it in the motion. The way you
phrased the amendment has me concerned that we are going to ask the City Council to look at
this whole package, decide that the bathrooms are a higher priority, and throw out something else
and include the bathrooms. I am uncomfortable with that. If we want the bathrooms included,
then it is our obligation to say that we think we should say where they fall, what the priority is
for the bathrooms. If you want to rephrase your amendment to say that we think a more
comprehensive package would include the bathrooms and the city could look at its entire budget
and try to find additional money, I would feel more comfortable with that. When they are talking
about these improvements, they might think about these improvements here.
Commissioner BTrd: I will do that ifI could get an answer to what is the rough budget for
implementing this program. Then I can speak to your request.
Ms. Warheit: The money that is available in the city manager’s budget as of the beginning of
this fiscal year in July is $750,000. We expect that we can do what we have outlined in the
initial set of improvements for that amount. We are now moving into looking at construction
issues, so we are fine tuning the cost. It is like every other project. There is never quite enough
money, so there is no extra money in here at all. It definitely would mean some real changes to
what is proposed.
Commissioner BTrd: Close enough. Jon, as a result of my comments, you may not accept this
as a friendly amendment, but let me at least lay out what I am thinking. If the rough budget is
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$750,000, and we have been told that the free-standing toilets are roughly $60,000 to $80,000
apiece to install and maintain per year, I am eager to have three of them installed, one in each of
the plazas, to kick off this program. Assuming a range of money that is roughly three times
$60,000 or $70,000, it gets to you about $200,000. From my perspective, this whole program
polishes an existing jewel. The downtown already works. Its number of visitors, its rents, it
sales tax, even if we did nothing, it is still a terrific place, but we should still do as much as we
can. Within that, we need to set priorities, and I believe that earmarking $200,000 of that
$750,000 budget for the public toilets and making proportionate reductions in the scope of the
rest of this program would reflect an appropriate priority for the city.
Commissioner Schink: I am not willing to include a $200,000 annual obligation as part of this
recommendation. I would encourage you to try it as an amendment.
MOTION: Commissioner Byrd: I then offer it as a substitute motion.
Mr. Schreiber: That would be an amendment, rather than a substitute for the entire motion.
Chairperson Cassel: I will take it as a proposed amendment. Is there a second to it?
SECOND: Commissioner Schink: I will second it for discussion. I would share that I think the
bathrooms are important, but to spend $200,000 or $180,000 per year and only get three
restrooms is a bit ridiculous. There are less expensive solutions. To realize that you could
accomplish the same thing for $7,500 with portable toilets seems to me to be the way to go. I
would think that if we needed to do a pilot program, we should consider proposing a number of
portable toilets around town and try to conveniently locate them but not be too obvious. Then
see how that works in the downtown area instead of spending $180,000 to $200,000 initially.
Commissioner Byrd: Clearly, it is a lot of money to pursue this after what staff has costed out.
My concern about the portables is that they may work against the program in the long run
because of appearance, smell and other concerns that cause them not to work. I would hate to
see their being a backlash against the notion of siting public restrooms downtown because people
are opposed to that type of restroom, even if it is screened and adequately maintained. Maybe
there is an alternative between the two. Clearly, tonight is not the time to fine-tune it, but I
would still like us to take advantage of this opportunity to say, in dollars, what we think the
priority should be for providing public restrooms vis-i~-vis these other improvements.
Chairperson Cassel: I am going to vote against this, because I know that the city manager is
working on this issue. We have a certain amount of money set aside for this project in the CIP
budget. She has special funds that she sometimes is able to use. They do not commit every
amount of the dollars, and maybe we can get both out of it. So I would like to give the city
manager the opportunity to try to do that with the feeling of the urgency that people are feeling,
and to look for other options that may not be obvious to us sitting here this evening. I know they
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are pursuing this issue. Any other discussion?
Commissioner Ojakian: I want to ask Jon a quick question. Jon, included in your motion is the
notion that we at least do something in the short term about pursuing public restrooms of some
sort in the downtown, and then, somewhere down the road, we will be looking at a long-term
solution.
Commissioner Schink: My original motion was only to adopt the staff recommendation. My
comment was in response to Owen’s amendment.
Commissioner Schmidt: It seems to me pretty loud and clear that we are all very concerned
about having restrooms downtown. I think we are hoping that the city manager and the city
council can find some additional money somewhere to do this. What I would believe in
forwarding are the recommendations included in the staff report along with all of our comments.
It would be less cost-effective to start pulling apart what has been put together which is trying to
be implemented in the most cost-effective way. So our multiple comments about the importance
and urgency of doing this are the best way to forward our ideas to the council.
Commissioner Schink: My final comment is that I am not going to support the amendment. I
am glad we talked about it, and I would like to pass along to staff that I am not supporting it and
perhaps some others here are not going to support it. We really have emphasized how critical an
item it is downtown, and I would encourage you to really, really emphasize to the next person
who comes in with a PC application that this would be truly a public benefit that would probably
make a lot of planning commissioners really happy.
MOTION FAILS: Chairperson Cassel: We are now voting on the amendment proposed by
Commissioner Byrd to take $200,000 from the budget for the downtown improvements master
plan and directly apply it to public toilets in the downtown area. All those in favor, say aye. All
opposed? That fails on a vote of 1-5 with Commissioner Byrd voting in favor and Commissioner
Beecham absent.
Chairperson Cassel: We are now at the main motion. Is there any further discussion on the main
motion?
Commissioner Ojakian: I have a quick question for Jon. On the news rack issue, within your
motion, what are we saying is going to be addressed in terms of the news racks?
Commissioner Schink: My understanding from staff’s response to questions was that there was
reasonable flexibility within their proposal to accommodate what we understood to be the
requirements of the press. I also understood staff to say that we will be seeing an ordinance that
will address the first amendment concerns. That will be some time in the future, but this
proposal has enough flexibility that the ordinance can be met.
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Ms. Cauble: Ordinarily, the newsrack ordinance would not be something that comes through the
Planning Commission. In fact, the details of it will not relate to things like placement,
necessarily. That is what the master plan is for. Staff has certainly represented to you that they
feel there is enough flexibility in the plan to provide for some additional numbers beyond what is
presently projected, but I would urge that the commission, either as a part of Jon’s motion or
with a second motion, if you are particularly concerned about additional locations, that you call
that out and make that recommendation. If you have any specific direction about how that
should be accomplished, that you also deal with it. The master plan is the place to look at the
infrastructure. The news rack ordinance is going to look at how we share the resources and who
pays for maintenance, and what are the mutual obligations of the city and the newspaper. The
plan is the place to get at the overall locations.
Commissioner Ojakian: Then if I heard you correctly, Debbie, if we are interested in pursuing
additional locations, we should suggest that now. If we want to talk about the process for going
about doing that, we should talk about that now, in terms of a friendly amendment?
Ms. Cauble: Yes, that could be a friendly amendment, or a second motion after you adopt the
basic plan, however the commission chooses to address it. I do think the commission’s
recommendations on this issue, since several of you spoke to it during your comments, would be
helpful for the council to hear.
Commissioner Ojakian: Then I would suggest a friendly amendment that in regard to the
newspaper racks, we pursue additional locations and determine the number of locations and
boxes we need after a process that would involve staff, local newspapers and other concerned or
interested parties discussing the matter.
Commissioner Schink: As a point of clarification, when you say "we could consider," does that
mean it comes back to the Planning Commission for a recommendation, or are you
recommending that staff meet with those people and include that in the package that goes
forward?
Commissioner Ojakian: It is the latter.
Commissioner Schink: I would be happy to accept that as a friendly amendment if you just
strike the one word "local" regarding newspapers and simply say "newspapers."
Commissioner Ojakian: That is acceptable to me.
Chairperson Cassel: Does the seconder agree with that?
Commissioner Bialson: (Indicates no)
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Commissioner Schmidt: I do not 15elieve we have had a second to the motion.
Chairperson Cassel: Does anyone wish to second the motion?
SECOND: By Commissioner Schmidt.
Ms. Cauble: We had a so-called friendly amendment,,but it was not accepted by the seconder.
Therefore, it would have to be a motion to amend, which Commissioner Schmidt can then
second, and then you can vote on the amendment.
Chairperson Cassel: Thank you.
Commissioner Ojakian: That is what I will do.
Commissioner Schmidt: I second the amendment.
Chairperson Cassel: Is there any discussion on Commissioner Ojakian’s amendment?
Ms. Bialson: I think if we are successful in making a district rather than a corridor, there will be
places for additional newspaper racks in the cross streets and along Lytton and Hamilton. There
are some shown in the master plan already, but not nearly as many as on University Avenue. So
my view of this is that hopefully, those areas will become popular enough and will have enough
activity that newspapers will feel that having boxes located on the cross streets or on the two
parallel streets to University Avenue would be sufficient. I am concerned about impact on
pedestrian flow, and it is looking as if we certainly have quite a lot of newspaper boxes. Whether
we make them of a uniform size, shape and have them up on shelves, I still think there will be an
impact on pedestrian flow. That is what my issue was with regard to withdrawing my second.
Commissioner Ojakian: Annette, I am not sure if you are disagreeing with me. I have not
suggested in my motion any specific location that the boxes have to go into. In terms of looking
at the overall district, making sure that we have a sufficient number of boxes and that the process
that is put in place to go about determining that is a little more inclusive than the one that was
necessarily used at this stage to determine what number of boxes should be in existence.
Chairperson Cassel: You are basically formalizing what is being proposed informally, trying to
make sure that it is going to be in place.
Commissioner Ojakian: That is correct. I think my intent is obvious, and that is, I want to make
sure that newspapers have a chance to still function in this area, and frankly, I am concerned
about some of our local newspapers whose circulation is dependent upon having sufficient racks
in the downtown. Where they are located I will leave up to the process to determine.
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Chairperson Cassel: Is there any further discussion of Vic’s amendment? Could Debbie please
read Vic’s amendment?
Ms. Cauble: What I understood Vic to say is that the city should pursue additional locations for
newspaper racks and determine the possible additional locations after a process which would
involve consulting with news representatives, staff and other interested people in the community.
MOTION PASSES: Chairperson Cassel: Thank you. ,All those in favor of the motion, please
say aye. All opposed? That passes on a vote of 5-1 with Commissioner Bialson voting no and
Commissioner Beecham absent.
Chairperson Cassel: Are there any other amendments to this motion?
Commissioner Ojakian: Again, I want to go back to the motion from Jon and ask him about the
public restrooms to understand how that is handled within your motion. We talked about some
locations tonight. Is that handled in your motion? We talked about maybe pursuing some
approach that gets us some type of public restroom downtown, not necessarily a $60,000 or
$80,000 public restroom, so how is that handled in your motion?
Commissioner Schink: My motion was to recommend approval of the Urban Design
Improvements Project Master Plan and the proposed initial set of improvements. Included with
that are our comments which will be forwarded on with this recommendation. That is the extent
of what is on the floor.
Chairperson Cassel: The master plan includes some proposed locations for public restrooms on
Page 3 8.
Commissioner Ojakian: But that is not in Phase One. That is part of the master plan. So really
what your motion is doing is endorsing what is in Phase One, besides the general master plan and
what is happening later on. Is that correct?
Commissioner Schink: My motion is to adopt the master plan.
Ms. Cauble: I believe his motion was related, in part, to the staff recommendation, which is
somewhat dual and covers both the master plan, as a whole, and also the proposed initial list of
improvements. I think Jon’s motion was based on that recommendation.
Commissioner Schink: Yes, that is what I said. "...and proposed initial set of improvements."
Commissioner Ojakian: Then I will make a friendly amendment to your motion. I make an
amendment that suggests that in Phase One, we consider the inclusion of public restrooms in the
plan, the cost and style to be determined, but the locations to be in one or all three of the plazas.
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Commissioner Schink: Before I accept that, I would like to ask a question. What do you mean
by "we consider"? Do you want staff to consider, do you want staff to evaluate, recommend,
look into the cost, the feasibility?
Commissioner Ojakian: The Planning Commission should recommend. I don’t care if we say
staff. I don’t want to speak for them, and I don’t even know if we need to use the word "we." In
the recommendation, there should be included in Phase One the remainder of what I said, which
was, "inclusion of public restrooms in terms of a short-term solution, cost to be determined and
location to be the three plazas." IfI get a second on that, I will explain what I mean.
SECOND: By Commissioner Byrd. I’ll second it to hear what you mean.
Commissioner Ojakian: To go back to what I said earlier, I am not averse to including even
some sort of portable type restrooms in the various plazas as a short-term solution so that we at
least have something in place now. That does not derail or detract from the city manager’s
efforts to finding a more permanent or long-term solution. I want to get the ball rolling towards
doing something as opposed to sitting back and being dependent upon somebody else to do that.
So in essence, I am asking the Planning Commission to take some initiative on this without
having to be concerned about the $60,000 to $80,000 price tag at this stage.
Chairperson Cassel: Vic, do you want that to be considered as a friendly amendment, or are you
making a motion to amend the motion?
Commissioner Ojakian: IfI was making a friendly amendment, I would assume that Jon would
have picked up on that. But not having heard that, I guess it is the latter.
Chairperson Cassel: And it was seconded by Commissioner Byrd. So we have a proposal to
amend the motion to include in Phase One that we recommend to the City Council that they
include public restrooms in the plazas, at least on a temporary basis, cost to be determined. Is
there any other discussion?
Commissioner Schink: It is so open ended. We all want restrooms, so from that perspective, it is
agreeable. It would be more meaningful if we actually recommended a dollar amount and said
we think the city should spend $20,000 annually or some figure. Right now, it is a little
nebulous in my mind. The only reason I make the suggestion that we add a dollar amount is so
that somebody could prioritize it in relationship to the full budget.
Ms. Cauble: I am just concerned that the commission does not have before it enough
information, and would query whether even the council will be able to put a dollar amount on it,
which is why I understand Vic’s motion to be phrased in the way it was. I think staff heard the
motion that you are recommending that restrooms basically be given equal priority to move
forward in some form with Phase One improvements and that people will have to evaluate the
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cost and the style in a particular location. We do not have the numbers to come up with a dollar
amount at this point.
Commissioner Ojakian: That is correct. I am trying to do two things. One is to say that we do
not have the costs, so let’s take a look at that a little bit further on, and in the meantime, I’ll be
frank about this. I am trying to send a message, and the message is that we need to do something
and we need to do it now. How that all plays out in te, rms of the details, hopefully, by the time
the council gets it, staff will have enough information to expand on that.
Ms. Bialson: Can I suggest that we use some of the wording that Deborah just suggested, to be
given equal priority with the rest of the improvements and design aspects that are before us, and
rather than trying to have some portion of the budget allocated, just state our interest in its having
equal priority.
Commissioner Ojakian: Since we do not know what the cost is, Annette, I am not even trying to
determine whether it be put on an equal footing or even look at it that way. I think what I am
trying to do is to get us to confirm that this is, in fact, what we want to do, and if, in fact, the staff
suggests that it should be on an equal footing and the way they think they want to handle that is
to increase the budget, then great. If they think it is on an equal footing but it has to compete
within the budget, then they have the opportunity to expand upon that when this goes to council.
The main message I am trying to get across is, let’s do something now. How that all gets
extrapolated from our action until the council gets the report, staffwill have the opportunity to do
that.
Chairperson Cassel: Is there any other discussion on Vic’s motion?
Commissioner Schink: Was I to understand from the previous staff comments that the city
manager’s office is currently working on something along these lines?
Ms. Warheit: The city manager has authorized us to send a letter to the City of San Jose saying
that Palo Alto staff is authorized to work with the San Jose staff to investigate the options,
primarily to give us more .leverage as we look at suppliers.
Chairperson Cassel: But she is working on these issues in general, is she not?
Ms. Warheit: That is all I am aware of.
Commissioner Byrd: My earlier failed motion tried to peg a dollar value, as Jon suggested, and
perhaps it was the wrong one. An alternative would be to peg a percentage. I still think our
recommendations to council will have more integrity in the policy priority setting if we say that
one thing comes at the expense of another, and we understand that it is a dollar-constrained
world. What if we said 20% or 15% or some percentage of the budget be allocated toward
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implementing this program to go toward providing public restrooms downtown because we
consider it important.
Chairperson Cassel: I will make a very strong statement to you. We do not know those
numbers. We do not have those numbers. We do not know what the percentage is, and we do
not know how much it costs, and we do not know how much of a public/private partnership we
can leverage. That is why. If we from this podium st~irt telling the City Council to leverage that
specific amount of money, when we have no idea what that number is, why? You could set a
priority. I can understand your going after a priority, but I cannot understand why you insist
upon going after a number that you do not know about.
Commissioner Byrd: I heard there was one public supplier in the United States, and we have a
guesstimate on what they charge per unit. That, at least, suggests a range to me.
Chairperson Cassel: We have heard that before, so let’s see if there is any additional information
this evening that we would like to have brought forward on this subject. Is there any other
additional information? (None) Then let’s vote on Commissioner Ojakian’s amendment to the
motion.
MOTION PASSES: All those in favor, say aye. All opposed? That passes on a vote of 6-0,
with Commissioner Beecham absent.
MOTION: We are now back to the main motion. All those in favor of the motion with its
amendment, please say aye. All opposed? That passes 5-1 with Commissioner Byrd voting no
and Commissioner Beecham absent.
Chairperson Cassel: We now need to talk about future scheduling. (Discussion followed about
dates and the agenda for May 21 and May 28.)
Now, we all need to say thank you to Nancy. It has been a real joy, Nancy to work with you, and
we are going to miss you very much. It has been several years that I have been on the Planning
Commission, and I could always depend upon your comments and know what is going to be
happening. I have enjoyed the laughter and the smiles, and trust that whatever we propose you
are somehow going to handle with a gracious smile, despite what we might do or how we might
tear apart what you have done. Your work is competent and it has been a real pleasure. We will
really miss you.
Commissioner Schmidt: I would second everything that Phyllis has said. It has been a pleasure
to work with Nancy. She is always very professional, always very well prepared, always very
tolerant of us, and she tells us when we are doing a good job. It has just been great to work with
you for the time that you have been here. We will miss you very, very much, and we know that
you will always remember and we will always remember the washing machine art lady.
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Commissioner Ojakian: From a little different angle, because you are still a resident of Palo
Alto, I hope we will have your knowledge available to us, because that has been invaluable in a
lot of situations. The thing that stands out to me that I really appreciate, especially in having had
a lot of employees work for me over the years, one skill that it is hard to train people in and you
really notice it in people is when they have a good customer service attitude and understand how
to approach people even when those people come from a whole spectrum of attitudes and self-
interest. That is one of the things I am going to really, miss from the city end, but the other side
of the coin, when I was thinking about this with a heavy heart, was that I felt that I have an
advantage over everybody else, because I still get to see you on the school circuit. There is an
advantage to having children, so hopefully, my message is to just say goodbye for tonight, and I
will see on the school sites.
Commissioner Byrd: Vic has said gently what I will say enthusiastically, which is that I am
really looking forward to an unconstrained, private citizen Nancy Lytle participating vigorously
in our civic life. It should add considerable value to the public decisions that we make in this
community. So please come back often.
Commissioner Schink: I would join everyone else in saying thank you. I would like to go off on
a tangent with the comment that one of the more remarkable achievements that Nancy has
accomplished over the years is that you have truly educated the entire community about planning
issues, especially through the Comprehensive Plan. I know that the benefits are going to come to
us for many years hence. There are probably not too many people in the community who really
recognize and realize what an amazing achievement it was to bring the whole community along.
In Palo Alto, we have always been held back by our process, because our community was not
educated on where it needed to go. You recognized that, and you educated the community, and it
was a wonderful benefit. I hope that now, we will be able to implement the Comprehensive Plan
and just make the whole community a better place because you started with the education
process, so thank you.
Ms. Bialson: Unfortunately, you are leaving as I am joining the board, but I do not take that
personally! I appreciate all of your assistance in the initiation process and the orientation
process, and it was wonderful working with you in the CPAC regime for several years. I am
very, very sorry that you will not be here to continue the education of another commissioner, but
I do have your home phone number.
Ms. Lytle: We have changed our number! I would like to thank the commission, first of all, for
your very kind words tonight. It was unexpected and something that I will remember always.
Thank you also for the beautiful flowers. I was feeling very sentimental this week, and this is a
lovely way of acknowledging my last week. Because I have allowed such a long lead time for
my departure, I have had a chance to say good bye and thank most of you personally, but as a
group, I would also like to say that you are definitely the top notch, highest caliber volunteer
group I have had the privilege of working with, and probably ever will have the privilege of
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working with. I just want to remind everybody, because many people have said, how can you
leave, so I was writing down earlier, if you will indulge me a moment, who was on the
commission when I came here. Ellen Christensen, Pat Cullen, Lanie Wheeler, Pam Marsh, Joe
Huber, Joe Hirsch and Mark Chandler. Who was on the ARB when I came here? Jon Schink,
Aino De Rosa, Bob Evans, Linn Winterbotham and Shirley Wilson. Who was on the council
when I came here? Betsy Bechtel, Jack Sutorius, Emily Renzel, Ellen Fletcher, Lee Levy, Larry
Klein, Frank Pattitucci, Mike Cobb, and the only person who was here when I got here and is
still here is Gary Fazzino. Besides these new board and commission members, there has been
turnover that I will not bore everyone with, so I am one of the longevity people. So Gary is the
only one who has the right to say, how could you leave so soon. It has been a real pleasure, and I
will miss all of you, but you know I will see you around town often. I have not really changed
my number, and you are welcome to call me.
Chairperson Cassel: We will truly miss you, and there are no further words we can say. I am
sure staffhas said the same thing. I hope you have fun with your new job. It’s too bad you will
not have a vacation in between. I trust they will appreciate your work as much at your next place
of employment. Goodbye.
Ms. Cauble: I would like to state for the record that Item #2, continue consideration of the
Comprehensive Plan which you did not get to tonight, will be continued and taken up at your
special meeting on May 21.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 PM.
A: ] PCMins5 [ PC0514.rain Page 42
05-14-97
ATTACHMENT
TO:
Planning Comlnission
Architectural Review Board
STAFF REPORT
Planning Commission; Architectural Review Board
FROM:Virginia Warheit
Senior Planner DEPARTMENT: Planning
AGENDA DATE: May 14, 1997; May 15, 1997
SUBJECT:Downtown Improvements Project Master Plan and Implementation of the
Initial Set of Proposed Improvements
RECOMME}~)ATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Connnission and ARB recommend to the City Council
approval of the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project Master Plan and of the
proposed initial set of improvements and adoption of the Negative Declaration of no
significant environmental impact. In their review and comment, staff reconmaends that the
Pla~ming CommissiOnarid ~RB specific.ally .address:
The design of the initial set of proposed improvements, including
newspaper racks, benches, bicycle racks, trash containers, tree grates,
directional signs, alley signs, parking lot signs, street and parking lot
lights, improvements to existing concrete corner walls on University
Avenue, sidewalk widening, refurbishing landscaping, and paving repair.
The merits of the proposed sidewalk widening in three types of selected
locations, weighed against possible loss of a small number of parking
spaces and/or loading zones; and
o Proposed locations for future installation of public toilets in the
Downtown.
Planning Commission
Architectural Review Board
STAFF REPORT
BACKGROUND
In 1994, the City Council adopted the Downtown Urban Design Guide. In addition to
providing an urban design framework to guide development in the downtown, this
document identifies both long term and short term improvements to be carried out in the
downtown public spaces to make the area more attractive and comfortable for shoppers and
visitors. The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project is a CIP project for
implementing these improvements.
The 1996-97 phase of the CIP project was to prepare a schematic design plan and
feasibility study. The urban design firm of Wallace Roberts and Todd was hired to carry
out this phase of the project. It has culminated in the Downtown Urban Design Master
Plan that presents a carefully coordinated package of public improvements, with an initial
set of improvements identified to be installed in the first phase beginning this
Summer/Fall, 1997, and additidnal items to be implemented.in future phases of the work.
In addition to the Master Plan, an associated document, "Financing Options for Downtown
Urban Design Improvements Project" was prepared by Pacific Group. The Finance
Committee of the City C’ouficil will be r.eviewin.g this document.
This report puts forward for review the Downtown Urban Design Improvement Master
Plan, the Financing Options supplement, and the design of the initial set of improvements
proposed to be installed in the first implementation phase of the project.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project History.
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project began in April, 1996, with the first
of three public workshops to involve the general public, local business interests and the
design community in the design process. See the Public Participation section on Page 8
for a discussion of the public outreach process and of the involvement of the Downtown
a:\sr2.DIP 2
Improvements Project Steering Committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce.
Several members of the Historic Resources Board and Architectural Review Board, as well
as members of the Public Arts Commission and the Planning Commission, attended the
public workshops held in April, June and September, 1996, to participate in the
development of the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan. At the
September workshop, a quorum of HRB and ARB members .attended in order to make a
preliminary review of the design improvements being proposed in the Master Plan by the
design team. On April 16, and April 17, 1997, the HRB and ARB reviewed the final draft
Master Plan. The HRB recommended approval with conditions. ARB members gave
individual comments but delayed taking action as a Board until completion of the EIA.
The ARB members’ comments are included in the minutes of the April 17, 1997, meeting
attached to this report. A summary of the HRB action can be found on pages 7 and 8 of
the ARB minutes.
Project Description
The project area is the rectangle bounded by Alma Street, Middlefield Road, Hamilton
Avenue, and Lytton Avenue.
Input from the public during the three outreach workshops and from members of the
Downtown Improvements Project Steering Committee indicated that there was generally
no support for extensive modifications to the public areas Downtown, but rather a desire
to work with those elemen, ts that.were already in place, to replace worn and outdated
furnishings and refurbish the area. The design team concluded that the public valued a
sense of history and continuity in the Downtown, and developed a design concept that
calls for classic and enduring qualities for basic furnishings, such as seating and lighting,
and provides opportunities for art, whimiy and references to the future in more ephemeral
or one-of-a-kind elements, such as the concrete corner walls, the information kioks, and
an interactive fountain in Lytton Plaza. For a discussion of the design concept and detailed
descriptions of all proposed elements of the design plan, please refer to the Downtown
Improvements Project Master Plan.
Based on importance in improving the Downtown, and on cost, the Downtown
Improvements Project Steering Committee prioritized the various design elements that
were considered during the design process and identified an initial set of improvements
that, if approved, are expected to be installed in Summer/Fall, 1997. Other design
elements presented in the Master Plan are schematic only, with final designs to be
presented for review and approval at a later date.
a:\sr2.DIP 3
hzitial set of improvements proposed to be installed in 1997.
1. New street furniture, including benches, trash and recycling receptacles,
tree grates and bicycle racks, will be installed throughout the project area.
Drinking fountains will be installed in selected locations.
The existing concrete corner yalls on University Avenue will be
renovated by replacing the top 15 inches with a new artist-designed tile
cap and handcrafted metalwork screen panel, and the remaining portions
of the concrete wall will have a sandblasted finish.
New metal rail framework with metalwork screens will be installed on
the cross street corners to carry the eye around the corner and to define
sites for news boxes, bike parking and seating. The top screen panels will
match those on the concrete walls, and the lower two panels will be a
coordinated but simpler panel that is less expensive to produce and to
replace, if necessary.
Existing wood newspaper racks wi!l be replaced with a custom support
rack that attaches to the metal rail framework described above. All
newspaper boxes will be required to be located on the framework. A
specified standard newspaper box is required, but the boxes may be the
signature color of the publication.
A unified system of directional and parking lot signs will be installed
throughout the project area. The signs include street name signs, parking
directiorral gigns, alley name .signs, and parking lot information signs.
Three types of sidewalk widening will be installed in selected locations:
1) at corners where the sidewalk is narrow and heavily used, such as at
the corner of Hamilton and Emerson (Peninsula Creamery site) and the
corners at University Avenue and University Circle; 2) at mid-block
locations on the pedestrian alley/parking lot circulation system, such as
midblock on Emerson Street between Hamilton Avenue and University
Avenue; 3) on the west side of University Avenue at T intersections with
Florence, Kipling and Tasso. The widened sidewalks will help to relieve
crowding, improve pedestrian movement and provide additional space for
street furniture, including newspaper racks.
Street and parking lot lights in Downtown will be simplified and treated
a:\sr2.DIP 4
as an important design element by using only three coordinated types of
light poles throughout the project area: 1) the "Birmingham" style fluted
pole with cast iron base, with a teardrop shaped light on University
Avenue and in the Ramona Street Historic District and with a cobra head
fixture in other locations; 2) the standard octaflute pole with cobra head
fixture for midblock locations and,parking lots; 3) the existing acorn lights
on octaflute poles along University Avenue, modified at the base to raise
the height of the light two tt) three feet. All spun aluminum poles and
dark anodized poles with "shoebox" lights will be replaced. Additional
lights will be added where needed on cross streets and in parking lots. All
light poles will be the city’s standard infrastructure color, "padmount
green".
o
10.
11.
Sidewalk paving will be repaired and replaced in kind where necessary.
The thermoplastic bands marking crosswalks will be replaced with new
bands. Future sidewalk replacement on the cross streets will incorporate
the brick edging now in place on University Avenue to mid-block between
University Avenue and Hamilton or Lytton Avenues.
Cogswell Plaza will be refurbished with new benches, trash cans and bike
racks, replacement of some under story shrubs with new lawn area, tree
pruning, and replacement of a damaged Camphor tree in the parking strip
along Lytton Avenue and addition of new trees.
Street and parking lot trees will have an expanded care and maintenance
program; inbluding treatment for disease, fertilization, pruning, reduced
impact from paving rebair, and gradual selecti{e replacement where
necessary.
Landscape pockets along University Avenue and in parking lots will be
renovated and selectively replanted.
Conceptual proposals to be designed and submitted for review at a later date:
The following elements of the Master Plan were considered during the design
process, but are being recommended for further design development in a later phase
of the Downtown Improvements Project. The reasons for their not being included
in the initial set of improvements are discussed in the Analysis section of this report
beginning on Page 5.
a:\sr2.DIP 5
1.Improvements to Lytton Plaza
Information kiosk at Lytton Plaza and other locations
Provision of public toilets in the Downtown
Accent Lighting ("moon lighting") on University Avenue and selected
cross streets
o Catering station at Cogswell Plaza
o Special paving on Hamilton Avenue at Civic Center Plaza
Gateway markers on University Avenue at Alma and Webster
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project Master Plan will implement needed
street scape improvements identified in the Downtown Urban Design Guide, adopted by
City Council in 1994, for the purpose of keeping the Downtown a vibrant and desirable
place for pedestrians and retailers. These improvements are consistent with the Urban
Design Element of the Coraprehensive Plan, Policy 5, "Encourage rehabilitation of aging
retail areas to keep them economically healthy." ¯
DISCUSSION
Issues and Analysis.
Newsracks and Newrack Ordinance.
The proliferation of newspaper boxes, particularly on the streets in the downtown, has
been recognized as a problem both because of visual clutter and because in many locations
they impede safe pedestrian circluation on the sidewalks. In order to address this problem,
the city needed to have in place an ordinance regulating the placement of newsracks.
Alternative design and placement of newspaper boxes in the downtown could best be
develped in coordination with other improvements being planned for the downtown
sidewalk spaces. Consequently, the City Attorney’s Office has been preparing a Newsrack
a\sr2.DIP 6
Ordinance concurrently and in coordination with the development of the new design for
newsracks in the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project.
A base count was made by city staff on July 16, 1996, of the location and distributor of
all news boxes on the streets in the Downtown. The design team referred to this base data
in determining the locations and numbers of new news racks to accommodate the apparent
marketing preferences of distributors, to the extend that this could be accomplished and
meet other design objectives, such as maintaining the current amount of seating and bicycle
parking and providing unimpeded pedestrian circulation.
The proposed Master Plan identifies locations for 132 newspaper boxes, approximately
sixty percent of the newspaper display space that was identified on the streets in the base
count. The total number of newspaper boxes that could be accommodated is somewhat
elastic, in that there are some other locations in addition to those shown on the Master
Plan where the new modular framework with news boxes could be installed without
compromising other design objectives, particularly on Hamilton and Lytton Avenues. The
assigning of spaces in the new news racks will be handled through the City Attorney’s
Office. Additional locations for news boxes will be identified if it is determined during
that process that additional news boxes are needed.
Parking spaces and loading zones. The three types of sidewalk widening described on
Page 3 may, in some locations, displace loading and/or parking spaces. In some cases,
the widening can be located and designed to avoid loss of spaces, and in other cases the
impacted spaces can be relocated. Hence, the exact impact on loading and parking spaces
will be determined during the design development phase. The maximum loss of surface
parking spaces that could result from implementation of all elements of the Master Plan
is identified in the EIA as nineteen spaces. For a discussion of the impacts of various
elements of the Master Plan on parking and loading spaces, see Section 6.
Transportation/Circulation of the EIA attached to this report.
At their meeting on February 25, 1997, the Downtown Improvements Project Steering
Committee affirmed their support for widening the sidewalks at the T intersections at
Florence and Kipling Streets, in spite of the displacement of the two loading zones in
these locations, since the nearby businesses are served by rear alleys. However, the Police
Department and Transportation Division have raised concerns that loss of these loading
zones will lead to more double parking on University Avenue and congestion in the alleys.
With regard to possible loss of curbside parking spaces, the Steering Committee
recommended that sidewalk widening not displace parking spaces unless there is a
compelling design reason to do so.
a:\sr2.DIP 7
Public toilets. Provision of public toilets in the Downtown is not a part of the scope of this
project. However, the need for such facilities was introduced, discussed, and strongly
supported by members of the public at the public workshops. Mr. Joseph Baldwin has
presented the Planning Division with the signatures of over 1200 people supporting the
provision of public restrooms in the Downtown area. See attached letters from Mr.
Baldwin and Trina Lovercheck. The Master Plan identifies possible locations where public
toilets could be installed in the future, including city parking lots and new parking
structures, and in the Downtown plazas. Staff has contacted the JCDecaux company,
makers of the Automatic Public Toilets (APTs) used in San Francisco, for preliminary
information about possible use of these APTs in Palo Alto. Staff has also been
coordinating with San Jose city staff who are researching other makers of APTs and
comparing costs of providing APTs versus constructing and maintaining conventional
public restrooms. The conceptual designs being developed for the possible future
downtown parking structures include provision of space for either an APT or a
conventional public toilet. Further efforts to provide public toilets in the Downtown will
depend on direction from City Council.
Design elements deferred. The following items were considered during the design process
but were determined by the Steering Committee, either because of low priority or cost, to
be deferred to a later phase of the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project.
Lytton Plaza. There is a strong consensus among Steering Committee members
and the public that,the-renovation of this key punic space is very important.
However, since the cost of a quality redesign is estimated~ to be approximately
$350,000, this project is being recommended to be included in the next set of
improvements that are funded for impl~ementing the Master Plan.
Information Kiosk. Since the primary location for a specially designed
information kiosk would be Lytton Plaza, this item is also recormnended to be
included in a subsequent set of improvements.
Accent Lighting ("moon lighting"). The design team proposed installing spot
lights in the canopies of some of the street trees along University Avenue, and on
selected cross streets with large trees, in order to raise the light ceiling on the
streets and add visual drama to the street. This would require providing electric
conduit and power to the trees and installing and maintaining the lights. The
conduit would also provide a power source for the existing twinkle lights in the
University Avenue trees. Due primarily to concerns about the cost of maintaining
the lights, staff and the Steering Committee are not recommending that this item be
a:\sr2.DIP 8
included in the current project. However, it could be undertakenin the future if a
public/private collaboration were initiated by merchants or business owners.
According to Los Altos city staff, the City of Los Altos provides conduit and power
to approximately 250 street and parking lot trees in the downtown, and the
downtown merchant’s association is responsible for installing, removing and
maintaining lights in the trees, which in their case are only in place during the
holiday season. This public/private arrangement could serve as a model for
providing additional accent lighting in the University Avenue Downtown.
Catering Station. There was support on the Steering Committee for the provision
of a catering station in Cogswell Plaza to increase the ways in which the park could
be used. The catering station would be a locked cabinet containing water, a sink
and drain, and electricity. However, the Committee recommended that due to
limited use by the general public, it would be more appropriate for the cost of
installing a catering station to be provided by private parties, with the city handling
maintenance, scheduling and fee collection.
Hamilton Avenue at Civic Center. Civic Center plaza was not included in the
scope of this project so that attention would be focused on other parts of the
Downtown. In the course of the public participation process, the public reaffirmed
that Civic Center is the primary ceremonial space downtown where large events
would be expected to take place, as opposed to Lytton Plaza which is used for
smaller and more informal.gatherings. There was a consensus among the public
participants and the Steering Committee that because Of the ci.vic importance of this
space, special paving and other design improvements to incorporate Hamilton
Avenue between Bryant and Ramona into Civic Center Plaza should be included in
subsequent phases of the Downto’;vn Improvements Project.
Gateway Markers. The design team presented several schematic designs for
gateway structures to be located at the entrances to Downtown on University
Avenue at Alma Street and at Webster Street. There was no consensus, either on
the Steering Committee or among public participants, for any of the proposed
designs, nor for the need or appropriateness of gateway markers in general. Due to
the lack of consensus and significant cost, gateway markers were identified as a
low priority item, but one that should be revisited in a subsequent phase of the
Downtown Improvement Project.
Public Participation
The Project was begun in April, 1996, with two kick-off workshops, one for design
a:\sr2.DIP 9
professionals and one for the general public, conducted by the project design consultants,
the urban design firm of Wallace Roberts and Todd. Additional public workshops were
held in June and September, 1996. Approximately 60 people attended the first public
workshop, with approximately 30 people attending each of the other workshops. A
Walking Tour survey was prepared and distributed at the public workshops, at
Architecture Week events, and were available at the Planning Department throughout the
design process. Sixteen of these surveys were ~ompleted and returned. An extensive
mailing list was developed, including the Parking Assessment District and Downtown
Marketing Committee mailing lists, and mailed notices were sent for all public workshops
and public hearings where the project was reviewed.
A six-member project Steering Committee was appointed by the Chamber of Commerce
representing Downtown merchants and property owners, with Julia Chen, Kathleen Haney
and Tom Richman representing merchants and Jim Baer, Roxy Rapp and Warren Thoits
representing property owners. The Steering Committee held two meetings with city staff
to review and comment on the Scope of Services and held seven meetings during the
design process to review proposals and advise the design team and city staff. Some
members of the project Steering Committee are also members of the Downtown Parking
Structure Committee and of the News Rack Working Group, and they provided
coordination with these on-going related activities. Planning Department staff managed
the Master Plan and schematic design project, in close coordination with Public Works
Department staff who will take the lead in the design development and implementation
phase of the project. ,
FISCAL IMPACT ~ °
As of July 1, 1997, $500,000 has been’allocated for implementation of the Downtown
Improvements Project, with an additional $250,000 recommended in the City Manager’s
proposed 1997-98 City budget. Of this amount, $250,000 is a public benefit cor~tribution
for Downtown improvements from two Planned Community zone projects, and $250,000
has been allocated from the general fund in fiscal year 1996-97. It is expected that the
initial set of improvements identified in the Master Plan can be implemented for this
amount. Implementation of additional elements of the Master Plan is contingent upon
future allocation of funds by City Council or additional private funding.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
An environmental assessment has been prepared, and the Negative Declaration of no
significant environmental impact is attached to this report.
STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAL
This project is scheduled for review by Planning Commission on May 14, 1997; final
review by the ARB on May 15, 1997; and final review by City Council tentatively
a’\sr2.DIP 10
scheduled for June 9, 1997. The Public Arts Commission will review and approve the
design of art elements to be installed as part of the Downtown Improvements Project; in
this phase of the project, those elements are the metalwork screen panels and the tilework
and sandblasting on the concrete corner walls.
ARB subcommittee. At the time of ARB final approval, staff will request that the ARB
appoint one or two of their members to review w6rk in the field, in coordination with the
Public Arts Commission, and provide design advice on changes and design refinements
that will occur during design development, since reuse of the existing concrete walls will
require some design decisions to be made in the field.
The initial set of improvements are expected to be installed in August-October, 1997.
ATTACHMENTS/EXHIBITS:
Findings and Conditions
Letter from Joseph Baldwin
Letter from Tricia Lovercheck
Environmental Impact Assessment
ARB minutes for the meeting of April 17, 1997
Location Map
Downtown Urban Design Improvements Project Master Plan
COURTESY COPIES: ,
Downtown Improvements Project Steering Committee:
Roxy Rapp Jim Baer
Julia Chen ~°Warren Thoits
Kathleen Haney Tom P, ichman
Barbara Gross, Downtown Marketing Committee
Susan Frank, Chamber of Commerce
Prepared by Project Planner: Virginia Warheit
Division/Department Head Approval: Nancy Lytle, Chief Planning Official
a\sr2.DIP 11
PROPOSED FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS
Findings:
The Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan furthers the design goals and
purposes of the ARB Ordinance by complying With the Standards for Architectural Review
required in Chapter 16.48 of the PAMC, as desci:ibed below.
The Master Plan will be compatible with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan as
discussed in the Policy Section of this report (Standard #al).
The design is compatible with the immediate environment and promotes harmonious
transition in scale and character by using design elements that are classic and
understated, forming a background for the adjacent storefronts, and that are
consistent with the comfortable, informal character of the Downtown, which in
addition to being the central business district is a local shopping area for two nearby
residential neighborhoods (Standards #2, #5, and #6).
The Master Plan responds to the historical character of the Ramona Street Historic
District by replacing several modern light poles on this block with replicas of
existing historic light poles (Standard #4).
The Master Plan is.appropriate to the function of the project, creates a sense of
order, and provides appropriate open space and a desirable enviroi~nent for visitors
by carefully designing and locating all of the furnishings that need to be
accommodated or~ the street in a way that maintains the popular and comfortable
seating areas under the existing sy~amore trees, adds additional seating in a variety
of locations, and provides a more efficient arrangement for newspaper boxes, thus
reducing clutter and impediments to pedestrian circulation on the sidewalks
(Standards #3, #7, #8, and #9).
Access and circulation are improved for pedestrians and bicyclist by providing
sufficient and convenient bicycle parking, by widening sidewalks at strategic
locations, and by enhancing the pedestrian alley system to make it easier to move
around on foot in the Downtown (Standard #10).
The Master Plan protects natural features in the Downtown by including a Street
Tree Maintenance Plan that will improve the care of street and parking lot trees.
(Standard #11).
The materials, textures, colors and details of construction are an appropriate
expression of the design in that light poles and other infrastructure will be a single
dark color and types of light poles are limited to three similar designs, trash cans
a:\sr2.DIP 12
and benches are simple forms in natural wood or a matching dark color, directional
and parking location signs are a single color and shape, and the redesign of the
corner concrete walls will be accomplished as a single artistic composition designed
to be compatible with the other improvements in the area (Standard 1/12).
All plant materials proposed for the planting areas in parking lots and along-
University Avenue will be selected for visual interest, to shape and define planting
areas and screen cars, as well as for their low maintenance and drought-tolerant
characteristics (Standards//13, #14 and//15).
Conditions:
Improvements in subsequent phases of the Downtown Improvements Master Plan
shall be designed in coordination with all relevant city departments and shall be
reviewed and approved by the Historic Resources Board and the Architectural
Review Board.
All art elements that are included in the improvements shall be reviewed and
approved by the Public Arts Commission prior to an artist being commissioned to
design or install the work.
Transportation
3. Location and design of bicycle parking and b.~s/shuttl~ stops shall be reviewed and
approved by the Transportation Division, The number of bicycle parking spaces
shall be at least as~great as currently provided.
The design of any changes to existing curbs, traffic lanes, or pedestrian crosswalks,
displaced or relocated parking spaces, loading zones or red zones, and parking lot
signage shall be reviewed and approved by the Transportation Division.
Fire
5.Any changes to red zones shall be reviewed and approved by the Fire Department.
Police
6.Signage and landscaping shall meet the sight distance requirements of PAMC
18.83.080, applicable to project frontages where driveways are present, and in
parking lots. Landscaping shall be specifically identified in the landscape plan as
meeting these height requirements.
All non-residential construction activities shall be subject to the requirements of the
City’s Noise Ordinance, Chapter 9.10 PAMC, which requires, among other things,
that a sign be posted and that construction times-be limited as follows:
a:\sr2.DIP 13
8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday thru Friday
9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday
Utilities
8. During the design development phase of the improvements, plans shall be routed
for review by the WGW Engineering Division to evaluate impact on the City’s
utilities infrastructure.
10.
The Permittee shall be responsible for identification and location of all utilities, both
public and private, within the work area. Prior to any excavation work at the site,
the Permittee shall contact Underground Service Alert @ (800) 642-2444, at least
48 hours prior to beginning work.
Design and location of all changes to existing lights or addition of new lights shall
be reviewed and approved by the Electric Utilities Division.
Planning
11. All public trees within the area of work shall be protected during construction
activities. A plan for protecting trees shall be prepared and the protection measures
in place to the satisfaction of the Planning Arborist prior to the beginning of work.
Absolutely no construction materials or debris of any kind shall be stored or
disposed of in planting areas.
Public Works
12. A construction logistics plan shall be provided, addressing at minimum parking,
truck routes and staging, materi~ils storage, and the provision of pedestrian and
vehicular traffic adjacent to the construction site. All truck routes shall conform
with the City of’Palo Alto’s Trucks and Truck Route Ordinance, Chapter 10.48,
and the attached route map which outlines truck routes available throughout the City
of Palo Alto.
13.The applicant shall obtain a Permit for Construction in a Public Street from Public
Works Engineering for construction proposed in the City right-of-way. Sec.
12.08.010.
14.
15.
Spillage resulting from hauling operations along or across any public or private
property shall be removed immediately and paid for by the contractor. Dust
nuisances originating from the contractor’s operations, either inside or outside of
the right-of-way shall be controlled at the contractor’s expense.
The contractor shall incorporate best management practices (BMP’s) for storm
water pollution prevention in all construction operations, in conformance with the
a:\sr2,DIP 14
Santa Clara Valley Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program. The Public Works
Department shall monitor BMP’s with respect to the contractor’s construction
activities on public property. It is unlawful to discharge any construction debris
(soil, sawcut slurry, paint, chemicals, etc.) or other waste materials into gutters or
storm drains. (Federal Clean Water Act)
ATTACHMENT 8
, ~
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///
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’3AV NOA.LAG
Joseph L. Baldwin
280 Waverley Street
Palo Alto, California 94301
(415) 323-3496
April i6, i997
Virginia Warheit
Planning Department
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94301
Dear Ms. Warheit,
Here are the signatures of 1,247 citizens who strongly urge Palo Alto to provide public
restrooms downtown. Senator Cranston and Commissioner Byrd are among them.
Here is recent history:
6-24-96: I ask Council to put public restrooms on the public agenda.
7-15-96: Palo Alto Daily News reports "The Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Lainie
Wheeler favor providing public restrooms in downtown Palo Alto..."
7-22-96: I file with City Clerk 1,050 signatures supporting the earlier request.
7-24-96: Palo Alto Weekly quotes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susan
Frank: "Public restrooms are in the community interest for all patrons of the downtown,
not for any particular population."
7-31-96: Palo Alto Weekly’s "Best Of" Contest reports Best Solution to a Local
Problem is "Install public toilets downtown."
8-3-96: Palo Alto Daily News reports "Three City Council members (Anderson,
Fazzino, Kniss) have come out in favor of opening a public restroom in downtown Palo
Alto."
8-14-96: Palo Alto Weekly editorializes "It is time to squarely face the public toilet
issue."
8-20-96: Palo Alto Daily News reports "City Council will likely take up the restroom
question after it returns from vacation in September."
Now, eight months later, a large and growing number of citizens await action.
cc: City Council
Sincerely,
AT’I’ACHMENT 10
CHAMBER OF
COHMERCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I’resldent
JI]TID:Y I,, ;~ILIANT
Elcctric Ibm er R~e~rch Instilule
I’rc>ident Elect
B ~RB ~RA GROSS
% ice Prcsicleols
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RECEIVED
1 a 1997
Depr:m~en’~ ot Planning and
Coram,.,n’.tY Environment
ATTACHMENT 11
May 13, 1997
TO:
FROM:
Architectural Review Board and
Planning Commission
Susan Frank, Executive Director
on behalf of the
Government Action Council and .
Downtown Marketing committees of the
Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
RE:Downtown Improvements Project Master Plan
The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce is currently preparing
comments for the upcoming city council meeting regarding
the Downtown Improvements Project Master Plan.
We do not plan to comment on specific elements of the plan
related to furn.iture, signs, garbage cans, etc. We are planning,
however, to focus our input on ongoing maintenance of the
improvements once they are put into place. While the
business community bears responsibility for various
maintenance tasks, the city also has a major role to play in
this arena.
In our presentation to council, we hope to illustrate the roles
of both the private and public sectors, and explore ways to
work together to make the downtown a pleasant, clean and
vibrant shopping and business district.
325 Forest Avenue Palo Alto, California 94301-2515 415/324-3121 Fax: 415/324-1215
ATTACHMENT 12
May 13, 1997
PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS
329 Alma St, ¯ Palo Alto, Calif. 94301 ¯ (415) 327-6397 ¯ Fax (415) 327-0676 ¯ e-mail: price@well.corn
RECEIVED
Palo Alto Planning Commission
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
MAY 1 4 1997
Department ol Planning anoCommunity Environment
Re: Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan
Dear Members of the Palo Alto Planning Commission:
The Daily News shares the city’s concern about the number of newsracks downtown and
we understand the city’s desire to make sure the sidewalks are safe and attractive. We also
know the city appreciates the First Amendment right of publishers to distribute
newspapers. We want to work with the city to strike a balance.
The plan, which we realize is a draft, would deal a serious blow to our young newspaper
which depends on free circulation downtown.
After a meeting with Palo Alto Weekly publisher Bill Johnson, we would like to raise the
following concerns.
The plan appears to be based on the premise that the city can minimize its exposure to a
legal challenge if it doesn’t reduce the number of newspaper racks by more than 40
percent. But the census the city took of racks last summer, which concluded there were
only 219 racks downtown, is seriously flawed. It counted all free publications as one-half
and assumed that two free publications could share one box. However, both of Palo Alto’s
local newspapers N the Palo Alto Weekly and the Palo Alto Daily News N are distributed
free yet require a full-size newspaper, box.
The plan itself appears to hav~ only 125 boxes in 25 locations plus 16 boxes at the train
station. Staff said they left 16 boxes off the map, which would bring the number to 157.
That number would not even begin to accommodate the needs of area publishers. A check
this week indicated there are well over 400 newsracks downtown. The Daily News has 46
racks downtown and the Weekly has 40. Then there’s the Chronicle, Mercury, Examiner,
San Mateo County Times, USA Today, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Investors
Business Daily, Metro and at least four less-than-weekly publications.
If the 157 were’ divided equally among the daily, weekly and monthly publications, the
major newspapers including the Daily News would probably end up with five or six
boxes each. That would reduce our circulation by more than 80 percent.
The impact that would have on our paper would be overwhelming. And that’s ironic since
the City Council on March 22, 1993 voted to do whatever it could to re-establish a daily
newspaper in this city after the death of the Peninsula Times-Tribune (see attachment).
While we offer home subscriptions, our plan from the beginning was to make the Daily
News free so people didn’t feel a need to hold on to the newspaper they "bought." Instead
Page 2
they can read it and then leave it for others to read. Several people read each copy. That
saves trees and makes the ads more effective.
Our newspaper racks are effective, too. In the newspaper industry, the average rack moves
five papers a day. A good rack moves 10. Our worst rack downtown moves 45 papers a
day. We put 150 in the rack at the Post Office each day and they’re quickly gone.
What about putting more newspapers in each rack? Picking up a newspaper is an impulse
decision. If the rack says "free" and it’s nearby, you’ll probably open the door and grab
one. If the rack is hidden around a corner m in a place nobody will see m nobody will
open the door and grab a paper. Fewer locations downtown will reduce our effectiveness
for advertisers, which reduces our revenues and our ability to build this newspaper.
What’s the solution?
1. We will agree to switch to modular racks, which will cost us $500 per box compared to
the $200 price of our current free-standing racks. While this is a major expense for a small
newspaper, we respect the community’s concern about the appearance of newsracks.
2. The proposed number of racks on University Avenue needs to be increased. Eight-rack
containers should be the norm instead of four-box units since there are more than four
major newspapers serving our city.
3. More locations need to be added on sidestreets.
4. A process should be established to permit newspapers to apply for new locations and to
allow new newspapers to obtain boxes. If this plan was in effect in December 1995, we
would have never been able to start the Palo Alto Daily News. One city staffer said we ’
were lucky to have started the paper when we did. The right to publish a newspaper
shouldn’t hinge on luck.
5. The newsrack design in the plan c~:eates a serious hardship for both Palo Alto
newspapers. The plan shows newspaper racks with horizontal display windows, the type
used for broadsheet-sized papers like the Mercury and Chronicle. Both the Palo Alto Daily
News and Palo Alto Weekly are tabloid-sized publications which require vertical display
windows to properly showcase their covers. A horizontal window forces us to either
position our paper sideways in the display window or fold it in half. Neither alternative
works for us. Since this design plan is intended to last many years, it’s in-tportant that
details such as the display window are adequately addressed now.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to working with the staff to address
these concerns. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Price J
co-publisher co-publisher
MARCH 17, 1997
CITIES CAN REMOVE ADULT NEWSPAPER RACKS
By LAURIE ASSEO
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court today let California virtually ban the sale of non-
obscene, erotic publications from newsracks on public streets.
The court, without comment, turned down arguments by publishers of adult newspapers that a
state law violates their free-speech rights.
California bars th,e sale of adult-oriented publications from coin-operated vending machines in
public places, unless they are supervised by an adult or are located in an area where children
are not allowed.
The law applies to publications that depict sexual conduct in a "patently offensive" way and
lack "serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors."
Such newspapers generally contain erotic stories, photographs and advertisements, according to
court papers. But they are not considered obscene, and are displayed so that no erotic pictures
can be seen in the newsracks.
The law, intended to take effect in January 1995, was challenged by a group of publishers and
has not gone into effect.
A federal judge upheld the law. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, citing the state’s
"compelling need to protect children from these publications."
"Any youth with a few coins" can buy the publications from public newsracks, the appeals
court said. Requiring warning labels or.banning the racks from school areas would not keep
erotic material away from children, it added.
The appeals court also said adults still will be able to get the newspapers from other distribu-
tors.
In the appeal acted on today, the publishers’ lawyers said the measure unlawfully "quarantines
adults against publications not too rugged for them in order to shield juvenile innocence."
The state’s lawyers said the law properly seeks to protect children from indecent material but
does not ban the sale of erotic newspapers.
The case is Crawford vs. Lungren, 96-1092.
PALO ALTO COUNCIL TRIES TO RESURRECT PAPER
San Jose Mercury News
Wednesday, March 24, 1993
Section: Local
Page: 1B
CAROLYN JUNG, Mercury News Staff Writer
In an action characterized as either better late than never or too little too late, the Palo Alto City
C.ouncil has launched a last-ditch effort to resurrect the Peninsula Times Tribune, the local daily
newspaper that w~nt out of business 12 days ago.
The council voted unanimously (March 22, 1993) to have council members Mike Cobb, Gary
Fazzino, Lanie Wheeler and Joe Simitian head a committee to talk with the Tribune Co., which
owned the paper, and would-be buyers to explore whether the Times Tribune can be salvaged or
another daily community paper established.
"Part of what the city can do is be a cheerleader," Simitian said at a meeting late Monday night.
"Is it a long shot? Yes. But is it a long shot worth taking? Yes."
They also agreed to try to acquire the newspaper’s archives. Council members, who will report
on the status of those talks at the April 12 council meeting, admit Palo Alto should have been
more involved months ago to try to save the 100-year-old paper. But now, they are prepared to
do all they can to bring back a local voice to the community, despite efforts by the San Jose
Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner and San Mateo Times to beef up their
Peninsula coverage.
Carol Jansen, the city’s economic develppment official, already has talked with Tribune Co. rep-
resentatives.
"They were dismayed to See it all fall through," she said. "They are receptive to sitting down
and talking with us."
Menlo Park land developer Bill Watson also said he’d love to work with the city. Watson and a
small group of investors had offered $2 million for the Times Tribune and its nine weeklies. But
Watson said the deal fell apart because the Tribune Co. would not agree to pay for the cleanup
of any toxics discovered at the downtown Palo Alto plant and would not assume other business
liabilities.
"I think what the council’s done shows a lot of civic spirit," Watson said. "I’d love the Times
Tribune to come back."
WeeMy
ATTACHMENT 13
R ECEIVF _!’)
May 12, 1997
Palo Alto Planning Commission
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Re: Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan
Dear Members of the Planning Commission:
I would like to share my perspectives and concerns regarding the newsrack component of
the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan.
The proliferation of newsracks in downtown Palo Alto is indeed a problem and it is
important that some steps be taken to deal with it. The obvious challenge is to achieve an
appropriate balance between the city’s interest in improving aesth.~,tics, sidewalk safety and
meeting other competing needs for space, and the First Amendment rights of publishers to
have a reasonable opportunity to distribute.
There are two critical aspects to the city’s attempt to regulate newsracks. The first,
restricting the placement, location, appearance and number of racks downtown, is addressed in
the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan.
The second, which is not under the planning commission’s jurisdiction, is an ordinance that
will codify these restrictions and spell out the system under which newsracks will be assigned
or "rationed" to publishers.
Although the planning commission will not be addressing the legal and policy issues of how
to allocate newsrack spaces fairly, it is critically important that the commission understand the
magnitude of the problem that will be created by whatever action it takes.
The Palo Alto Weekly supports the basic recommendations of the Urban Design Steering
Committee with regards to removing free-standing racks and converting to modular units and
the "free-choice" policy on rack colors. While the Weekly and other newspapers lose valuable
visibility when deprived of the ability to place free-standing racks, we acknowledge the mess
this has created and the need to address it. Essential to this support, of course, is assurance
that the city will quickly remove any racks that are placed in violation of the ordinance.
Our sole concern regarding the Master Plan is the number of racks provided for in the
plan. The plan’calls for a total of 125 boxes in 25 locations, plus 16 boxes at the train station.
Staff has since indicated that 16 boxes were mistakenly left off the map. That means that
approximately 157 boxes are being accommodated.
We estimate that there are currently well in excess of 400 newsracks currently downtown.
On the recommendation of the city’s consultant, a count of newsracks done in July, 1996 only
counted newsracks of free publications as one-half a rack (on the premise that free
publications can be distributed in special boxes that fit two publications into the space
normally filled by one.) This produced a base count of 219, and staff apparently felt that the
city needed to provide space to at least 60 percent of the base count in order to not expose the
703 HIGH STREET o P,O. BOX 1610 ° PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94302 ~ (415) 326-8210 *FAX 326-3928
Planning Commission
May 12, 1997
Page 2
city to legal chall.enge.
Since both of Palo Aito’s most local publications l~the Weekly and Daily News) are
distributed free, require full-size racks and have significant street distribution downtown, the
1:2 ratio is completely inappropriate and results in a flawed analysis of the newsrack demand
downtown.
But while downsizing from some 400 boxes to 150 boxes is unrealistic, I believe a sizable
reduction is possible without harming publishers. First, faced with the need to invest in new
modular boxes, some publishers will simply decide against distributing downtown. More
importantly, a forced reduction in the number of boxes, assuming a fair allocation scheme,
will result in th~ removal of boxes that exist only to gain competitive advantage or to respond
in kind to another paper.
Newspapers always seek greater visibility, better locations and any other competitive
advantage they can find. As soon as one paper puts out a rack at a location, others feel the
need to do the same. At some point (which we are well past) this results in far more
newsracks than are needed to serve the reader. This uncontrolled escalation of the newsrack
"arms" race can be addressed, but city which must proceed with caution.
If a newsrack ordinance is to work fairly, effectively and within the guarantees of the First
Amendment, then the Downtown Urban Design Plan must first make sure that it provides
reasonable opportunities for the diversity of publications wanting to distribute in downtown
Palo Alto to do so, as well as permitting potential new publications the ability to compete. The
current plan fails to do this.
First, the number of racks on University Avenue and the intersections need to be
maximized. Eight-rack modular containers need to be the norm, since a four-rack modular
can’t even contain the area’s leading newspapers. With only about 80 boxes in the plan for
University Avenue and its intersections, and with at least 10 daily & semi-weekly papers and
many weeklies and monthlies, it is possible that the area’s major newspapers might have only
five or six newsracks along University Avenue. We believe additional locations should be
jointly identified by the newspapers and the staff so that at least another 25 racks can be
accommodated along University.
Second, modular locations need to be added on virtually all the side streets off of
University. While much less desirable than University Avenue, the city can’t meet even the
most basic and reasonable demand for newsrack space without providing locations on these
side streets. Doing so would make the overall downsizing less drastic and would make the city
less vulnerable to legal challenge. I would suggest that at least 100 additional boxes be
accommodated on the side streets.
Together, these two recommendations would bring the total boxes up to about 300.
Third, I want to strongly support the staff’s recommendation that newspapers be permitted
to use their signature color on their newsracks instead of a standard color. Colored boxes
within the black modular structure will contribute to, not detract from, the vitality of
downtown and will allow the newspapers to retain some of their familiar personality at the
same time.
Planning Commission
May 12, 1997
Page 2
Finally, I want the commission to be aware of the significant and unique hardship that the
newsrack provisions of the Downtown Urban Design Improvements Master Plan places on
both the Palo Alto Weekly and the Daily News. For our tabloid-size publications, the
newsracks planned for the downtown modular units hre extremely deficient. With their
horizontal windows, it forces us to either present our covers sideways or with only half the
front page showing. Obviously, neither alternative allows us to present our papers as we
would like. In addition, both papers will be forced in invest substantially in new racks after
having already made large investments in regular tabloid racks.
I know I speak for all of the major newspa.pers distributing in downtown Palo Alto inoffering to work with staff to address the various concerns I’ve outlined and others that may
be identified during your review. We hope to have the opportunity to do this prior to the
Council’s consideration of this issue in June.
Sincerely,
William S.’Johnson
Publisher
PF
The Cily of
Palo A1 to
Downtown
Urban Design
Improvements
Project Area
PC -264
ATTACHMENT 14
This map is a product
of the
City or Palo Alto GIS
5