HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19750910 Councilmembers present were Nina Johnston, Jenifer Pedersen, Michael Behrendt and Mayor
Standley plus City Manager Mahoney, Bill Kane, Robin Molny, Fritz Benedict, Greg Cole and
Lois Butterbaugh. Mall Commission members were Mary Helen Cattell, Don Fleisher, Nancy
Snell and Lary Groen. Mayor Standley opened the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
Kane explained that this was Council's chance to see the plans and discuss the financial
needs for the Mall. Councilman Behrendt said that he would like to see Independence Square
and the mall extend out and create "moments to remember" for both tourists and residents.
Councilwoman Johnston asked about acquisition of the Ski COrp. property to which Nancy Snel
noted that it wasn't in their budget for this year. Kane asked if they could respond to
the design as presented. Mrs. Johnston felt that water was a must with Mayor Standley
questioning whether it would flow year-round? Benedict said that it was possible to have
it flow in the winter. Fleisher asked how they felt about the grid system vs a free form
system. He explained that he had been in favor of free fOrm until it was explained that
the grid system co-ordinates the mall area. Groen felt that once the snow comes and is
plowed, they'll have a free fHrm anyway. Lou Wille arrives.
Molny felt that the grid system was the unifying element to the mall and a grid would not
be inflexible. He explained that downtown lots are 30 feet wide, making for mathematically
easier divisions of the area. Councilwoman Johnston wondered if the mall would be on level
and would there be a sidewalk to which Molny replied in the negative to the latter. He
felt that there could be an emphasis on stores, buildings through the grid system though
the position against it was that it was too formal and rigid.
In terms of color, Molny said that there would be subtle paving and strips of the most
prominent color in the downtown area - that of peach blown sandstone (reddish). Councilman
Behrendt asked about heating with Molny and Mayor Standley feeling it was unfeasible becaus
of the energy shortage and costs. Benedict suggested that by letting the snow pile up unti
hardened, that this would save the City money and also cause less accidents than if the
snow is plowed down to street level.
Molny said that they had tried to enunciate the traffic patterns with subtle indications of
how to get around for tourists and there would be a shoveling pattern also. Behrendt
was concerned about the bowling alley effect and was it intended? Molny noted that it was
intended and was part of the view plane to the mountain. Molny explained that the paver
would be a baumonite with sections connected with steel plates that would be bolted on.
With these steel plates can be bolted a lampost or articles of furniture. Mrs. Johnston
asked about drainage problems. Molny said that there would be a pitch to the pavement to
handle most runoff but wouldn't handle a large flooding. Behrendt asked if they weren't
contemplating undergrounding the drainage system with Kane responding that that was the
general proposal using inverts (grates.in s~m~eets) and subdrainage. Bill Dunaway asked
about the planters since he felt that all people needed was a place to walk. Molny said
that they were only on schematics now and not details such as the furniture. Behrendt
asked if it would be unileuel with Cole noting that there would have to be some constraints
such as accessway for deliveries and buses. Groen said that the water gave the idea of
grade. He felt that Wille's suggestion of planters provided some vertical space and asked
if there would be portable planters. Molny said that the smaller ones would be portable
with Wille noting that the larger trees will have to be in the ground. Cole noted that
they had to be placed so that there is access for emergency vehicles.
Benedict said that they could leave out the grid when the mall curves. Fleisher questioned
Council's feelings on Wagner Park. He said that they would like to have Council give final
instructions whether to include Wagner in their design. Also did they want it passive or
active. Councilwoman Pedersen was emphatically in favor of it being active. Molny went
over the three alternatives of Wagner: leave as is but improve the functions (ice rinks,
lighting); Combination of sports with trees and passive park; study the landscape and make
it similar to formal Garmisch's central park. Behrendt was in favor of including it and
felt that they should ask the County for title. He was also for it being active but liked
the berms if they didn't cut off too much. Benedict noted that they had a problem with
the alley and couldn't berm in that area. Council was generally in favor of bringing the
park out towards the east, also. Dunaway pointed out that the berms will be covered in
winter by the snow and they don't want people walking over it and tearing them up. Mayor
Standley liked the idea of the park being passive with a formal garden since winter is
a wasteland on Wagner. Mrs. Pedersen felt that when they took the sports out of Wagner, it
created a hazardous situation because of the traffic. Miss Cattell asked if there would
be trees in the berms with Molny feeling that to make it more vital, they should be there.
Benedict felt that there should be more trees arOund the edges also. Mrs. Johnston said
that she would like to see Wagner like MacArther Park in San Francisco with its gently
rounded walks and trees. It was determined that more of Council was in favor of the active
park so the architects were to work around the playing area.
Standley said that it was now up to Council to decide if they want and can fund the debt
service. Mahoney felt that the time schedule for completion needed tightening with equipmen
lined up the 10th of April and shut down the 1st of July so as to not hurt business. Ms.
Snell felt that this might cost them more if they have double crews to get it done in that
short a time period but Cole actually thought it might cost less. Mayor Standley noted
that they were talking about a 10-12 week construction time table with shops operational
at the end of the 12th week. Behrendt suggested coordinating with the Design Conference
and other events. Cole noted that the bond might not be sellable and Mrs. Butterbaugh
questioned whether they could go with a reduced figure. She asked if they could cut off
a block and Molny responded that the Mall Commission had decided to leave the present malls
as is and do the periphery first if they can't get all the money now.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Susan B. Smith, Deputy City Clerk