AgdaPkt 2005-09-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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��-/ REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council And the Redevelopment Agency Board From the City Manager and the Executive Director September 26, 2005 Subject Wayfinding and Directional Signage program Recommendation Review, modify if appropriate, and approve the concept for the Wayfinding program and authorize staff to proceed with the necessary steps to finalize design development and obtain bids for the fabrication of the signs. Background The "legibility" of downtown has been one of the key issues to be addressed as part of the revitalization effort. The Downtown Funding Plan adopted by the Council in the fall of 2003 recognized this and allocated funding for "Gateways and Directional Signage." The issue has also surfaced in public meetings as well as in Councilmember comments on various items brought to them over the past few years. In the public meetings held on the parking management plan, the issue surfaced repeatedly. Comments included: "we need consistent signage", "each garage should have a`you are here' map in a kiosk", "signage at freeways", "provide gateways at each of (the parking lots)", "identifiable logo and signage", "color code parking lots", "we need better signage", "signage is key", and "signage is very important; make it easy to find downtown and then parking". Staff has been working with Catalyst Design and VKF for the past several months to define a new Wayfinding program, primarily a signage program, to assist visitors in finding their way into Downtown Redwood City. The main objective of the program is to orient the first-time visitor and pedestrians to key destinations and parking facilities throughout downtown. The intention is to create a distinctive, elegant and simple program that is unique to Redwood City, enhances the sense of place and helps build an identity for the downtown. The WayFinding program encompasses several elements: signage, "you are here" maps, the identification and use of "mini-districts" to help orient people, and improved pedestrian lighting. Because the program is largely visual, it is difficult to capture in a narrative. Staff and Catalyst will make a Power Point presentation of the design concepts at the Council meeting on September 26 and will have handouts supporting the presentation. Many factors had to be considered in the design of the Wayfinding program. From the beginning, the scope of the project was determined to be citywide. The way in and out of the downtown for vehicles starts at the freeway exits from I-280 and US 101 which are located at either ends of Redwood City's urban boundaries. The proposed program concept identifies possible sign locations near exits as well as along the freeways. We have contacted 1:�2005 STAFF REPORTS, AGREEMENTS\09-2005\ Wa�nding 1