SR-1000-008 (13)
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City Council Report
City Council Meeting: October 10, 2006
Agenda Item: -.3.A
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject:
Big Blue Bus Facility Expansion Project - Revised Plan
Executive Summary
On May 9, 2006, the City Council was informed of the cost escalation on the proposed
Big Blue Bus Facility Expansion Project. In order to adhere to budgetary constraints,
the City Council directed staff to proceed with the most urgently needed Maintenance
Building and defer the proposed Administration Building construction. The existing
Administration Building on Olympic Boulevard would be retained and the intended site
for the proposed Administration Building on Colorado will be used for Big Blue Bus
surface parking. An aesthetic, pedestrian-friendly fence would surround the parking
area. This report provides information for Council input regarding the revision to the Big
Blue Bus Facility Expansion Project.
Discussion
Backqround
The original impetus for the approved Big Blue Bus Facility Expansion was the
expanding fleet of buses, primarily alternative fuel buses, and the associated needs
arising from this growth including parking, staffing, and maintenance. The plan was to
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maximize the efficiency of the site which would provide adequate bus parking and
circulation. It was also necessary to upgrade the Maintenance Facility to provide
adequate repair bays for the growing fleet.
Because the Administration Building and subterranean parking must be deferred, the
net loss of parking and yard area will be mitigated by the 100-space surface parking lot
along Colorado Avenue. To provide a pleasing and amenable pedestrian experience
along Colorado, the City's design consultants (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum) have
been working with the artist, Dan Corson, to provide a fence with integrated art. The
fence along Colorado Avenue is set back ten feet from the sidewalk to provide
landscaping. It consists of translucent 2 % foot by 5 foot glass panels set in metal
frames divided into a pattern of subtle curves to soften this "edge" and to minimize the
massing. The corner at ih Street and Colorado Avenue has a bus stop with seating.
This area also has three display cases for route information and rotating art displays.
The art component has not yet been presented to the Arts Commission and Public Art
Committee, but the concept is to integrate panels into the fence that change
translucency and color. This design approach will present an aesthetic and appropriate
"face" to the Community until an Administration Building can be added.
The next steps will be:
October 16, 2006
November 15, 2006
- Architecture Review Board (Maintenance Building)
Planning Commission (Screen wall and parking)
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November 20, 2006 - Arts Commission and Public Art Committee
December 4,2006 - Architecture Review Board (Screen wall and parking)
Spring 2007 City Council for approval of the Guaranteed Maximum
Price Amendment
Prepared by: Miriam Mulder, Architect
Forwarded to Council:
Craig Per ins
Director - Environmental and Public
Works Management Department
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1:
Powerpoint presentation of revised plan
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