8.3. SR 01-21-2014 City of
Elk Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 8.3
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business January 21, 2014 RaeAnn Gardner, Communications Coordinator
Item Description Reviewed by
Wayfinding Signage Program Tina Allard, City Clerk
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Approve,by motion,the hiring of Visual Communications to create a wayfmding signage program for the
city.
Background/Discussion
On January 6, 2014, the Council heard a presentation from Visual Communications regarding wayfinding
signage. Staff recommends a global,long-term,Wayfinding Master Plan Program for the following
reasons:
• The Master Plan would provide an inventory of current signage to determine areas that need to be
improved and/or where signage needs to be de-cluttered (such as the downtown parking lot).
• A plan is consistent with the Council's Beautification Goal in the adopted 2014 Visioning Plan. A
task under the Beautification Goal is to Provide Consistent and Expanded Signage.
• It would meet the Council and EDA's goals in the Powered by Nature Branding Program. A
wayfinding program would create a similar, more cohesive look and feel throughout the
community and strongly emphasize Elk River's unique identity. This would highlight and make it
easier for visitors to locate our parks and our downtown;provide for more connectivity to our
amenities. Examples would be signage along the major highways to direct people to such
amenities as the Youth Athletic Complex, Hillside Park, the downtown, etc.
• From the currently Council adopted Comprehensive Plan regarding Community Image,Public
Signage is an important element of image. Directional and informational Signage can rl7ect community image and
heritage. These public improvements should be part of broaderplans for corridor enhancements. If corridors attempt
to draav people into Elk River, signage must support this objective. Si
gnage suggests that there are points of interest
not immediately visible from the edge orgateavay. Effective signage he ps visitors navigate around the community.
• Assist in meeting the objectives of the Council adopted Mississippi Connections Redevelopment
Framework Plan. A strategy outlined for the Core Downtown is to,Develop and implement a
avayfinding signage plan, as an added connection between the core downtown area and other neighborhoods in the
study area. Transition existing regulatory and informative signage to the theme established by the signage plan.
Short-term priority Projects (0-2 years) outlined in the Framework Plan are:
o Implement a Downtown District signage plan,including parking and directional signage
NaA f RE]
o Establish historical point of view context signage.
Mid-term projects (3-5 years):
o Create interpretive signs highlighting historic occurrences along the Mississippi River trail
after trail is installed.
■ City staff doesn't have the technical resources to create a wayfinding program. Signs in the past
have been created on an as needed basis with no uniform look. This can sometimes result in the
need to go back and fix signage,which can cost more in the long run. With a Wayfinding Master
Plan Program, signs requested by departments would be required to meet certain standards before
being created and placed.
Once a program is in place the city would have the means to create some of the smaller signs with the
new printer/cutter that the Street Division purchased in 2013. The city could also move forward with the
signs for the downtown area and Bailey Point Nature Preserve.
Visual Communications would team up with HKGi who will do the research on funding sources that
might be available for the fabrication and placement of future signs.
Financial Impact
The Council has designated $65,000 from the Development Fund,which is outlined in the Capital
Improvement Plan.
Attachments
■ Capital Improvement Plan Worksheet
N:\Public Bodies\Agenda Packets\01-21-14\Final\x8.3 sr Wayfmding Hiting.docx
Capital Improvement Plan 2014 thru 2018
City of Elk River, Minnesota
Project# VW-02
Project Name Citywide Wayfinding flan
Type Study Department Administration
Useful Life 20 years Contact City Clerk
Category city-wide development Priority n/a
Description
Adopt a comprehensive and consistent citywide plan to create a cohesive wayfinding and signage experience,
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Justification
Currently,there are multiple types of signage located around the city that have little consistency. Staff does not have full expertise in design, i
signage laws,and grant finding for this type of project. Consultant will provide the staff not only with design,but also plans,specifications and I
knowledge to implement and maintain a comprehensive wayfinding project into the future,
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Expenditures 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Total
Planning/Design 65,000 65,000
Total 65,000 65,000
Funding Sources 2014 2015 2016 2017 2015 Total
City Development Fund 65,000 65,000
Total 65,000 65,000
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2014-2018 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Page 5
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