II) CityofDowney AGENDA MEMO
IMIEe
APPROVED BY
CITY MANAGER
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCILTO:
FROM:OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: IRMA HUITRON, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DATE: JUNE 25, 2024
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION REGARDING DOWNTOWN DOWNEY GATEWAY SIGN
CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will discuss design options for a gateway sign in Downtown Downey.
The intent of this report is to introduce the topic for discussion, and staff is seeking the City Council’s direction on which design option to move forward with.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Discuss Downtown Downey gateway sign design options, and provide direction to staff on which design option to further detail, and bring back for final approval, prior to construction document and capital improvement procurement.
BACKGROUND
At the May 23, 2023 City Council meeting, the City Council requested that staff procure for design services of a gateway sign to be located in Downtown Downey, and return to the City Council with gateway sign designs for discussion. The gateway sign location discussed by City Council is generally located at the northerly intersection of Firestone Blvd. and Downey Avenue (as pictured below), which serves as a prominent Downtown Downey gateway. The intersection currently lacks any entry monument identifier indicating entry into Downey’s downtown area.
DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGN CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS
JUNE 25, 2024
PAGE 2
In January 2024, City staff issued a Request for Proposals through the City’s open bids portal, Planet Bids, which contacts individual firms via email. Additionally, staff informed the Downtown Downey Improvement Association (DDIA) that this RFP had been released, and was available via the City’s open bids portal.
A total of 202 prospective firms received notification of the Request for Proposals, of which 40 indicated they were potential proposers. Moreover, three (3) of these firms, reached out with further questions regarding the RFP, to which the City responded via the Planet Bids’ portal. When the RFP process closed, one (1) proposal had been received from Graphic Solutions.
The proposal was evaluated by four (4) staff members from the City Manager’s Office, Community Development, and Public Works Departments. The evaluation team reviewed the firm’s technical experience, project management approach, and its understanding of the City's requirements, scope of work, and objectives. After completing this process, staff found Graphic Solutions to be a qualified firm to provide professional design services for a gateway sign, and entered into a Professional Services Agreement in April 2024, in a not to exceed amount of $23,990.
ANALYSIS
Conceptual Design Process
Staff solicited input from the Downtown Downey Improvement Association (DDIA) regarding the gateway sign design. The DDIA indicated that gateway sign design should be “modern , techy, futuristic, and spacy.” City staff (Community Development and Public Works Departments) held a kick-off meeting in late April 2024 with Graphic Solutions to discuss the City’s vision for the downtown gateway sign design and shared the DDIA’s feedback.
Graphic Solutions provided seven (7) conceptual gateway sign designs for staff’s review in May 2024. City staff held a second meeting with Graphics Solutions in May 2024, to review and provide feedback on the first round of conceptual designs. When providing feedback, staff considered the DDIA’s vision and also continued to emphasize that designs should be elevated to ensure that the gateway sign embody a unique prominent design at the downtown entry point that is inspired by Downey’s history and future.
Graphic Solutions subsequently revised the conceptual gateway sign designs, and submitted three (3) designs to be presented by staff to the City Council Downtown Subcommittee for review and feedback.
On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Downtown Subcommittee, comprised of Mayor Pro Tem Hector Sosa and Councilmember Horacio Ortiz, reviewed the three (3) conceptual
DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGN CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS
JUNE 25, 2024
PAGE 3
gateway sign designs, and recommended that the City Council select the Intersecting Arches design (Attachment A).
Specific feedback included:
•
•
•
•
Liked the intersecting arch design; clean modern chrome finish Removal of “gold leaf finish’ capsule at the top of intersecting arches Provide an optional alternate design that shows removal of suspended, halo- shaped LED digital display
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Intersecting Arches Conceptuat Design – Daytime Rendering The Intersecting Arches design is designed to celebrate Downey’s contributions to space exploration. Stylishly welcoming visitors through the gateway’s gently curving arches inspired by the parabolic trajectory of a rocket, and the chrome finish mirrors the sky and the surroundings. Thin suspension cables create the impression that the lettering and electronic screen are floating, furthering the archway’s relationship with the sky. The halo shaped display screen represents the City’s outlook for the future, “Downey: Future Unlimited .”
DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGN CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS
JUNE 25, 2024
PAGE 4
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Next Steps
Should the City Council approve a conceptual design to move forward, the following Phases would occur:
Phase 2 - Continue with development of site study and construction documents for the selected sign design. This task would begin in July 2024 and conclude by December 2024, resulting in the preparation of full constructions documents that would be used for the construction bid process.
Phases 3 - Staff would then move forward with the construction bid process, which would tentatively begin in December 2024 and conclude by March 2025. It is projected that the City Council would award the construction contract at a City Council meeting in March 2025.
Phase 4 – The construction of the gateway sign would begin immediately, in late March/early April 2025, and conclude by June 2025. This tentative construction timeframe is subject to change, depending on material lead-times and weather. •
•
•
Costs
It is anticipated that the costs related to the design, development, and construction of the Downtown Downey Gateway Sign will be expended from the Art-in-Public-Places special project fund.. It is estimated that Phase 2, the development of a site study and construction documents, will cost approximately $25,000. Furthermore, it is estimated that the associated materials and construction costs for the gateway sign will run from $150,000 to $300,000, depending on design and further site analysis. There is enough funding in the Art in Public Fund to cover these estimated costs.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
Efficiency & Adaptability
DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGN CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS
JUNE 25, 2024
PAGE 5
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Design options presented to the Downtown City Council Subcommittee
DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGN CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS
JUNE 25, 2024
PAGE 6
Attachment A
Downtown City Council Subcommittee Design Options Presented on June 17, 2024
Intersecting Arches
Conceptual Design
This gateway sign design celebrates Downey’s contributions to space exploration. Stylishly welcoming visitors through the gateway’s gently curving arches inspired by the parabolic trajectory of a rocket, and the chrome finish mirrors the sky and the surroundings. Thin suspension cables create the impression that the lettering and electronic screen are floating furthering the archway’s relationship with the sky. The halo shaped display screen represents the City’s outlook for the future, “Downey: Future Unlimited.”
Intersecting Arches
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Artscape
Conceptual Design
This gateway sign design is inspired by the area's vibrant and ecletic art sculptures. Envisioned to become a part of the City’s public artscape. The first angular “arch” gateway represents the City’s past and the second angular “arch” represents the City future. The concept also features a dynamically
programmable light strand canopy that could be customized for nighttime illumination to create a festive atmosphere for all Acting as a physical gateway into downtown, the structure would illuminate at night to become an inviting beacon. This gateway would not only serve as a striking visual landmark, but would also reflect the artistic spirit of Downey, as well as symbolize its “bright future”
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tiConceptual Design
This gateway design uses materials to represent the
development of technology, suggesting Downey’s agricultural roots, and important place in the history of space exploration With the use of stone, sleek metal, and changeable lighting within this design, visually demonstrates the community’s progressive technological advances. The cantilevered gateway gently “spotlights’and illuminates downward to welcome
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