HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Downtown Project Updates and SEDA Board Feedback AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 6/24/2019
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
Department: City Manager’s Office
Staff Contact: Courtney Griesel/Vahana Keene
S P R I N G F I E L D ECONOMIC Staff Phone No: 541-726-3700
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Estimated Time: 30 Minutes
ITEM TITLE: DOWNTOWN PROJECT UPDATES AND SEDA BOARD FEEDBACK
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Discuss and provide feedback on interest and prioritization of presented Downtown projects
and progress.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The vibrant activity in Downtown is promoting and creating opportunity for forward
momentum on a number of projects, including expressed property owner interest in
expansion of the Downtown street light upgrades, promotion of a pilot on-street food truck
vending program, and initiation of crosswalk art improvements. Staff will provide an update
on these concepts and request Springfield Economic Development Agency Board feedback,
interest and direction for next steps.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1 – Proposed fixture locations for upgrade
Attachment 2 – Food Truck Pilot Program Briefing Memo
Attachment 3 – Crosswalk Art Locations
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Downtown Springfield continues to see significant revitalization and energy. Businesses
and property owners remain supportive of, and energized by, SEDA and Council
investments. Active engagement with the Downtown community has resulted in expressed
interest and feedback around existing and new ideas and opportunities. Staff will provide
the SEDA Board with an overview of activities including interest in further investment in
Downtown street lights, improvements to the food truck program, and the planning for
Downtown crosswalk art review and installation.
Downtown Lighting Request: The City was recently contacted by a property owner
located at the east end of Downtown expressing interest in replacing the lighting fixtures on
Main Street between 20th and 23rd Street with existing streetlights purchased previously by
SEDA. Based on high level assessments, this project might include upgrades to nine
existing light fixtures, shown in attachment 1. Initial conversations with adjacent and
potentially impacted property owners confirmed this interest. Preliminary cost estimates by
Development and Public Works was estimated under $500,000. Next steps, should SEDA
direct, would be to explore and refine the project variables and financial impacts of a street
light project expansion for SEDA review. Downtown Urban Renewal funds would be an
eligible funding mechanism should SEDA determine appropriate. Additional detail and
refinement would be brought back in the fall for review and further direction should the
Board desire staff to move forward with evaluation over the summer.
Transient Merchant Food Truck Pilot Program: In 2013, the Springfield City Council
approved the support and implementation of a Transient Merchant Food Cart/Truck
Program with emphasis on Downtown locations. This program has not seen substantial
utilization and Development and Public Works staff, in partnership with the Economic
Development program, are proposing a pilot one-year food truck program with identified,
dedicated, pre-approved, spaces in Downtown. Further detail is included in attachment 2.
Should SEDA support this effort, the pilot program could be advertised as soon as July of
2019.
Crosswalk Art Installation. A call to artists is planned for mid-summer 2019 to generate
designs for permanent crosswalk art installations at the intersections of 4th and Main and 5th
and Main (attachment 3). The process is planned to generate final designs for SEDA Board
review and installation by the City during the fall. The call to artists would be issued during
the SEDA Board summer recess.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 1
M E M O R A N D U M Springfield Economic Development Agency
Date: 6/24/2019
To: Gino Grimaldi AGENCY
From: Nancy Jenkins, Development and Public Works
Courtney Griesel, Economic Development
BRIEFING
Subject: DOWNTOWN PROJECTS UPDATE;
FOOD TRUCKS
MEMORANDUM
ISSUE: The vibrant activity in Downtown is providing opportunity for forward momentum on a
number of projects including increased options for food and dining experiences and a specific
interest in on-street food truck vending. In recent years, the Food Truck and Cart program has
seen very little utilization due to the complicated nature of meeting site requirements. Staff is
requesting to implement a one-year pilot food truck program in Downtown.
BACKGROUND:
In 2013, the Springfield City Council approved the support and implementation of a Food Cart
program with an emphasis on Downtown. This program has struggled to incentivize the
presence of mobile/transient food carts and trucks due to the complicated process for being
compliant in public spaces, especially when changing locations daily. The community and
Council continue to express support and interest in seeing vibrant food truck and cart activity in
Downtown. For this reason, and with consideration of the complicated process and
requirements for operating in public rights of way, Development and Public Works staff are
proposing a pilot streamlined application process for food truck vendors in Downtown to include
consideration of a pre-
determined food truck
vending location located
along 5th Street in front of
the Springfield City Hall
Plaza.
These spaces, identified
in yellow in Figure 1,
could be reserved by the
food cart/truck vendors
for event related purposes
or for occasional,
recreational use. A space
could be pre-planned,
approved, and provided
for the vendor’s table and
chairs. This table would
be taken down and put
away at the end of their
scheduled time, each day.
Scheduling would be facilitated by the vendor in association with a Transient Merchant Food
Cart and City Hall Plaza application issued at the Planning Counter. The Business License
Technician would then schedule and track time using the Outlook Calendar.
Staff proposes the introduction of this proposal as a pilot process, beginning July 1, 2019 or
shortly thereafter, for the duration of one-year, to assess the food truck(s) sustainability and
profitability at the proposed and pre-approved location. The goal of this pilot is to provide and
efficient, certain, and easy process for a vendor to locate and grown their food truck business in
Downtown. This pilot might also allow staff and vendors to gain experience and refine the
Figure 1 – Proposed Pre-Approved Food Truck Locations in Yellow
MEMORANDUM Page 2
processes for expanding on-street food truck vending to other locations within Downtown.
Additionally, this pilot program could add to the welcoming environment currently created at the
City Hall Plaza, further enhancing the gathering space and adding amenities to activate the block
and support existing events put on by the Springfield Public Library and others.
At the end of the pilot year an update would be provided to the SEDA Board to reflect the use
and activity from the program and determine if the Board might desire to end, maintain, modify
and/or expand the activity.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Provide feedback and direction to staff regarding the proposed
implementation of a pilot food truck pre-approved space pilot program beginning July 2019.
PROPOSED DOWNTOWN CROSSWALK LOCATIONS
MAIN STREET 5TH STREET 4TH STREET June 2019
Attachment 3, Page 1 of 1