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CK of <br /> �._ Request for Action <br /> River <br /> To Item Number <br /> Mayor and City Council 8.3 <br /> Agenda Section fleeting Date Prepared by <br /> General Business )anuary 21,2014 RaeAnn Gardner, Communications Coordinator <br /> Item Description Reviewed by <br /> Wayfinding Signage Program Tina Allard, City Clerk <br /> Reviewed by <br /> Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> Action Requested <br /> Approve, by motion, the hiring of Visual Communications to create a wayfinding signage program for the <br /> city. <br /> Background/Discussion <br /> On January 6, 2014, the Council heard a presentation from Visual Communications regarding wayfinding <br /> signage. Staff recommends a global,long-term,Wayfinding Master Plan Program for the following <br /> reasons: <br /> • The Master Plan would provide an inventory of current signage to determine areas that need to be <br /> improved and/or where signage needs to be de-cluttered (such as the downtown parking lot). <br /> • A plan is consistent with the Council's Beautification Goal in the adopted 2014 Visioning Plan. A <br /> task under the Beautification Goal is to Provide Consistent and Expanded Signage. <br /> • It would meet the Council and FDA's goals in the Powered by Nature Branding Program. A <br /> wayfinding program would create a similar, more cohesive look and feel throughout the <br /> community and strongly emphasize Elk River's unique identity.This would highlight and make it <br /> easier for visitors to locate our parks and our downtown;provide for more connectivity to our <br /> amenities. Examples would be signage along the major highways to direct people to such <br /> amenities as the Youth Athletic Complex,Hillside Park, the downtown, etc. <br /> • From the currently Council adopted Comprehensive Plan regarding Community Image, Public <br /> signage is an important element of image. Directional and infonvational sigrrage can r efl ea community image and <br /> herztage. These public improvements should be park of broaderplan for corridor enhancements If conidonr atter?apt <br /> to draw people into Elk liver, signage must support'this objective. Signage srsggests that them are points of interest <br /> not htim edwleyl risible f vm the edge orgaten ay. Effective signage helps visitors navigate around the community. <br /> • Assist in meeting the objectives of the Council adopted Mississippi Connections Redevelopment <br /> Framework Plan. A strategy outlined for the Core Downtown is to,Develop and implement a <br /> w gyfw ing signage plan, as an added connection between the core dart ntoivn aria and other neighborhoods in the <br /> study area. Transition existing regulatory and infoimathv signage to the theme established by the signage plan. <br /> Short-term priority Projects (0-2 years) outlined in the Framework Plan are: <br /> o Implement a Downtown District signage plan,including parking and directional signage <br /> p 0 W I a E 9 B ONATURE] <br />