To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Rick Tooker, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Michael Walker, Senior Planner
TITLE:
Title
Calistoga Avenue Historic District Identification Signage Program
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution directing the installation of Historic District signs within the Calistoga Avenue Historic District, and determining that the actions authorized by this Resolution are exempt from CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
BACKGROUND
Based on a recommendation from the Cultural Heritage Commission, Staff contracted with a design consultant, Amy Linn of Linn Design Studio, to prepare proposed designs for a Historic District Sign Program to identify and promote the City’s historic districts. The City Council reviewed the proposed designs of the historic signs at the April 18, 2017 meeting, and Council directed staff to prepare a cost analysis and implementation strategy for the installation of historic signs within the Calistoga Avenue Historic District, to serve as a pilot program for implementation in other historic districts in the future.
PROPOSED SIGNAGE
The attached sign program (Attachment 1) focuses mainly on the City’s only designated Landmark District, Calistoga Avenue, and the National Register District, Napa Abajo-Fuller Park. The sign program also contains recommendations for signage colors and icons for each of the City’s seven potential historic districts, which can be further refined when each district is formally designated as a City Landmark District. The following is a description of the key components of the program:
Bronze Medallions - Medallions would appear on signage and could also be used as resource identification. Options include a medallion that is consistent for all districts (“Heritage Napa”) or unique to each district.
District Gateway Pole Sign - Contains a medallion, name of historic district, and district logo. Poles sign options include a larger rectangular sign and smaller oval sign.
District Gateway Monument Sign - A monument sign similar to the one on the riverfront promenade which contain a medallion, welcome text, and a map of the historic district. Monuments will also contain “smart technology” in the form of a QR Code or similar smart phone scan code to link to walking tours or additional historic district information. Monument signage can also be in the form of a Gateway Interpretive sign.
District Identification Sidewalk Marker - These markers are a bronze plaque installed in the sidewalk, unique to each district.
CALISTOGA AVENUE DISTRICT SIGNS
Upon direction from the City Council to prepare cost estimates and an implementation strategy for the Calistoga Avenue Historic District, Staff, the City’s consultant, and the Cultural Heritage Commission commenced a walking tour of the Calistoga Avenue District as part of the June 8, 2017 Cultural Heritage Commission meeting. The purpose of the tour was to survey potential locations for Gateway District Pole Signs, Sidewalk Markers, and a potential Monument Sign located on private property.
The recommendation of the Cultural Heritage Commission was to locate Gateway Pole Signs at six general locations within the District, two Sidewalk Markers at the intersection of Calistoga Avenue and Seminary Street, and placement of a Monument Sign on private property on the southwest corner of Calistoga Avenue and Seminary Street (see Attachment 2).
Staff contracted the services of Neil Colwell of Well Design to provide an estimate for the fabrication and installation of the signs for the Calistoga Avenue District (see Attachment 2). The cost to implement the pilot program is $37,202.33.
NEXT STEPS
Upon Council’s approval of the resolution attached to this report, Staff will proceed with the fabrication and installation of the pilot program within the Calistoga Avenue Historic District. Staff is working with the Public Works Department on obtaining the proper encroachment permits required for installation within the City right-of-way. No disruption of private property is anticipated with installation. Staff is also working with the property owner of the property at the southwest corner of Calistoga Avenue and Seminary Street to secure the easement for placement of the Monument Sign. All property owners within the Historic District will be notified prior to installation of the signs.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
Funds for the Historic District Signage pilot program were budgeted through the normal process and this action simply utilizes already appropriated funds and will have no impact on budget or fund balance. The Capital Improvement Program budget for FY 2017-18 included expenditure of $50,000 for the pilot program. Funding for future historic district signage will occur through the normal budget process as needed.
CEQA:
City staff recommends that the City Council determine that the Recommended Action described in this Staff Report is exempt from CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 which exempts minor alterations of existing public facilities.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Resolution
EX A - Historic District Sign Program
EX B - Location Map
ATCH 2 - Estimate from Well Design for fabrication and installation of signage
NOTIFICATION:
None.