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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2000-022 Millennium Plaza Project sponsored by the Allied Arts Council of Yakima ValleyRESOLUTION NO. R-2000- 2 2 A RESOLUTION stating the City Council's support of the Millennium Plaza Project sponsored by the Allied Arts Council of Yakima Valley, WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has been designated by the National Endowment for the Arts as the only Millennium Arts Project Site for the state of Washington; and WHEREAS, the Allied Arts Council of Yakima Valley has been selected as the host organization for development of the Millennium Project during the year 2000; and WHEREAS, the Allied Arts Council has engaged Wen -ti Tsen, an internationally known artist, to come to our community and oversee this project; and WHEREAS, the Allied Arts Council has initiated a project to build and maintain a public plaza, to be known as "Millennium Plaza" that will bring people together to celebrate our community, will attract visitors to our downtown and our City, and will stimulate additional pedestrian activity in support of downtown vitality; and WHEREAS, the Millennium Plaza is proposed to be located on City -owned property across South 3rd Street from the landmark Capitol Theatre and the Federal Courthouse, where it would highlight the important contribution these exceptional buildings make to the community, as well as support Yakima's successful downtown Farmer's Market; and WHEREAS, the city -owned property is now improved for public parking and the Allied Arts Council is committed to developing and maintaining the proposed Millennium Plaza so the parking spaces are rearranged without any net loss of parking spaces, and WHEREAS, the Allied Arts Council is committed to developing and maintaining the proposed Millennium Plaza at no cost to the City; and WHEREAS, the proposed site has been reviewed and recommended to City Council by a unanimous motion of the Downtown Area Redevelopment Committee (DARC), and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to support the Millennium Plaza as it has been proposed, now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The City Council hereby expresses its support of the Millennium Plaza Project sponsored by the Allied Arts Council of Yakima Valley and requests the Allied Arts Council to prepare a final site plan and requests City staff including members of the legal, finance and planning staffs to work with the Allied Arts Council to prepare and propose an agreement between the City and the Allied Arts Council of Yakima Valley for realization of the Millennium Plaza Project., ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this ID day of February, 2000. i4(/ 4e -C Mary Place, Mayor ATTEST 1<e4,,,„„ fit--¢-,.✓ Karen S. Roberts, City Clerk Downtown Area. Redevelopment Committee Co -Chairman Jar Arcand Herb Hill Steve Caffery Co -Chairman Bill Moultray Terri Powell Mel Lewis Joe Morrier, Jr. Pat Gilmore Joe Mann Don Moen February 3, 2000 The Yakima City Council Yakima, WA 98901 RE: Use of the Third Street DARC Parking Lot Dear Council Members: We, the Downtown Area Redevelopment Committee support the development of a permanent freestanding public art piece reflecting our history to be located in the parking lot across from the Capitol Theatre. The sculpture — tentatively called the Millennium Plaza is being proposed by the Allied Arts Council of the Yakima Valley. Our community was selected as the location for Washington's Millennium Project — one of only 50 cities nationwide to receive this honor. The Plaza will be (approx.) 88' x 110' and is intended to be as much as a public gathering place as an art piece. The Allied Arts proposal is able to create this space lot. Grants and a public fund raising campaign completed this year. We also see this improvement complimentary piece to the Capitol Theatre neighbo without the loss of any parking stalls in this will fund and maintain it, and, it will be as a positive attraction to Downtown, and, a rhood. We encourage the City Council to approve the improvement of this site by Allied Arts. Sincerely, The Undersigned Members of D.A.R.C. P A •f /2 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. For Meeting Of February 15, 2000 ITEM TITLE: Authorization for Allied Arts Council of Yakima Valley to build and maintain a public plaza on City owned property (Parking Lot #2) located on South 3r Street /7 tt•• SUBMITTED BY: v'William Cook, Director, Department of Community and Economic Development CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: William Cook, 575-6113 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Background: In June, of 1999, Governor Gary Locke announced the selection of Yakima as one of only fifty cities nationwide to be funded by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts to produce a Millennium Art Project. Yakima is the Washington State site for a project called "Artists and Communities". As the applicant for this program and funding, the Allied Arts Council of Yakima Valley, is the host organization responsible for the development of the millennium project. Proposal: With the help of the internationally known artist, Wen -ti Tsen the Allied Arts Council is proposing to build and maintain a public plaza. As proposed, the plaza will bring people together to celebrate our community, attract visitors to our downtown and our City, and stimulate additional pedestrian activity in support of downtown vitality. The public space will honor the important role the Capital Theatre plays in the life of our City and region and will build upon the success of the downtown Fanner's Market in stimulating the rediscovery of downtown and importance of community. At their February 3, 2000 meeting the Downtown Area Redevelopment Committee (DARC) approved a motion recommending Council approval of the 3rd street site and authorizing the attached letter to Council. With your approval of this resolution, staff will prepare and execute a Development agreement for the construction and maintenance of this public plaza at no cost to the City of Yakima and contingent upon legal, finance and planning review. Resolution X Ordinance Other (Specify) Letter from DARC dated 2/3/2000 Contract Mail to (name and address): Phone: Funding Source _General Fund ��v��G°��,. APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve Resolution BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: COUNCIL ACTION: annium roject Digital Color Orthophotography flown 08/30/95 — Project Area 0 30 60 Created: February 10,2000 INTER -OFFICE MEMO February 14, 2000 TO: Bill Cook FROM: Judy Arington SUBJECT: Use of Parking Lot #2 for Millennium Project I received a call from Bev Orteig, Sports Center, at 5:10 p.m. January 14th regarding using Parking Lot #2 for the Millennium Project. She basically expressed these concerns. 1) She stated there had not been enough input from the businesses located adjacent to the parking lot. The businesses she mentioned were hers and Hoppers. She recommended someone observe the use of this parking lot both during the day and especially in the evening. She stated Hopper's clients use the lot from 7 p.m. at night and it is full. 2) Removal of the alley presents a safety hazard for pedestrians and prevents police vehicle ability to observe activity. Currently there are 10 cars parked with the alley splitting the lots. She felt that by utilizing the alley for parking spaces it removed the walk area for pedestrians finding their car and police vehicle access. In addition, she stated currently the alley is lit and provides a feeling of safety when walking to locate cars. 3) She thinks this project being placed in Parking Lot #2 is a bad idea. She recommended finding another spot in the downtown. She suggested the old Jade Tree lot. She would come to Council tomorrow and voice these concerns but she will not be available.