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Carefree Truth
Issue #824, April 27, 2020
Issue #824, April 27, 2020
Planning Director Stacey Bridge-Denzak said signage is the system that gets people from one point to another when they are looking for restaurants, retail, the Gardens, the sundial, the splash pad, and the playground. Signage can include gateways, directional signs and maps. The intention is to get people to their destination. The signage initiative was one of the suggestions in the Baker Study to revitalize the Town Center.
The Town needs expert help to develop the right strategy for types of signage and branding, so the Town sent out a Request for Qualifications, which was answered by 4 companies. After talking to all 4, Kimley-Horn was chosen, in part because their team included Carefree based sign maker Howard Bertram of Bertram Graphics, who has local knowledge to add to Kimley-Horn's "30,000 foot" overview. If approved by the Council, the team will review existing conditions and information, develop pre-trip, in-route, and post-trip strategies, develop 3 design options, and prepare a comprehensive sign plan which could be implemented all at once or over time. The proposed fee is $74,310.
Mayor Les Peterson asked if this were included in the budget. Ms. Bridge-Denzak confirmed that it was. Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if it is better to have commonality. Kimley-Horn project manager Rebecca Field replied that they would look at all the areas and prepare a comprehensive plan. They would work with existing signs and compliment those, for branded suites of sign packages that would include vehicular and pedestrian signs.
The Town needs expert help to develop the right strategy for types of signage and branding, so the Town sent out a Request for Qualifications, which was answered by 4 companies. After talking to all 4, Kimley-Horn was chosen, in part because their team included Carefree based sign maker Howard Bertram of Bertram Graphics, who has local knowledge to add to Kimley-Horn's "30,000 foot" overview. If approved by the Council, the team will review existing conditions and information, develop pre-trip, in-route, and post-trip strategies, develop 3 design options, and prepare a comprehensive sign plan which could be implemented all at once or over time. The proposed fee is $74,310.
Mayor Les Peterson asked if this were included in the budget. Ms. Bridge-Denzak confirmed that it was. Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if it is better to have commonality. Kimley-Horn project manager Rebecca Field replied that they would look at all the areas and prepare a comprehensive plan. They would work with existing signs and compliment those, for branded suites of sign packages that would include vehicular and pedestrian signs.
Rebecca Field
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer noted that there are a number of different signs around the downtown that don't necessarily work. Unlike Cave Creek, which has the shops along a major road for all to see, it's easy to drive past Carefree. We need to let people know that there is a really cool town here. How do we get them to stop? The gateways were a good start to show something is in here. But people regularly stop in Town Hall asking how to find places. The goal is to get people to turn in, then to get them around the town with signs that will do that job.
Councilman Gene Orrico asked if the names of merchants and restaurants will be on the signs. Mayor Peterson replied that the Gardens are a Town expense, but if for instance Mr. Orrico's wife wanted her consignment shop to be listed on a sign, that would be the responsibility of the merchant.
Ms. Kroyer explained that digital kiosks located in the Pavilion and other places around town are on the "wish list". These kiosks would list the types of businesses and include a "You are here" feature that would direct people to the businesses they wish to find. Ms. Field said there is a lot of good existing information. It's a matter of piecing it together, making it compliment the whole.
Mr. Orrico said there is a lot of confusion about the 100 Easy Street building where his wife's shop is located. One side of the building is 100 Easy Street and the other side is not. People say they have trouble finding her shop and are driving around in circles. Ms. Field said signs can fix that, but they are not looking to create sign clutter, so they are looking to make it as simple as possible. Implementation of the new signage can be spread out or it can be done all at once. A Utah town with whom Kimley-Horn is working is now doing incremental signage.
Vice Mayor John Crane asked how long the study would take once a contract was signed. Ms. Field said they were ready to start and hoped to have it completed in less than 6 months. But they will do outreach programs to solicit public input, and that takes time. They want to see how people get around during events with heavy traffic and to ask people for their experiences in finding places. Mr. Orrico said talking to the merchants would provide the best responses. Mr. Hatcher felt it was important to talk to visitors too. Ms. Fields agreed with Mr. Hatcher's point.
Vice Mayor Crane suggested it might be better to wait until the street that is closed for the construction of the hotel and town homes is reopened, as that might skew the results. Ms. Fields replied that Kimley-Horn is flexible and could start when the Town was ready.
The Council unanimously passed the motion to sign a contract with Kimley-Horn for the signage study.
https://vimeo.com/395762279
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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