Council Communication Office of the City Manager Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	January 7, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 35 Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-010 Submitted by: Richard A. Clark, City Manager

AGENDA HEADING:

Approval of acceptance of grant for $15,000 from the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for a digital model of downtown.

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend acceptance of a grant from the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, 1915 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, Johnny Danos, President for up to $15,000 to fund a digital model of downtown Des Moines. This model will permit the City’s downtown consultant, Erin Olson-Douglas, AIA, to show three dimensional views of concepts proposed in the downtown plan. The model is also expected to serve as a tool for assessing future development proposals in the downtown area.

FISCAL IMPACT: NONE

Amount: N/A

Funding Sources: N/A

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Council recently extended Olson-Douglas’s consultant services contract for the downtown to June 2008. As part of those services, she has identified a high quality digital model of the downtown as a key component to analyzing and communicating planned conditions in the downtown area.

She will work with Archigraphica, 6446 Harbor Oaks Drive - Johnston, Ia 50131, Jonathon Clayton, President, to incorporate existing and planned conditions in the downtown area into the digital model.

The grant application will cover costs to use this model.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

Date:  November 7, 2005

Roll Call Number:  05-2719 

Action:  Economic Development Grant to Des Moines Community Investment Corporation for commissioning a Comprehensive Study of the Downtown Area, not to exceed $75,000.  Moved by Kiernan to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: May 8, 2006

Roll Call Number: 06-944

Action: One-year agreement with Erin Olson-Douglas, 3819 Lincoln Place Drive, Des Moines, for a study of downtown development, not to exceed $94,000 with an option to extend for three months. Moved by Brooks to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: December 4, 2006

Roll Call Number: 06-2417

Action: Professional Services Agreement with Mario Gandelsonas of Agrest & Gandelsonas Architects to provide additional creative input and analysis for the Downtown Plan. Moved by Hensley to adopt. Motion Carried 6-0.

Date: August 6, 2007

Roll Call Number: 07-1474

Action: Presentation and to receive and file a Draft Executive Summary of the Downtown Des Moines Planning Project (presentation by project consultants, Erin Olson-Douglas, AIA and Mario Gandelsonas, AIA).

Moved by Kiernan to receive and file the “Draft Executive Summary – Downtown Des Moines Planning Project” and request input from the Plan & Zoning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Urban Design Review Board on or by October 1, 2007 and from the public sessions to be held at the Des Moines Central Library on September 18, 2007. Upon receipt of the input and comments, the consultants will then complete the plan report and its related documents for submission to the City Council for adoption and to the Polk County Board of Supervisors for its endorsement. Motion Carried 6-1.

Date: August 20, 2007

Roll Call Number: 07-1680

Action: Extension of Services Agreement with Erin Olson-Douglas. Moved by Coleman to adopt. City Manager to consider making this a full time position. Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: September 10, 2007

Roll Call Number: 07-1735

Action: Submission of grant application to Greater Des Moines Community Foundation for a digital model of downtown. Moved by Hensley to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

It is anticipated this model will be used to present key concepts and alternatives suggested in the Downtown Plan being undertaken by Ms. Olson-Douglas and Mario Gandelsonas and to serve as a tool for reviewing future downtown development proposals.