[00:00:10]
[CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL]
STARTED.THIS IS A, UH, REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION.
UM, STAFF, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLE? YES, SIR.
CHAIRMAN CARROLL PRESENT CHAIRWOMAN LEWIS PRESENT COMMISSIONER FRANCO, RESIDENT COMMISSIONER MINORS, PRESENT COMMISSIONER NAO.
ROBLEDO MR. TANIGUCHI COMMISSIONER FRAIL COMMISSIONER ROLE IS IN MS. SHIRLEY.
COMMISSIONER COLEMAN, PRESENT COMMISSIONER WATLEY.
YES, PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER LOGINS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T HEAR A RESPONSE, BUT I SEE COMMISSIONER TENANT GUCCI ON HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COUNTED THEM AS PRESENCE.
[1A. Discussion and possible action to evaluate and make recommendations regarding whether Block 16, addressed at 320 E. 2nd Street, complies with the Urban Design Guidelines, for the City of Austin; Todd Runkle Gensler, Richard Suttle Armbrust & Brown, PLLC., Cameron Campbell Campbell Landscape Architecture]
STRAIGHT INTO NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING WHETHER BLOCK 16.ADDRESS AT THREE 20 EAST SECOND STREET COMPLIES WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, UH, CITY HALL.
ARE YOU BRINGING UP THE PRESENTATION? SURE.
IF I MAY, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TWO COMMISSIONERS ON THE CALL THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES.
I'LL LET THEM GO AHEAD AND INDICATE WHY THEY, THEY BOTH WORKED FOR THE FIRM THAT IS DOING THIS PROJECT.
AND MARTHA ALSO LETS YOU SEE MYSELF.
DO WE STAY ON THE DIAS OR DO WE LOCK UP? WE CAN STAY ON, CORRECT? YES.
YOU CAN STAY ON TERRIFYING IF SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING, JERRY.
THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE MAY STAY ON THE LINE.
JUST NO PARTICIPATION OF ANY TIME PLEASE.
WHILE THIS ITEM IS BEING DISCUSSED.
DO WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION TO BE BROUGHT UP? WHICH FILE WAS THIS ONE? ITEM ONE.
A I'VE GOT ONE FOR BLOG 16 AND THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER FOR AN UPDATED SITE PLAN, A BLOCK 16.
UH IT'S I DON'T WANT A, SOMEONE NEEDS TO TURN OFF THE THING AND THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER 10.
16 IS THE APPLICANT READY? OKAY.
SO OLD AND LISTENED TO THAT AGAIN.
BUT I THOUGHT I JUST HEARD THAT, BUT I SHOULD STILL BE WRONG.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO MUTE THEIR TV.
I'M HEARING THE FEED COME THROUGH AGAIN.
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OKAY.RICHARD, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OUT? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, SINCE WE'RE GETTING OFF TO A LITTLE BIT OF A LATE START AND THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFICULTIES.
I'M WORKING ON THE BLOCK 16 PROJECT.
I THINK TOM'S GOING TO KICK OFF THE MORNING AND COME THROUGH AGAIN.
POWERFUL KICK OFF AND WE'LL UH, PRESENT FOR THE DENSITY BONUS.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, SINCE WE'RE GETTING OFF TO A LITTLE BIT OF A LATE START, TODD, YOU NEED TO MUTE THE BACKGROUND, AUDIO THAT YOU'VE GOT GOING ON.
I CAN HEAR SOMETHING COMING FROM YOUR, I CAN HEAR THE TV FEED COMING FROM YOUR MIC OFTEN.
HOW ABOUT THAT? I'M STILL HEARING SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND.
YEAH, FOR THE, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, HOW ABOUT THAT? THAT BETTER.
WE'RE STILL HEARING THE ECHO ABOUT IS THAT BETTER? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? TODD? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON IN THE BACKGROUND? WELL, YOU'RE MUTED NOW.
CAN YOU HEAR, I'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE ON THE BACKGROUND RUNNING.
SO FOR SOME REASON I'M STILL GETTING THAT ECHO FROM YOUR MIC.
I DO NOT KNOW WHY IT'S LIKE A DELAY FROM THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD.
I'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE RUNNING IN THE BACK HERE.
I'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE ON THE BACKGROUND RUNNING.
SO THROUGH SOME OF THESE AND OKAY, TODD, LET'S TRY SOMETHING.
I HAVE EVERYONE ELSE MUTED ON THE LINE AND UH, I'M STILL GETTING THAT ECHO FROM YOU, TODD.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DELAY SITUATION.
HOW ABOUT THAT? IS THAT ANY BETTER? OKAY.
SO YEAH, WE'RE STILL GETTING THAT ECHO FROM YOU.
UM, THE DELAY FROM THE CONVERSATION PRIOR, UM, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST TRYING TO CALL IN, UM, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE EITHER YOU HAVE ANOTHER TAB OPEN OR NOT.
I MEAN, I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE A CAUSE MY DIS DISCONNECT, TODD AND REJOIN ON JUST YOUR COMPUTER.
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SURE.IF I MAY, THIS IS WHAT AGAIN? YES, PLEASE.
IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN BEGIN THE PRESENTATION? WELL, OKAY.
HOW ABOUT THAT? IS THAT BETTER? I THINK THAT MAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
BUT SAY I WAS FIXING TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.
I TRUST YOU EVERY TIME RICHARD ARE RIGHT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN INTO EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR LETTING US HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF MANIFOLD TO PRESENT THE BLOCK 16 PROJECT, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE PROJECT IS LOCATED AT THREE 20 EAST.
SECOND STREET IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SECOND STREET BETWEEN TRINITY AND SAN JACINTO.
AND THE LOT AREA IS 35,309 SQUARE FEET.
YOU CAN GO ONTO THE NEXT PAGE PLEASE.
AND CURRENTLY THE CURRENT ZONING IS CBD AT EIGHT TO ONE FAR.
UH, WE ARE ASKING THE COMMISSIONER AND THE CITY TODAY FOR AN INCREASE IN ZONING OF 21 TO ONE FAR OR AN ADDITIONAL 13 TO ONE FAR IS BEING REQUESTED.
IF YOU WANT, IF YOU'D GONE TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE, YOU CAN SEE IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL LOCATION, THE RED BLOCK, UH, JUST NORTH OF CESAR CHAVEZ, UH, THE TRANSIT, THE CURRENT TRANSIT PLANS, AS WE'VE INDICATED HERE, THE PROXIMITY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, AS WELL AS CESAR CHAVEZ, THE NEXT PLACE.
AND JUST BRIEFLY, UH, THE PROPOSED BUILDING IS A OFFICE AND RETAIL BUILDING ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
THE TOTAL BUILDING HEIGHT IS 723 FEET 47 LEVELS FROM THE GROUND 17.
THE FIRST FIRST FLOOR WILL BE OFF IT OR WILL BE, EXCUSE ME, WE'LL BE LOBBY ADDITIONAL 17 LEVELS OF BOTH GRADE PARKING AND THREE LEVELS OF THE LOW GRADE PARKING I IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL FAR, UH, WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS IT IN DETAIL.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS TO MEET THE GREAT STREETS.
AND THEN WE ARE COMMITTED ON BEHALF OF MANIFOLD TO MEET THE AUSTIN ENERGY, TO START PROGRAM.
UH, AS MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE CALL PREVIOUSLY FROM THE FIRST MEETING, UH, WE HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE COMMENTS AND WE WERE POINTING TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE ITEMS IN QUESTION IN DETAIL AND CERTAINLY CAN, CAN GO THROUGH ANY OTHER GREATER QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE FOR US TODAY.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS POTENTIAL PROJECT, AS WELL AS WHAT WE FEEL THE COMMENTS WERE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE BUILDING, BOTH TO GIVE IT SOME LOCAL CHARACTER, TO SOFTEN IT UP BOTH AT THE STREETSCAPE AND THEN PROVIDE SOME MORE DETAIL ON THE AMENITY DECK AT THE VERY TOP OF THE BUILDING.
AGAIN, THIS, THIS PROJECT WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING ALL THESE DETAILS WITH YOU.
AND I HAVE TWO OTHER PARTNERS IN THE FIRM, UH, TRAVIS ALBRECHT AND DIEGO LIMA, WHO ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR TEAM AND THEY'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE DETAILS AND WE WILL DO, UH, DO THE PRESENTATION COLLABORATIVELY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THE COMMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
AND SO WITH THAT, TRAVIS AND OR DIGO WOULD YOU LIKE TO START, OR CAMERON CAMPBELL I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED TO, UH, AS THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
SO WOULD, Y'ALL LIKE TO TAKE THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION ON THE GROUND FLOOR.
UH, AS I SAID, MY NAME IS TRAVIS ALBRECHT, UH, UH, DESIGN DIRECTOR IN THE AUSTIN OFFICE.
AND, UM, WE WANTED TO FOCUS YOU ON THE GROUND LEVEL, UH, PLANNING, UH, UPDATES THAT WE'VE MADE.
AND, UH, LAT, AS TODD MENTIONED, REALLY TAKING A LOT OF YOUR COMMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS, UH, SESSION INTO ACCOUNT.
AND SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS, UM, SECOND STREET ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, SEND YOU NO ON THE LEFT AND TRINITY ON THE RIGHT, UH, IT'S A HALF BLOCK SITE AND WE'VE, UH, PUT THE LOBBY
[00:15:01]
AT THE CENTER OF THE BLOCK, WHICH ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR RETAIL ON BOTH SIDES NOW.SO WE'VE TAKEN A HARD CORNER AT EAST SECOND AND SAN JACINTO AND CREATED A RETAIL SPACE THAT BOTH CONNECTS TO OUR COLONNADE AND PLAZA, BUT ALSO SPILLS OUT INTO THE CAFES ZONE ALONG SECOND STREET.
UM, AND THEN ACTUALLY HAS A CONNECTION TO OUR LOBBY SPACE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THEN WHAT WE'VE DONE SINCE THE LAST ITERATION AS WELL IS NOW FLIPPED THE CIVIC PLAZA OVER TO THE CONVENTION CENTER SIDE.
SO ALONG THE TRINITY STREET, SO AS PEOPLE, UH, VISITORS AND AUSTINITES SPILL OUT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT, UH, OPENING IS COVERED ABOVE AND CREATES A NICE SHADY PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, UH, FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO SPILL INTO, UH, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RETAIL THERE, UM, HAD A CAMERA AND HAS SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, EXHIBITS THAT WE'LL EXPLAIN IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL HOW THE LANDSCAPE AND THE GREAT STREETS PROGRAM INTERACT WITH OUR GROUND LEVEL.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT, UH, TO THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, IS THAT THE LOBBY, UH, WHILE IT OCCUPIES A BIG STRETCH OF THE STREET FRONTAGE, UM, THAT IS RECESS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COVERED OUTDOOR SPACE FOR THE PUBLIC.
UH, AND THERE WILL BE LOOSE SEATING, UH, IN THAT CAFE ZONE AS WELL AS UNDER THE COLONNADE.
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE A ROBUST, UH, PROGRAM INSIDE THE LOBBY, UH, WHERE WE WILL, WHERE THE PLAN IS TO SHOWCASE ART, UH, IN A GALLERY STYLE.
SO THE PUBLIC IS INTENDED TO REALLY MOVE IN AND THROUGH, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THIS PROJECT ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE.
UM, AND THEN ONE OTHER THING TO NOTE ON THE, UH, NORTHWEST CORNER THERE ON SAN JACINTO, WE HAVE CREATED A, UH, SEPARATE, UH, LOBBY ENTRANCE AND ELEVATORS, WHICH IS FOR THE TENANTS OF THE BUILDING TO ACCESS THE BIKE STORAGE, UH, AND CHANGING FACILITIES, WHICH ARE ON THE LEVEL ABOVE.
UH, SO AGAIN, ENCOURAGING, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE, UH, IN A DENSE PART OF DOWNTOWN WITH LOTS OF TRANSIT OPTIONS, UH, THE PROJECT IS COMMITTED TO MAKING BIKING, COMMUTING, UH, MUCHIF MUCH MORE EASY AND READILY ACCESSIBLE.
UM, I THINK WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND STUPID DRIVERS IF I CAN ADD ONE THING, A COMMISSIONER COLVIN.
I THINK WE MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS IN OUR WORKING GROUPS THAT WE GET INCREASE THE MIX OF USES ON THE GROUND FLOOR AS WELL, THE AMOUNT OF RETAIL SPACE ON THE CORNER OF SAN JACINTO.
AND SECOND, UH, IT HAS GROWN IN TERMS OF PRIZE.
AND AGAIN, THEN CAMERON CAMPBELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UH, THE MOBILE KIOSK IN TERMS OF ADDING A DISCOUNT MIX OF RETAIL AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH A SERIES OF DIAGRAMS AND IMAGES.
I'M KIND OF HELPING BREAK DOWN THE CLOSET DESIGN AND THE INTERFACE WITH GRAPE STREET.
UM, SO WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A SITE ACTIVATION DIAGRAM THAT SPEAKS TO THE VARIOUS USES OF THE PLAZA.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT TWO LARGE ANCHOR RETAIL SPACES, ABOUT 1900 SQUARE FEET ON THE WESTERN SIDE AND ABOUT 14, 1500 SQUARE FEET ON THE EAST SIDE.
UM, BUT IN TERMS OF MIXING GALE AND, UM, VARIATION AND FLEXIBILITY, WE REALLY, FROM THE, FROM THE BEGINNING THOUGHT ABOUT THE COLONNADE AND THE CAFE SEATING ZONE, UM, ALSO BEING ACTIVATED BY MOVEABLE FOOD PARTS OF SEE OFF LIKE LITTLE ICE CREAM STANDS OR HOT DOG STANDS, OR, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT, UM, DIFFERENT TENANTS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO FILL IN BETWEEN.
AND SO ON A SCREEN, YOU CAN SEE THREE PURPLE, UM, PART KIOSK LOCATION, UM, PROVIDING ANOTHER LEVEL OF RETAIL EXPERIENCE FOR THE CAFE SEATING ZONE THAT COULD ACTUALLY MOVE AND, UM, KIND OF BE WORKED IN AND AROUND DEPENDING ON THE SEASONALITY OF THE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND HOW PEOPLE MIGHT USE IT, UM, AS TIME CHANGES AND THINGS EVOLVE.
AND SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY IS A BIG PART OF THIS KIND OF OVERALL DRAMATIC DESIGN.
UM, WE'VE GOT OUR BIKE PARKING ON ALL OF THE THREE STREETS.
WE'VE GOT BENCHES, WE'VE GOT, UM, OUR STREETLIGHTS, WE'VE GOT, UM, SOME TRANSITIONAL KIND OF CONNECTION AREAS LIKE THE MAIN ENTRANCE PLAZA AND HOW PEOPLE WOULD FLOW FROM INDOORS TO OUTDOORS AND CIRCULATE AROUND THE PERIMETER.
THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED WITH A RED DASH LINE.
UM, SO WE'VE GOT OUR 10 FOOT PEDESTRIAN ZONE THAT RUNS ALONG SECOND STREET AND THEN NORTH, SOUTH ALONG SAN JACINTO AND ALONG TRINITY,
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WE'VE ALSO GOT THE MULTIMODAL TRANSIT EXISTING WITHIN SECOND STREET AND TRINITY AS WELL.UM, SO WITHIN THE COLONNADE, WE ALSO ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEATING COMPONENTS, HAVE A TABLE THAT ALSO WILL EXIST WITHIN THE CAFE SEATING ZONE AND THEN ALSO LOUNGE CHAIRS, UM, THAT CAN BE REPOSITIONED.
UH, THE MOVING THROUGH PARTS MIGHT BE PROGRAMMED IN DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, WE ALSO REALLY ENVISION THAT THE, UM, POLLINATED COLUMN COULD BE ACTIVATED IN A VERY INTERESTING WAY WITH SITE LIGHTING.
AND SO I THINK WITH THAT, YOU CAN GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A SITE LIGHTING DIAGRAM FOR A STREET LEVEL.
UM, WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF, UH, STONE BENCHES THAT EXTEND ACROSS SECOND STREET THAT WOULD BE LIT FROM UNDERNEATH.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME KIND OF THEMATIC SECTIONS OF WHAT THE LIGHTING WOULD BE FOR THOSE.
WE'VE GOT THE COLONNADE, UM, LIGHTING WITHIN THE SOFFIT.
WE'VE GOT, UH, LIGHTING UP LIGHTING ON THE COLUMNS THEMSELVES.
AND THEN ON THE EASTERN SIDE ALONG TRINITY, AND SECOND, THE GRADE IS DROPPING OFF AND WE HAVE ONE FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL FOR THE, THE LOBBY AND PROVIDE A LEVEL OF ZONE FOR THE CIVIC PLAZA.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF THREE STEP RISERS THAT STEP UP TO THIS PLAZA WHERE WE WANT TO ADD EMBEDDED DEPTH LIGHTING ALONG THAT PORTION AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES OF GLOWING PAVER LIGHTS THAT WOULD BE EMBEDDED IN BOTH THE GRENADE AND IN THE CAFE SEATING ZONE THAT HAVE SOME PRECEDENT IMAGERY, THIS CLAIM, WHAT THAT LOOK LIKE IN A SECOND.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE LIGHTS GOING OUT FROM THE, THE LOBBY AND THE GALLERY SPACE FROM WITHIN AND THE RETAIL AND GOES IN THE SPACE.
UH, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT FLOOD.
SO THESE ARE SOME PRECEDENT, IMAGES AND STUDIES OF WHAT THAT BENCH WOULD BE LIKE ALONG SECOND STREET.
UM, WE ARE STILL STUDYING THE EXACT MODEL, LIKE LENGTH OF IT, HOW IT WILL INTERACT ON BOTH SIDES WITH THE CAFE ZONE AND ON THE PEDESTRIAN, UM, UH, THREE SIDE WITH THE IDEAS THAT IT WOULD BE LIT FROM THE GROUND, FROM THE BOTTOM BASE AND PROVIDE A SERIES OF KIND OF GLOWING EFFECT ONE ON ONE SIDE AND SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ON THE OTHER.
SO I THINK THAT THE CENTRAL IMAGE IS GOING TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF KIND OF THE DESIGN INTENT AND URBAN, UH, ACTIVATE THAT URBAN EDGE, BUT ALSO PROVIDE THAT FLEXIBLE FEEDING ON THE BACKSIDE WHERE WE HAVE THAT DOUBLE ROW EITHER.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, ON THE CIVIC SIDE, ON THAT SOUTHEASTERN EDGE, WE DO, UM, ARE, ARE CREATING A PLACEHOLDER FOR A SIGNIFICANT LARGE SCALE SCULPTURE OR ART PIECE THAT IS TO BE DETERMINED ON THE POINT IN TIME.
UM, WE DO HAVE A WATER FEATURE LOCATED IN THAT LOCATION.
UM, BUT REALLY WHAT A LOT OF IS DOING IS PROVIDING REALLY A VERY SHALLOW REFLECTION POOL TO LIGHT THIS UP.
AND I THINK THAT IS A, ESSENTIALLY A PLACEHOLDER OR A CANVAS FOR WORKING WITH, UM, WE HOPE, UH, LOCAL ARTISTS TO DESIGN THAT AND SIZE APPROPRIATE, UM, UH, DESIGN STUDY TOGETHER.
SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF HOW THAT WILL BE A VERY STRONG URBAN AND CIVIC ANCHOR TO THAT CORNER BACK BY THE LOBBY AND THE RETAIL SPACE ON THAT EASTERN SIDE, YOU GOT THE NEXT SLIDE.
UH, THESE ARE SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF THE BENCH AND, UM, THE STEP LIGHTINGS AND PERHAPS BOLLARDS THAT WE MIGHT BEGIN TO EXPLORE ON THE CENTRAL, UM, LOBBY OPEN SPACE WHERE WE HAVE A GAP BETWEEN THE BENCHES.
UM, SO FROM THE GROUND PLANE, I THINK WE SEE IT AS VERY, UM, VISUALLY STIMULATING, BUT ALSO TRYING TO BE SUBTLE AND UNIFYING AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT STEP.
ALSO, THE BENCHES YOU GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, ANOTHER COMPONENT IS WITHIN THE LOBBY.
THAT'S VERY OPEN GALLERY SPACE THAT WE'LL BE HOSTING A SERIES OF.
WE HOPE IT'S A ROTATING EXHIBITION, ART GALLERY TYPE, UM, DISPLAYS.
UM, BUT THE SOFFIT INSIDE OF THE GALLERY, UH, THE LIGHTING, UM, THE DESIGN INTENT HERE IS TO MIRROR THAT LIGHTING ONTO THE GROUND PLANE.
YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE IMAGE ON THE TOP AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM, RIGHT? THE IDEA OF THAT LIGHTING AND A GRID, UM, SPANNING FROM THE COLONNADE OUT INTO THE CAFE ZONE, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT.
SO, UM, DESIGNED FOR FLEXIBILITY MOVEABILITY OF THE FURNITURE, THE KIOSK
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AND SO ON, BUT ALSO REALLY INTEGRATING, UM, ART AND VISUAL ELEMENTS THAT HELP ACTIVATE THE ENTIRE, UH, SAFE STATE, UM, ALONG SECOND STREET, UM, THAT REALLY ENGAGES WITH THE BUILDING AND, UM, KIND OF THE CIVIC RELATIONSHIP ALONG ALL THREE.DOES THE NEXT SLIDE? THERE YOU GO.
UH, I THINK CAMERA WAS JUST GOING TO PASS IT OFF TO ME.
I AM A SENIOR PARTY DESIGNER AT GENSLER, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CAMERON ON THIS PARTY FOR SOME TIME NOW.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO WALK US THROUGH, UM, A COUPLE OF PERSPECTIVE, UH, RENDERINGS OF THE GROUND LEVELS, SO WE CAN KIND OF GET A FEEL FOR WHAT ALL THESE DESIGN MOVES IN PLAN MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO GO OVER THE OVERALL TOWER DESIGN AND HOW THAT LAYS OUT OF THE MOVE UP THE BUILDING.
UM, SO HERE, WE'RE ON THE CORNER OF SAN JACINTO AND SECOND STREET, UM, AND HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN START TO REALLY SEE ALL THESE POINTS THAT TRAVIS AND CAMERA WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, THE CLEARLY DEMARCATED KIND OF PEDESTRIAN ZONE FOR WALKING ALONG SECOND STREET THROUGH THE DOUBLE LA OF TREES SEPARATED BY, UM, THE LOW LINE BENCH TO OFFER A DIVERSITY DIVERSITY OF SEATING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE CAFES ZONE SEATING THAT'S OUTSIDE, UM, WITH SHADING ELEMENTS, WHETHER THOSE ARE, UM, UMBRELLAS OR, OR SOME KIND OF LOWER ELEMENT IN ADDITION TO THE TREES.
AND THEN OUR RETAIL WAS STARTS TO BREAK DOWN SCALE TO A MORE KIND OF PEDESTRIAN SCALE, UM, FEATURING WOOD DETAILING AND A LOT OF MORE EARTHY MATERIALS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE TENANT WILL IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED ON THIS, BUT THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN START TO SEE THAT KIND OF UNIFORMITY THAT ALSO, UH, CREATES A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF USE AND, UM, BRINGS A LOT OF DIVERSITY OF USES AND USERS TO THE SPACE.
UM, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THIS IS NOW ON THE OPPOSITE CORNER.
THIS IS ON TRINITY AND SAND AND SECOND STREET, EXCUSE ME.
UM, HERE, YOU CAN GET A SENSE OF THAT CIVIC PLAZA AND, UH, THE TIME OF THIS PRESENTATION IS PRETTY TIMELY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GETTING SO USED TO THE HEAT OUTSIDE, RIGHT? SO WE WERE VERY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO PROVIDE THAT SHADE AND ALSO THAT PUSH RELIEF BEING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO ON THOSE CONVENTION CENTER DAYS, YOU HAVE A VERY CIVICALLY MINDED PUBLIC SPACE WITH A LARGE WORK OF ART, THE LARGE BODY OF WATER THAT CAN BOTH PROVIDE SHADE AND A SPACE TO GATHER AND COLLECT.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE FLEXIBLE CAFE SEATING, THE FIXED, UM, SIDEWALK, BENCH SEATING AS WELL.
UH, AND AGAIN, THOSE DIFFERENT ZONES, THE CIVIC SPACE IN THE BACK, THE CAFE ZONES, UH, MORE IN THE FOREGROUND THAT BENCH, AND THEN THE ACTUAL PEDESTRIAN ZONE, UM, EVEN CLOSER TO THE CAMERA MOVING ALONG THE STREETS EDGE.
UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.
LET ME JUST ADD A FEW THINGS, A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE WORKING GROUP AS WELL.
UH, DIGO MENTIONED IT, BUT JUST THE MATERIALITY, UH, ADDING THE WORD IN TERMS OF THE RETAIL STOREFRONT ALSO WOULD ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BUILDING SOFFIT ALONG SECOND STREET AS WELL.
AND THEN ADDING IN SOME SOFTER, SOFT SEATING, AS WELL AS SOME CAFE STYLE SEATING TO, TO SOFTEN THE, THE ENTRY AND THE APPROACH AND THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE INTO THE BUILDING, PROVIDING A LITTLE BIT MORE LOCAL MATERIALS, BUT ALSO THE CLADDING ON THE EXTERIOR COLUMNS ALONG THE PLAZA.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT STONE AND SOMETHING MAYBE LESS THAN MARBLES WOULD, IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT MORE SOFTER, A LITTLE BIT MORE LOCAL FEEL, UH, WITH, WITH WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING CURRENTLY.
ONE MORE POINT ON YOUR LAST SLIDE, THE PERSPECTIVE TO ADDRESS ANOTHER COMMENT IS, UM, THE CORNER OF SECOND AND TRINITY THERE, THEY'RE ALSO INCORPORATING THE EXISTING WAYFINDING MAP THAT ARE JUST THERE.
UM, IT'S NOT SHOWN IN THE PERSPECTIVE AS IN OUR SITE PLAN, UM, IT'S BETWEEN THE LIGHT POLE AND THE FIRST LIGHT BULB THAT WILL AND CAN STAY IN PLACE THERE AS WELL.
APOLOGIES FOR GETTING THE POINTS.
UM, NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THE TYPICAL OFFICE PLANS.
SO, UM, W WE BREAK THIS BUILDING UP INTO A LOW RISE, HIGH RISE OFFICE SCHEME, HERE ARE THE LOW RISE OFFICE GAMES.
SO THIS IS SERVED BY THE LOW RISE ELEVATOR BANKS.
UM, AND, UH, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON OUTDOOR SPACE AS WELL.
UM, NOT ONLY AT THE GROUND LEVEL WITH THE PULLING BACK OF THE ENTRY TO PROVIDE THE COLONNADE AND THE CIVIC PLAZA,
[00:30:01]
BUT ON EVERY LEVEL AS WELL, WE'RE PROVIDING, UM, TWO BALCONIES FOR EVERY SINGLE OFFICE LEVEL.UM, AND OUR LAYOUT ON THIS BUILDING OVERALL WAS TO LAY OUT TRADITIONAL LOW RISE CORE, AND THEN LAY OUT, UH, A TRADITIONAL HIGH RISE CORE AND ALLOW THOSE TWO TO KIND OF, UM, CREATE A DIFFERENCE.
AND IN THAT DIFFERENCE, WE GOT, UM, A VERY WONDERFUL OVERSIZED AMENITY DECK AS WELL, WHICH WE'LL SEE THAT'S ON LEVEL 36.
SO HERE ARE THE TYPICAL LOW RISE LEVELS.
WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
YOU CAN SEE THOSE TYPICAL HIGH RISE LEVELS AND HOW THE BUILDING PULLS BACK TO MAINTAIN OUR TYPICAL LEASE BANDS OR A OFFICE BUILDING AS WELL.
AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE HOW THAT CREATES ON LEVEL 36 IS REALLY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR AN OVERSIZE, UM, AMENITY DECK ON THIS LEVEL THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF ACCESS FOR EVERYONE IN THE BUILDING TO HAVE, UM, OUTDOOR ACCESS AND BE ABLE TO USE FOR FLEXIBLE WORKING, UH, FLEXIBLE SEATING OR, UM, KIND OF INTERNAL EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND I WILL LET CAMERON TALK ABOUT THE LANDSCAPING ON THIS LEVEL.
THANKS BIG O CAUSE YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ON THE EASTERN PORTION, UM, WE HAVE A LARGE OUTDOOR GARDEN AMENITY DECK WHERE WE ARE CREATING A PERIMETER PLANTER, RAY PLANTER WITH SHADE TREES THAT WILL SHADE THE SOUTHERN SUN, BUT ALSO, UM, ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE, UM, PROVIDE A NICE QUIET BUFFER, UM, IN KIND OF INWARD LOOKING, UM, OUTDOOR SEATING AREA.
WE'VE GOT AN OPEN LAWN SPACE, UM, WITH NEW FURNITURE, BUT ALSO THE SHADE STRUCTURE WITH PICNIC TABLES THAT WILL BE LIKELY VISIBLE FROM THE GROUND OR SOMEBODY 35, UM, LOOKING UP AND THEN WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE CORRIDOR FOR OUR WINDOW WASHING EQUIPMENT AROUND THAT PERIMETER.
SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO CARVE OUT A NICE MEDICAL THEN GARDEN SPACE WITH A WRAPAROUND PLANTER AND SHADE TREE.
UM, ON THE NORTH SOUTH AND EAST SIDE, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, THIS, THE DIAGRAM LOOKING AT THE OCCUPIABLE SPACE AND HOW THOSE ZONES PLAY OUT, UM, TO KIND OF PROVIDE THEM VERY STRONG, INDOOR OUTDOOR RELATIONSHIP ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE, PULLING BACK THE PLANTERS TO CREATE A PERCH, UM, EDGE CONDITION, TO LOOK OUT, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN URBAN SITUATION THERE, BUT MOST OF THE MAIN GATHERING SPACES WILL BE WITHIN PLANTING AREAS, UM, AROUND THE PERIMETER.
THAT'S WHY, AND THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW THAT, UM, WILL FEEL VERY, UM, RESIDENTIAL IN LA, VERY COMFORTABLE, VERY LOOP.
UM, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED ON THE GROUND PLAN DESIGN FOR FLEXIBILITY, HOW THE TENANT MIGHT CHANGE OVER TIME, BUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEING THAT PERIMETER PLANTING FRAME THAT, UM, WILL BOTH BE EXPERIENCED FROM WITHIN THE PLAZA, BUT ALSO BE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET, LOOKING BACK UP, WE'LL ALSO PROVIDE SOME SHADE AND, UM, SOME PROTECTION WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE LIKELY WINDSCREEN, UM, ON PORTION, BUT, UM, WE'RE STILL STUDYING EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS AT THIS POINT.
I THINK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO PRESENT.
UM, UH, THIS IS DIEGO GREENLIGHT AGAIN.
UM, SO HERE ARE THE BUILDING ELEVATIONS, UM, AS HE GETS TO SEE, AND THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN START TO SEE THAT ARTICULATION OF THAT LOW RISE AND HIGH RISE PORTIONS OF THE OFFICE LAYOUT AND THAT OVERSIZE AMENITY THAT REALLY GETS NOTICEABLE.
I CAN SEE IT'S A STRIKING AND UNIQUE PROFILE FOR THE, UM, FOR THE SKYLINE OF AUSTIN.
IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE CAN SEE SOME RENDERINGS OF THE OVERALL BUILDING, UH, FOR YOU GET A SENSE OF HOW IT SCALES AND HOW UNIQUE IT HAS OF A PROFILE AND IS IN THE CITY SKYLINE.
UM, SO THIS IS A VIEW LOOKING AT IT FROM THE SOUTHWEST, UM, EXCUSE ME.
SO HE'S LOOKING AT IT AT THE BUILDING OVER THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, HERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM ALMOST DUE WEST, LOOKING FORWARD WITH CONVENTION CENTER, UM, AND AGAIN, VERY UNIQUE, UM, KIND OF AN PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN TYPE OF BUILDING FOR THE AUSTIN SKYLINE.
IF YOU GO TO ONE LAST SLIDE, WE JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
[00:35:02]
THANK YOU GUYS.ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? SOMEBODY ELSE GO FIRST, BUT I'LL GO FIRST.
UH, LET'S GO BACK TO THE STREETSCAPE AGAIN.
I HAVE A WASTED CONCERN EARLIER ABOUT BIFURCATING, THE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT, AND I SEE THAT THERE'S BEEN A CAFE ZONE IDENTIFIED.
CAUSE I THINK THAT THAT SELF ALLEVIATES A PART OF MY, UM, BUT IF LET'S SAY, IF YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF FOOD SERVICE OR COFFEE SERVICE, HOW DOES THAT SPACE WORK AND ARE THE SPACES EQUAL? IT LOOKS LIKE THE BENCH IS GOING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
DO WE PULL UP THE GROUND FLOOR PLAN FOR YOU GUYS? I CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
UM, AND FOR THAT QUESTION AND, UM, I, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY GOOD OBSERVATION IN THE LAST, UM, ROUND OF FEEDBACK.
AND WE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO OUR DESIGN AND STUDIED, FIRST OF ALL, TRYING TO ROTATE THE BENCHES 90 DEGREES AND CREATING A PLANTER, UM, KIND OF ALLOWING FOR MORE NORTH SOUTH PERMEABILITY, UM, TO BIFURCATE THAT FLOW AND EAST WEST CONDITION.
UM, AND THAT WAS POTENTIALLY WORKING, BUT WE, THEN WE THEN ADDED THE RETAIL SPACE ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER PINTO AND SECOND STREET, WE HAVE ABOUT 10 FEET OF SPACE FROM THAT, THE TEND TO HAVE IT PULLED UP.
I FIGURED THAT 10 FEET OF SPACE, ESSENTIALLY FROM THE CENTER LINE OF THE FREE TO THE SAFE, UM, THE PROPERTY LINE AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO ON THE RETAIL THERE IS TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF A SOFTENED PLANTING BED UP AGAINST THE GLASS AND THE RETAIL SPACE.
UM, BUT WE LOOKED AT ROTATING A BENCH OR CREATING A, A NARROWER, A WALKWAY, BUT IT'S KIND OF THAT REALLY NEEDED TO HAVE A STRONG INDOOR OUTDOOR RELATIONSHIP IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO, UM, THAT RETAIL.
UM, SO THAT KIND OF SERVE THE SOUTH WESTERN CORNER.
THE COLONNADE, UM, IN BETWEEN IS, IS HIGHLY ACCESS FROM THE CENTER OF THE SPACE, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE MAIN BLESSED CONNECTION.
AND, UM, WE WANT TO KEEP PORTIONS OF THIS OPEN AND FREE AND CLEAR, BUT ALSO WHERE WE HAVE, UM, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE RETAIL.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE KIOSK WOULD REALLY COME INTO PLAY.
AND SO WE ARE STILL STUDYING THE EXACT LENGTH OF THESE BENCHES AND THE PROPORTIONS OF THEM IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE LIGHTING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT I THINK WE, UM, UH, AFTER INVESTIGATING AND EXPLORING VARIOUS OPTIONS DETERMINED THAT A CLAMPING BED AND, UM, TOOK UP TOO MUCH OF THAT CAFES.
UM, SO WE REALLY WANTED TO THINK ABOUT IT.
DIAGRAMMATICALLY JUST LIKE THE REST OF, UM, THE CAFES AND ALONG SECOND STREET WHERE YOU HAVE THAT VERY NARROW PLANTERS, YOU KNOW, ONE TO TWO FEET WIDE AND THEN THE TABLES AND CHAIRS BACK BEHIND IT, AND REALLY FOCUSED ON A 365 DAY PROGRAMMING, UM, KIND OF CALENDAR FOR HOW THAT CAFE ZONE WOULD BE ACTIVATED WITH THE KIOSK, WITH THE GALLERY, UM, THAT MIGHT PLAY INTO THE LOBBY.
AND SOME OF THE PIECES MIGHT GO INTO OUTDOOR AS WELL.
SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO KEEP THAT 10 FOOT ZONE CLEAR FROM THE BENCH SOUTH.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE OF COURSE HAVE THE EIGHT FOOT ZONE FOR THE TABLES ARE THE BENCHES AND BIKE BIKER.
SO IT'S REALLY A TOTAL 18 FEET, UM, IN BETWEEN THE PARKING SPOT WHERE WE HAVE LARGER, UM, EAST-WEST CONNECTION.
UM, BUT IF IT'S STILL A CLOCK, WE'RE SETTING THE DETAILS OF IT AND IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW DID THAT ACTIVATE IT AND ACCOMMODATE THE BEST SPECULATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU WERE A LITTLE BIT MUFFLED OR MAYBE IT'S MY SPEAKER, BUT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE DROPOFF AND THE FRONT OF THE BENCH AND IN THE BACK OF THE BENCH TO THE PROPERTY LINE, CAN YOU GIVE ME THOSE TWO DIMENSIONS? YES.
IT'S 10 FOOT FROM THE EXISTING ADA PARKING SPOT TO THE FRONT OF THE BENCH.
AND THEN FROM THE BACK OF THE BENCH, WHICH IS REALLY THE CENTER LINE OF THE THEATER AROUND
[00:40:01]
BACK TO THE PROPERTY LINE IS 10 FOOT NINE, 10 BETWEEN 10 AND 11 FEET.SO, UM, I LOOKED AT A SITUATION OR THE ROOT BALL OF THE TREE IS WITH THE, THE, UM, PAVER GRADE IS A SIX FOOT BY SIX FOOT.
WE LOOKED AT A SITUATION WHERE WE HAD A SIX FOOT PLANTING ZONE AND THEN A FOUR FOOT ZONE TO CIRCULATE AROUND IT.
BUT THAT FELT A LITTLE CONFINED.
AND, UM, WITH THE LIGHTING AND THE KIND OF CONTINUITY ALONG THE BLOCK, WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME UNIFORMITY, BUT A BREAKDOWN, LIKE YOU SAID, A VARIOUS USE OF SPACES, UM, FROM EAST TO WEST, UM, BY USING THE COLONNADE AND THE RETAIL AND THE CIVIC CLOSET TO SUBDIVIDE THAT INTO PARSONS, IT MIGHT CHANGE WITH THE FURNITURE AND MIGHT CHANGE WITH, UH, KIOSK LOCATIONS, BUT ALSO JUST THE WAY THE BUILDING MAPPING, AS YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE SCREEN.
I STILL HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'M STILL NOT QUITE COMFORTABLE.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH ME, BUT THE TREE PROVIDES A PINCH POINT BETWEEN THE BENCHES, ESPECIALLY IF IT GROWS ROCK, CAN'T GET A WHEELCHAIR OR STROLLER THROW THERE.
SO MY CONCERN REMAINS THE SAME THAT IF YOU EXTEND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE CURB AND THE FRONT OF THE BENCH ACROSS THE FRONT OF THIS PROJECT, IT'S ONLY FEET WIDE AND THAT'S A BITCH.
AND IF YOU GET A HOLD THE LAW OF CONVENTIONEERS, I HOPE NEXT YEAR EXITING AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE HOW DO YOU COME TO YOUR RETAIL? YOU'VE PROVIDED LESS THAN A COLLEGE CAMPUS WITH A, I HOPE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VISITORS AND NOT TO MENTION SCOOTERS AND WHEELCHAIRS AND BICYCLES.
I STILL FEEL LIKE, ALTHOUGH I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE ZONE, THAT THE BENCHES STILL DIVIDE THE PUBLIC REALM THERE AND HAST.
SO IF YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, THIS PROJECT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF CAFES ZONE AND A VERY LIMITED SPACE TO WALK IN.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THAT OUT THERE THAT I LIKE THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU MADE MY APPRECIATE THAT A LOT, BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE WE'RE ONE STEP AWAY AND IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS REMOVING THE FIRST TWO BENCHES ON EITHER END.
SO THAT, THAT FLOW FINDS ITS WAY.
I DON'T KNOW, CAMERON, I KNOW THAT THIS TEAM IS FANTASTIC AND CAN DO ANYTHING, BUT THAT'S MY CONCERN.
I THINK THAT WE ALL TAKE THAT ADVICE AND WE THAT'S, THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS THAT WE WE'VE LOOKED AT REMOVING THE CENTER BENCH AND EACH SIDE.
SO YOU HAD A ROW OF TWO AND THEN I ADAPT FOR NORTH SOUTH CONNECTION AND THEN ANOTHER THING, UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE LOOKED AT REMOVING, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, OUTER THE OUTER EDGES.
SO AT THE CROSSWALK, YOU HAVE MORE STAGING AREA TO FIGURE OUT WHICH DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING BEFORE YOU.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK AND I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE AT FLORIDA.
AND THEN ALSO THE, OF THE ADVENTURE WITH THE GAP BETWEEN THE TREES, PERHAPS THE WIDENING THAT OUT TO PROVIDE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY, I THINK AS A TOTAL, UH, FIVE FEET NOW IT'S 16 NOW.
SO THAT'S THREE FOOT ON CENTER, SO TECHNICALLY 30 INCHES, BUT WE MIGHT WANT TO MAKE THAT WIDER.
I HAVE TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS JUST SO I CAN BE OFF THE QUESTION THING, UH, UM, GO TO SLIDE NUMBER 12, PLEASE.
I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHERE I'M SEEING THAT OUTDOOR DINING.
I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED, THE OUTDOOR DINING RIGHT THERE IS.
I THINK I MAY HAVE ANSWERED MY OWN QUESTION.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE PLAN OF CONSERVATIVE CONCERN ABOUT IT, NOT HAVING ENOUGH PROTECTION.
SO IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN FRONT OF THE RETAIL ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER.
IS THAT CORRECT? NORTHEAST, SOUTHWEST.
THEN I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IT, NOT PROTECTION FROM THE WESTERN SIDE.
SO I, AGAIN, JUST MY OPINION THAT I WOULD RATHER SEE THAT NOT BE A CAFE ZONE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S PROTECTED.
THAT LAST QUESTION IS WITH THESE BENCHES ALONG SECOND STREET.
ARE THEY BLACK GRANTED? KAREN, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT ONE? I THINK YOU COULD FIGURE THAT OUT.
ALL I'LL SAY IS THAT IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE COLONNADE, TOM AND THE BENCHES BE THE SAME MATERIAL
[00:45:01]
THAT INTEGRATE THE BUILDING INTO THE URBAN FABRIC.BUT FROM A MATERIAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO FOUGHT HOT DARK COLOR BY ANY MEANS, BUT PART, I THINK I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOME OPTIONS FOR THE MATERIAL.
WE WERE LOOKING AT A LIGHTER GRAY MATERIAL THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME NATURAL VEINING IN IT.
WE WOULD COMPLIMENT THE BENCHES WITH A MUCH LIGHTER GRAY TO AVOID THE HEAT GAIN ON THOSE BENCHES.
COLEMAN, THERE ARE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO A VIEWING GALLERY, BUT YOU REALLY DIDN'T TALK THROUGH IT.
COULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT IN MORE DETAIL? SURE.
CAN WE PULL UP THE GROUND FLOOR? DO YOU KNOW, DO, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ONE CAN SPEAK TO THIS? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YEP.
UM, SO IN GENERAL, THE LOBBY SPACE, WE ALWAYS ENVISIONED AS A OPEN AND PERMEABLE SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE A SPACE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE OFFICE USERS, BUT RATHER MORE OF A KIND OF HOSPITALITY TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT, YOU KNOW? UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO FLEXIBLE SEATING THERE WHO WANTS SOME KIND OF MOBILE FLEXIBLE PROGRAM IN THERE, UH, WHICH MAY BE A KIOSK INSIDE THE LOBBY OR TWO.
AND THEN WE ALSO ENVISIONED IT AS A LARGER KIND OF ART GALLERY, REALLY TRYING TO EXTEND THE CIVIC PLAZA AND TO THE LOBBY.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE AWARE OF LIKE WANTING RELIEF FROM THE HEAT AND THE WEATHER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WE WANTED TO BE KIND OF IMMATERIAL FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE.
UM, TO THAT POINT WE ENVISIONED, AND ALONG WITH THE CLIENT, HAVING LARGE SCALE PIECES OF ART IN THE LOBBY, KIND OF OCCUPIED A LOBBY.
UH, SO THERE ARE SCULPTURES OR ART ON THE WALL.
WE PERSONALLY ALWAYS FOUND SCULPTURES TO BE MORE INTERESTING AND MAYBE MORE INVITING TO PEOPLE IN INTERACTING WITH, OR COMING IN TO LOOK AT, UM, GIVES EVERYONE, SEES A LOBBY AND SEES ART ON THE WALL.
AND THEY DON'T THINK MUCH OF IT, WHEREAS A SCULPTURE KIND OF GRABS A CERTAIN KIND OF ATTENTION.
AND THE IDEA BEING THAT THAT ART IS FLEXIBLE.
WE HAVEN'T COMMITTED TO ANY PIECES YET, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD BE LOCAL ARTISTS, UM, BOTH RECOGNIZE AN UP AND COMING, UM, AND IT COULD BE ROTATING AS WELL.
WE DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A STATIC THING WHERE YOU PICKED ONE PIECE AND IT'S THERE FOREVER.
WE COULD CHANGE IT OUT ANNUALLY.
SEMI-ANNUALLY KIND OF SEASONALLY.
UM, HAVING SAID THAT IT'S STILL JUST AT THAT LEVEL, RIGHT.
WE DON'T HAVE LIKE A PLANNED PROGRAM FOR OPERATING THIS YET.
UM, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CLIENT HAS COMMITTED TO AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROJECT.
DOES THAT SORT OF ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, I THINK SO.
AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THROUGHOUT THE LOBBY.
SO BOTH ON THE EASTERN AND WESTERN SIDE OF THE SECURITY DESK, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY ART FROM THE STUDIO DESK FOR OBVIOUS PURPOSES OF KIND OF ENTRY AND EXIT, BUT THE IDEA WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SECURITY DESK AS WELL.
SO YEAH, I GUESS MY ONLY OTHER, UH, FOLLOW UP TO THAT WOULD BE TO ENSURE THERE IS SOME SORT OF, UM, WAYFINDING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THAT IS PUBLIC SPACE IN THERE THAT, UM, THAT THEY'RE OPEN TO GO AND VIEW THAT STUFF BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS WHEN YOU'RE WALKING BY THAT THAT'S ENTIRELY SOMETHING THAT IS ON OUR RADAR AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT RIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK.
SO WE'VE ALL BEEN TO CITIES THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC SPACE.
AND IT'S VERY OPAQUE THAT THAT SPACE EXISTS.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BLACK ON A WALL, WHICH DOESN'T REALLY SEEM TO QUITE CUT IT.
UM, SO WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE, HOW DO WE ASSIGN FROM HAVING SOMETHING LARGE IN THERE THAT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE WANT TO GO UP AND LOOK AT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL ENCOURAGED THAT THIS IS A WELCOME SPACE FOR THEM? UM, SO WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST SIGNAGE AS WELL.
IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE DESIGN THE DOORS, HOW WE OPERATE THE DOORS LIKE THAT.
SO THIS IS ALL THINGS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING IN HAND AND DISCUSSING INTERNALLY AS A TEAM.
AND TO ADD TO THAT, TO ADD TO THAT, THIS WAS TRAVIS AGAIN.
UM, THE IDEA FOR THE GLAZING, UH, AROUND THE LOBBY IS TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT.
UM, THEN WITH THE, UH, LOOSE THE SEATING AND THE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE
[00:50:01]
TO SIT UNDER THE COLONNADE, UM, I THINK THAT WILL ALSO BRING PEOPLE TO THE GLASS AND THEN ABLE TO SEE THE PIECES, UM, UH, IN THAT WAY TOO, EVEN IF THEY DON'T MAKE THEIR WAY ALL THE WAY INTO THE LOBBY FOR SOME REASON, UM, THEY CAN APPRECIATE THE ART KIND OF FROM, FROM THE COLONNADE IN THE SHADE CAMERA.AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK ALSO WITH ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND EVERYTHING GOING ON FROM AN ART REALM, BUT THE NOTION THAT SOME OF THE COMPONENTS BEING INTERACTIVE MORE ENGAGING TO SOMEONE WALKING BY, BUT THEN TRIGGER SOME TYPE OF ART INSTALLATION OR EVENT THAT COULD HAPPEN ON AN EXTERIOR WALL, BUT THEN INSIDE THE LOBBY.
SO INTERACTIVITY, I THINK IS ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO PLAY UP THAT I WOULD SAY, UM, AND CONTINUE TO BE CHANGING IN TIME.
BUT I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING.
SO IT'S HARD TO SHOW THAT THOUGH, WITHOUT HAVING THE ARTISTS ON BOARD YET, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.
UM, UH, COMMISSIONER MINORS, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT.
ONE THING THAT I DEFINITELY WANT TO SHARE AS FAR AS A POTENTIAL IDEA FOR THAT PUBLIC SPACE, WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING AN ART INSTALLATION OR POTENTIALLY A WATER FEATURE, I'M NOT SURE HOW USEFUL THAT WILL BE BEYOND JUST LOOKING AT IT, BUT I KNOW THAT WITH THE PROXIMITY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THERE'S DEFINITELY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOME PROGRAMMING IN THAT SPACE.
UM, I ALSO KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, ARTISTS WHO COME HERE, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONVENTIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH ANYTHING RELATED TO MUSIC AND THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR CRAFT.
AND I THINK IF YOU WERE TO PROVIDE A STAGE OR A SETTING, EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WITHIN THAT PUBLIC REALM, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY, UH, CONNECT THE CONVENTION.
CENTER'S PROGRAMMING INTO THAT SPACE WITH THE STAGE, HAVE IT SET UP WITH THE RIGHT ACOUSTICS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY WIRED FOR PERFORMANCES.
AND I THINK IT'LL BE A LOT MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY THAN JUST AN ART INSTALLATION.
UM, AND I AGREE TOO, WITH THE COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, THE PERCEPTION OF THE LOBBY.
UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY INTUITIVE WHEN I WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN, I SEE A LOT OF LOBBIES.
I DON'T FEEL WELCOME TO GO INSIDE OF THEM.
AND I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF I AM OR NOT THE TIME, BUT I THINK EVEN JUST HAVING SOME OF THE SAME CAFE STYLE SEATING, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT DEMONSTRATES THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOR ALL CLIMATES.
I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BETTER CONNECT WITH PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT COMMENT.
ONE OTHER THING WE WERE EXPLORING OR DISCUSSING AT LEAST WAS THE IDEA ABOUT DIGITAL ART ELEMENTS THAT ARE MORE INTERACTIVE ALSO THAT LETS PEOPLE ENGAGE PHYSICALLY WITH THE ART.
AGAIN, AS VIGO SAID, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE IN TERMS OF THE SELECTION, BUT CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT ABOUT LETTING IT BE MORE INTERACTIVE AND PARTICIPATORY, WHETHER IT'S MUSIC OR SO ON TOO.
SO WE'LL DISCUSS THAT WITH, WITH MANIFOLD AND GET BACK WITH EVERYONE.
ANY OTHER, OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? NONE.
WELL, DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? NO, I THINK I WOULD EMOTION IF I WAS MORE CONFIDENT THAT THERE WOULD BE, UH, SOME SORT OF PROGRAMMING CONNECTED TO, YOU KNOW, PERFORMANCE ART OR MUSIC.
UH, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE DEAL BREAKER FOR ME.
I ALSO CAN'T MAKE A RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS PUBLIC REALM CIRCULATION HAS BEEN, I THINK GOOD PROGRESS, GREAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, BUT I THINK I MADE PRETTY CLEAR MARK AND SONS PUBLIC REALM.
UM, I, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT IN THE FORM IT'S IN RIGHT NOW, IF THE BENCHES WERE REMOVED ALTOGETHER, DO YOU THINK THAT'S A BETTER SOLUTION THAN HAVING THAN HAVING THEM IN THE CURRENT LOCATION OR IS IT THE QUANTITY OR ANY OTHER FURTHER SUGGESTIONS? I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTEP IN RESPECT TO THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT CONSULTANTS THAT ARE VERY CAPABLE ON YOUR STAFF, TALENTED AND CAPABLE, HOWEVER,
[00:55:02]
SOME YES, I WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE FOR MUCH FEWER CIRCULATION STANDPOINT.WOULD I LIKE TO SEE THE BENCHES BACK? I THINK THAT'S UP TO YOU.
I THINK THAT, THAT THERE PROBABLY IS A WAY, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S TRULY DIVIDES THE SPACE UP TOO MUCH.
AND UM, I THINK IT TAKES TOO MUCH AWAY FROM PUBLIC CIRCULATION.
BUT WHAT WE'LL, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY WORK WITH OUR TEAM AND COME BACK WITH YOU ALL WITH A BETTER SOLUTION.
I, I, IT, IT PAINS ME FOR THAT REASON ALONE, BUT THAT'S KINDA MY ROLE AND HOW I SEE IT.
SO I HAVE TO BE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD IN THIS REGARD, BUT I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, BUT THAT CONCERN IS TOO BIG FOR ME TO SUPPORT AT THIS POINT.
WE CERTAINLY RESPECT THAT, JERRY, IF I MAY CLARIFY, THIS IS WORKING.
JUST, JUST TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT THE COMMISSION IS COMING, TOTALLY FINDING THE FINDING OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES OR NOT.
THERE IS NO RECOMMENDATION ON THIS PROJECT TO ANYBODY EXCEPT THE CITY STAFF I SPELLED OUT IN 25, 25, 86, THEREFORE THE COMMISSION IS LEANING TOWARDS A FINDING OF NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
STAFF WOULD APPRECIATE HE AND ENUMERATION OF ITEMS THAT WOULD MAKE IT COMPLIANT WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
SO THOSE CAN BE CONSIDERED WHEN STAFF MAKES THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WELL AS ANY CHANGES THAT THE APPLICANT CONSIDERS AS A RESULT OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, WELL WE'VE ONLY REALLY HEARD SOME TWO COMMISSIONERS.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO WEIGH IN IS, IS NOBODY SUPPORTING THIS CAROL AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE GROUND FLOOR PLANE BEFORE, WHICH I HAVE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS.
THINK THE RESTAURANT THERE ON THE SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST SIDE CORNER, UM, OR A RETAIL SPACE THERE.
AND THEN, AND THEN DESCRIPTION OF REALLY HOW THAT LOBBY IS PROGRAMMED, YOU KNOW, MAKES ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT IT THAN THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT THE FIRST TIME I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE WERE CLEAR ABOUT THE LOBBY JUST LOOKED LIKE A LARGE SPACE AND THERE WAS, UH, TWO OUTDOOR AREAS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING AT EACH CORNER OF THE BLOCK.
UM, SO I DO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER COLEMAN'S TRAUMA AND ABOUT THE, UH, THE BENCHES AND THE TREES, YOU KNOW, UM, I, I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT COULD WORK.
UM, SO I DON'T, IT DOESN'T MAYBE WORRY ME A LOT.
UM, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW THAT COULD, COULD WORK BETTER THAN IS SHOWN NOW.
UM, SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO VOICE THAT, THAT, UH, I SEE IMPROVEMENT FROM WHEN THE WORKING GROUP SAW IT AND SOME GOOD POSITIVE THINGS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO COMMENT MICHELLE COLEMAN? DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YES.
I, I COULD MAKE A MOTION IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME CHAIR.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO STAY THAT THE PROJECT SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIES WITH THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OR WITH THE CAVEAT THAT SUBSTANTIAL STUDY WILL BE MADE TO OPEN UP THE CIRCULATION ALONG STAYS OUR NOT AS BOULEVARD.
YOU MEAN SECOND STREET? EXCUSE ME, SECOND STREET.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU.I'M WRITING ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT BECAUSE YOUR TAN GUCCI, DID YOU GET YOUR AUDIO WORKING YET? STILL? CAN'T HEAR YOU.
UM, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PUT IT TO A VOTE THEN.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
WELL, UH, SO, UH, BEN, I DIDN'T GET YOUR VOTE.
WHO SAID THAT? WERE THERE ANY OPPOSED TO RECUSED? UH, AND THEN, SORRY, COMMISSIONER.
AND THEN, UH, COMMISSIONER FRAIL.
ARE YOU THERE? NO, I SEE HIS NAME, BUT I DON'T HEAR HIM.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER TANNIC WHERE YOU YAY OR NAY? YES.
I'M COUNTING, UH, AARON, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I'M COUNTING SIX DAYS.
AND IN THAT CASE, THE MOTION PASSES.
AND WE WILL, WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE, UH, CONDITIONAL APPROVAL ON THE CIRCULATION ON SECOND STREET.
THAT COMMISSIONER COLEMAN RECOMMENDED.
[2A. Approval of the July 17th meeting minutes;]
WE'LL GO INTO A COMMISSION SPECIFIC BUSINESS ITEM, TWO, A APPROVAL OF THE JULY 17TH MEETING MINUTES, 10 COMMON.DO WE HAVE A SECOND SECTION OF GONZALES? OKAY.
WE WILL VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
ANY OPPOSED IF THAT WAS UNANIMOUS? OKAY.
[2B. Discussion and Possible action to appoint a Working Group to specifically address updates to the Urban Design Guidelines]
B DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPOINT A WORKING GROUP TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS UPDATES TO[01:05:01]
THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.UM, SO A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
UH IT'S LIKE COMMISSIONER FRANCO DROPPED OFF.
UM, IF YOU RECALL, UM, WELL I THINK IT WAS END OF LAST YEAR.
NOW WE VOTED, UH, FOR SOME RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO UPDATE THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
UM, SO FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH AARON AND WITH JORGE, UM, I'VE AGREED TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP, UM, BASICALLY WITH THE INTENT TO DESIGN A BIT MORE OF A PLAN TO APPROACH COUNCIL WITH, TO GET BETTER SUPPORT AND, UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY RESOURCES TO HELP THE EFFORT TO UPDATE THESE GUIDELINES.
AS, AS MANY OF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED TO UPDATE THESE GUIDELINES SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN THE COMMISSION BEFORE US TRIED AND EACH TIME HAVE FAILED.
AND I THINK A LARGE PART OF THAT IS JUST DUE TO, UM, IT BEING A VERY LARGE TASK AND LACK OF RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
SO THE INTENT OF THIS WORKING GROUP, UM, WOULD BE TO SORT OF CREATE AN OUTLINE OF A PLAN TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL AND WHAT RESOURCES WE'RE GONNA WANT, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO I'M LOOKING FOR A FEW COMMISSIONERS TO JOIN ME ON THIS WORKING GROUP.
UM, ALSO IS MY INTENT TO BRING, UH, PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS INTO THIS WORKING GROUP.
UM, NOT INITIALLY, INITIALLY IT'LL JUST BE THE FEW DESIGN COMMISSIONERS TO KIND OF, UH, CREATE MORE OF A STRUCTURE AND A TIMELINE.
AND THEN WE WOULD, UM, SELECT PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS.
LIKE FOR ME, OBVIOUS ONE IS DAA, UM, TO COME IN AND BE PART OF THIS WORKING GROUP TO HELP US CREATE THIS PLAN THAT WE PRESENT TO COUNCIL.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM IS ABOUT.
I KNOW THAT LAST TIME I SPOKE TO MY COUNCIL MEMBER DELEA SHE SAID THAT HAVING ANY KIND OF RESOURCES, WHICH MEANS FINANCIAL IN SOME WAY, BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE USING SOMEBODY'S TIME, UM, A CITY STAFFERS TIME THAT THAT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAD THEIR BUDGET SLASHED BY, YOU KNOW, STATE.
SO I DON'T KNOW, UM, HOW WE COULD OTHERWISE RAISE MONEY FOR TYPE OF SUPPORT, UH, FOR, UM, CONSULTANTS TO HELP US WRITE OR REWRITE THE GUIDELINES.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING WITH THE, WITH THE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS THAT THEY WOULD FULFILL THAT ROLE IN SOME WAY? UM, NOT, NOT WELL IT'S, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT, UM, OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE WORKING GROUP, UM, TASK WOULD BE TO DETERMINE.
I MEAN, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS IN THE WORKING GROUP AND THEN PRESENT THE PLAN, BUT THE PLAN WILL DETERMINE, UM, OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL.
WHAT OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT WE THINK IS NECESSARY, WHETHER THAT MEANS HIRING A CONSULTANT.
UM, AND THEN ALSO TO WHAT DEGREE, UH, WE WOULD RELY ON STAFF HELP WITH THIS PLAN.
UM, AND THEN WHAT THE GROUP, YOU KNOW, WHAT ROLE THE DESIGN COMMISSION WOULD PLAY AND IN UPDATING THE GUIDELINES TOO.
SO ALL OF THAT, I WOULD SEE AS, AS RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PLAN THAT WE PRESENT TO COUNCIL.
UM, BUT IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE UP TO THIS WORKING GROUP TO DECIDE WHAT, WHAT THAT IS, WHAT THE ASKS ARE.
THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
I COULDN'T GET THIS THING SET UP.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE A ZOOM MEETING FROM MY OFFICE, SO I COULDN'T GET THE SPEAKERS SET UP.
SO I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR THE PRESENTATION.
I GOTTA APOLOGIZE, BUT I WILL, I WILL JOIN THAT WORKING GROUP THOUGH.
[01:10:01]
THIS WILL BE MY EIGHTH YEAR WORKING ON THIS THING.SO MAYBE 10, MAYBE WE'LL GET IT RIGHT IN THIS CHAIR.
ONE OF THE ISSUES I BROUGHT UP BEFORE IS THE FACT THAT CODE NEXT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED MORE THINGS IN CODE NEXT THAT AFFECT OUR DECISION MAKING.
I USE THE EXAMPLE OF FUNCTIONAL BRAIN.
I WONDER IF IT'S NOT GOOD THOUGHT TO LOOK AT AN INTERIM UPDATE TO OUR DESIGN GUIDELINES AND MAYBE NOT A COMPLETE FIX TO ATTACK SOME OF THE INCONGRUOUS THINGS WE HAVE.
I USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE PAVERS DOWNTOWN AS AN EXAMPLE, OR EVEN UPDATES WE WANT TO MAKE, LIKE MAYBE OUR FURNISHINGS HAVE CHANGED NOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR 25 YEARS.
ARE THERE SOME INTERMITTENT OF MEANINGFUL AND IMPACT FULL CHANGES IN THE UPDATE THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT WILL MAKE OUR JOB MORE FRUITFUL, EASIER, MORE CONSISTENT, AND THEN ATTACK THE MAJOR OVERHAUL ONCE CODE NEXT IS ADOPTED? UM, WELL, A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE I I'LL PUT ON JORGE'S HAT REAL QUICK AND SAY, THERE IS NO CODE NEXT.
UM, BUT, UH, ALL SERIOUSNESS, UM, UH, THAT CAN, THAT APPROACH CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT.
AND BECAUSE I THINK, UM, THAT HAS BEEN SORT OF THE RESPONSE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS NOW SORT OF PUTTING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD, WAITING FOR THE CODE REVISION, REWRITE TO THE SOLVE, EVERYTHING.
UM, AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ANYTHING IS GOING TO GET ADOPTED AT THIS POINT.
UM, SO, AND THEN THE OTHER PART IS I THINK FOR THIS, FOR THE PLAN THAT THIS WORKING GROUP IS GOING TO COME UP WITH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S VITAL TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK WE INCLUDE SOMETHING IN THAT PLAN TO ACCOUNT FOR IF, IF THE CODE REVISION HAPPENS, BUT MY GUESS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS JUST TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL, UM, AND THEN FOR THEM TO DECIDE ON IT AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES.
SO IT WOULD BE WELL INTO NEXT YEAR.
I SEE BEFORE COUNSEL SAYS, GO AHEAD WITH THIS PLAN.
UM, SO BY THEN WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER IDEA IF THE CODE REVISION IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT.
UM, AND, AND ONCE THE PLAN, UH, PROCESS IS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT, THEN THAT CAN BE ASSESSED AT THAT TIME.
I THINK OF WHEN AND WHAT TO INCORPORATE FROM THE CODE REVISION.
BUT I THINK FOR THE, FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE WORKING GROUP, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D REALLY NEED TO KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE ADOPTED YET COMMISSIONER TAN, GUCCI.
SO I THINK SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE LAST, UH, UPDATE TO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE GUIDELINES THAT WE COULD START LOOKING AT THIS THING, LIKE A MILE OVERHEAD, KIND OF A BROAD PERSPECTIVE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED SINCE THEN, AND MAYBE BY THE TIME CODE NEXT COMES INTO EFFECT.
AND MAYBE WE CAN START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DETAILS AND KIND OF GET THOSE TO JIVE WITH THE NEW CODE.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY CODE NEXT, I MEAN ELEMENT CODE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN START DOING JUST TO GET A BROAD PICTURE SINCE THE LAST UPDATE OF THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION COMMISSIONER ROLISON HAD BECOME HELLO? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I WOULD SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NEW TO THE GROUP, BUT I'M EAGER TO LEARN AND, UM, PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKING GROUP TO HELP WITH THIS.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE COMMITMENT IS IN TERMS OF HOURS.
I'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, BUT I'M DEFINITELY INTERESTED.
UM, AND, UH, SO TO RESPOND TO EVAN TOO, UM, YEAH, I MEAN, PART OF THIS, WHAT THIS WORKING GROUP WILL DO, I THINK IS, IS TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXISTING GUIDELINES, LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE THINK
[01:15:01]
IS STILL WORKING WELL AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE RETAINED, LOOK AT WHAT'S NOT WORKING AND, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS.IF YOU KNOW, 10 TO COMMISSIONER COLEMAN'S COMMENT.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE CODE REVISION THAT WE THINK COULD BE GREAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REFERENCE THAT.
UM, BUT, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE WORKING GROUP TO, TO SOME EXTENT IS GOING TO KIND OF BE HIGH LEVEL STUFF, JUST SORT OF CREATING THIS, THIS OUTLINE OF A PLAN.
THE REAL WORK WILL COME ONCE COUNCIL GIVES DIRECTION AND WE CAN GET INTO FINER DETAILS THAT POINT.
UM, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE, UM, COMMISSIONER ROLES IN, UH, COMMISSIONER TAN AND GUCCI AND MYSELF.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO'S INTERESTED IN? I'M INTERESTED IN.
I'M INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WANT TO TAKE ANY LEADERSHIP POSITION WITHIN THAT WORKING GROUP.
UM, IF THAT'S EVEN AN OPTION OR JUST BASED ON TIME COMMITMENT, BUT I'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED, UH, CONVENTIONAL LUKINS, I'D BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE.
AND THE SHARE WE GET GOING ON A TEST, CHERYL GET TORY ONE DAY.
AND THAT IS HOWEVER, UH, HOWEVER HAVING SAID THAT I'M NOT A DESIGNER.
AND SO IF THERE'S A DESIGNER WHO WOULD, UH, UH, THAT WOULD WANT TO BE ON THEIR SHOW AT SOME POINT, I'D BE GLAD TO, YOU KNOW, STEP ASIDE FROM THAT DESIGNER.
AND THERE'S CERTAINLY OPPORTUNITY TO SUBSTITUTE IN A, WE JUST CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN FIVE COMMISSIONERS AT A MEETING AT ANY TIME.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO OPPORTUNITY, AS I SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BRING IN SOME PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS, THOSE COULD BE PLANNERS.
THOSE COULD BE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER WE REDEEMED IT.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO GET A HUGE GROUP TOGETHER CAUSE YOU KNOW, TOO MANY PEOPLE AND SORT OF COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK WE HAVE ROOM TO GET A FEW PEOPLE ON TO HELP ROUND OUT THIS, THIS WORKING GROUP.
THE CLUBS WITH COMMISSIONER LUKINS IS SAYING, I DO THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL TO HAVE EITHER COMMISSIONER HONEYWELL OR ROBLEDO OR MYSELF ON OCCASIONALLY BECAUSE WE'VE NOTICED SO MUCH WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND THE PUBLIC REALM.
SO I WOULD BE WILLING TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERMISSION TO LUKENS IF HE WANTS TO REMAIN ON OR IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO REMAIN ON, I'LL TAKE THAT POSITION AND THEN SUBSTITUTE OUT COMMISSIONER KANEOHE ROBLEDO AS A, AS A PEER IN THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS.
WELL, I'LL STEP ASIDE AND THROW IT, THROW COMMISSIONER.
WOLF'S FAMILIAR WITH THAT TERRITORY.
SO TO BE CLEAR, COMMISSIONER COLEMAN, ARE YOU YOU'RE AN ALTERNATE OR, OR ARE YOU TAKING COMMISSIONER LUKE AND SPLICE? I THINK I'M TAKING COMMISSIONER LUKINS PLACE THAT OKAY.
YOUR REGULATIONS, SHORT LIST, CINDY, A AWARD OR A PLAQUE OR SOMETHING.
AND WE'LL HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER LUKINS AS AN ALTERNATE AND YOU'VE NOMINATED A VICE CHAIR NOW ROBLEDO AND HARASS SINCE.
UM, SO WE'LL HAVE A, WE'LL SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO KIND OF SET UP A KICKOFF MEETING WHERE WE CAN DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS AND TIMELINE AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, UM, AARON OR JORGE, IF YOU'VE IDENTIFIED A STAFF, WHO'S GOING TO BE INVOLVED AT THIS TIME AS IT JUST GOING TO BE THE TWO OF YOU OR AARON,
[01:20:01]
ARE YOU ON LIKE HE FELL SO TERRIFY ME.CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME NOW? YES.
I'M USING A COMPUTER AND MY PHONE AND I JUST I'M MEETING MY PHONE.
UM, IN HORRY YOU CAN ADD TO IT AFTER.
UM, I WOULD JUST WANT TO SAY PRETTY MUCH INTERNALLY URBAN DESIGN, THE URBAN DESIGN, THE VISION.
UM, WE'RE TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT WHERE WE ARE, UM, TRYING TO IDENTIFY, UH, MANY ITEMS SUCH AS MILESTONES, AS WELL AS A TIMELINE.
UM, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING IS WE'RE ANALYZING THE EXISTING URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT PRETTY MUCH DO A SQUAT ANALYSIS TO SEE, UM, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK, UM, WHAT COULD BE ADDED.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO WANT TO RUN SOME CASE STUDIES TO SEE WHAT, UH, PEER CITIES ARE DOING WITH THEIR URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES THAT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST PRACTICES ARE.
SO, UM, RIGHT NOW FROM A STAFF STANDPOINT, IT CONSISTS OF THE URBAN DESIGN DIVISION, UM, WITH, UH, JORGE, UH, BEING OUR LEADER.
I'LL LET YOU SEE THAT CARING IF I MADE SURE.
HOWEVER, TO ADD TO WHAT AARON WAS SAYING, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORKING GROUP TO SET THE PREMISE FOR THE LEVEL OF CHANGE THAT THE WORKING GROUP WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO THE FULL COMMISSION.
I HOLISTIC ANALYSIS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE FOREFRONT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF CHANGE THAT THE COMMISSION ESSENTIALLY WANTS TO SEE OF THE GUIDELINES.
AND THAT COULD INCLUDE A WIDE SPECTRUM OR VERY FOCUSED.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY ON SOMETHING, THE PAVERS ARE NOT PART OF THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
THOSE ARE FOUND IN THE GRAY STREET STANDARDS, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT THAN YOUR URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES.
IF YOU WISH TO GET DOWN TO THAT MINUTIA OR THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, I WOULD JUST CAUTION AGAINST THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE TIME CONSUMING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL, WHICH IS BETTER SUITED FOR A STANDARD RATHER THAN A GUIDELINE.
AND I THINK THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO DISCUSS AS A WORKING GROUP WITH THE MEMBERS OF THAT WORKING GROUP TO SET THE TABLE AND THE EXPECTATIONS ON THE, UH, AMOUNT OF THE DELTA THAT YOU WISH TO SEE OF CHANGE OR IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE GUIDELINES.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN THERE THAT MAY NOT NEED TO BE ALTERED OR CHANGED OR MODIFIED.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION THAT IS OUTDATED AND THAT NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NEW APPROACHES, NEW DESIGN CRITERIA.
FURTHERMORE, IF I MAY BRING A BLAST FROM THE PAST OR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMMISSION FOR AWHILE, THE COMMISSION AT ONE POINT HAD ENUMERATED A SERIES OF DESIGN PILLARS, ESSENTIALLY.
WHAT WERE THE PREMISE OF DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD CONSISTENTLY LOOK FOR PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO MEET BACK IN 2012, THOSE INCLUDED THE PILLARS OF VISION BEAUTY FOR PEDESTRIAN REALM, THE HECKLER REALM, OPEN SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY AS THE INITIAL PREMISE FOR WHAT THOSE ESSENTIAL PILLARS COULD LOOK LIKE.
THAT'S ONE STARTING POINT WHERE THE COMMISSION MAY WANT TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY.
IF THOSE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IF I MAY BORROW THE COMMISSION'S TERM, THOSE DESIGN PILLARS ARE STILL VALID OR MAY NEED TO BE REVISED HOLISTICALLY TO ADDRESS THINGS LIKE AFFORDABILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH IS A TOPIC OF CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PROVIDING YOU WITH EXAMPLES BECAUSE THIS NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM THE COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE THE PROCESS.
ONE MORE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT THAT THE COMMISSION WISHES TO TAKE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR KIND OF ISSUES, BECAUSE IF, IF IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT YOU WISH TO SEE, IT WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT THAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM THE COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION DOES NOT GIVE THE STAFF INSTRUCTIONS NOR DOES THE STAFF GIVE THE COMMISSION INSTRUCTIONS AND BIOTICALLY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE MILESTONES THAT AARON WAS TALKING ABOUT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO COME TO A CONSENSUS VIA THIS WORKING GROUP TO SET SOME MILESTONES AND WE CAN HIT SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, BE ABLE TO OUTPUT SOME
[01:25:01]
SUCCESSES AND TRIUMPHS AT THE FOREFRONT TO GIVE US SOME OF THAT ABILITY TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.OTHERWISE, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE WOULD BE REPEATING SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE RAN INTO LAST TIME.
WELL, THERE WAS SO MUCH THAT WAS PUT ON THE GUIDELINES THEMSELVES ESSENTIALLY BECAME ABOUT A 30 PAGE OUTLINE OF ITEMS THAT YOU WISH OR THAT THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME WISHED TO SEE CHANGE.
AND THAT JUST BECAME UNBEARABLE.
AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO START THROWING WET BLANKETS INTO THIS, BUT JUST TO KIND OF SET A REALISTIC HORIZON THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD DEFINE SUCCESS FOR BOTH STAFF, THE COMMISSIONED, AND EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO ENLIST THE SERVICES OF OTHER PEER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE EXPERTISE TO BRING AS SOME OF THAT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TO THE WORKING GROUP AND THE COMMISSION AS WELL.
IN THE RELATED TO THE ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP JUST EARLIER ABOUT, UH, CONSULTANTS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE WORKING GROUP AND THE COMMISSION CAN ALSO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOLISTICALLY WHAT KIND OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR THAT MAYBE SOME OF THAT STAFF MAY BE ABLE TO DO AND PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.
SO JUST GENERALLY THAT THESE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES WE WISH TO START ENGAGING WITH THE WORKING GROUP, AS WELL AS THE COMMISSION.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A, A LITTLE BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC APPRAISAL OF THE SITUATION THAT I THINK BEFORE THE YEAR'S END, WE CAN HAVE A BASELINE SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN, THAT COMPLETION, THAT YOU CAN TAKE ACTION UPON TO BEGIN TO ENGAGE WITH THE COUNCIL.
TAN GUCCI, DID YOU GUYS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T HEAR, YOU KNOW, ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.
YOU HAVE TO JUMP ON A FOUR 30 COMMITMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER THINGS TO TAKE ACTION ON, BUT SO THANKS.
[2C. Liaison Reports: report from collaborative commissions from their most recent meeting]
WE WILL MOVE ON THEN TO ITEM TWO C LIAISON REPORTS.I THINK I'M THE ONLY LIAISON THAT'S STILL ON THE MEETING.
UM, AND SO I CAN JUST TELL YOU FOR THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON THE REVISION TO THE CLIMATE PLAN AND THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A DRAFT OF THE NEW CLIMATE PLAN REVISIONS, UH, THIS WEEK.
AND IT'LL BE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE SIX OR EIGHT WEEKS OF PUBLIC COMMENT IT'S DUE TO GO TO COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK END OF SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, SHE'D BE ABLE TO FIND THAT ON THE CITY'S WEBPAGE, UM, THEN ITEM THREE, A
[Items 3A & 4: Chair Announcements; ADJOURNMENT]
CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS.UM, I GUESS THE ONLY ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE IS TO WELCOME OUR NEW COMMISSIONER, UH, CONTROL AND SAYING THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GLAD YOU COULD, UH, GET WITH US TODAY.
AND, UH, WE'RE GLAD, GLAD TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A BIT AWKWARD TO, TO JOIN US AND DURING THIS TIME, BUT WE APPRECIATE IT.
UM, EXCITED TO BE YOUR PRODUCT, THEN ITEM THREE, B I A, I AM SOME CONDITION NUMBERS.
DID ANYONE HAVE ANY THING? OH, OKAY.
AARON, DID YOU HAVE ANY, NO, I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT, UH, THIS MEETING.
WELL THEN, UH, IT IS 4:35 PM AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
[01:30:01]