Title
Porters Neighborhood Improvements (B)
Explanation
The CRA continues to move forward with both long and short term projects in the Porters community. Current short-term initiatives are as follows: The new Porters Oaks fence will receive staining and weatherproofing treatment in order to protect and prolong the beauty and durability of the fixture. Additionally, Staff continues to coordinate with the Porters Oaks Homeowners Association. Among other projects, the group is working to establish a community garden at the vacant lot adjacent to the new CRA-installed fence (located at the intersection of SW 2nd Street and Depot Avenue). Finally, surveying and design work for Lynch Park improvements is currently underway, and staff hopes to break ground on this project in late fall. (The CRA board will receive a full Lynch Park update at the September 2008 meeting.)
In addition to the "small-scale" projects listed above, the CRA is also working hard to implement large-scale infrastructure improvements in the area. To that end, staff is working with engineering firm DRMP to produce construction plans for improvements along SW 3rd Street, from Depot Ave to SW 4th Ave. These improvements include undergrounding utilities, completing sidewalk connectivity to the Porter's Community Center, upgrading sidewalks for ADA compliance, improving aesthetics to reflect current CRA Design and Technical Standards, adding pedestrian scale lighting, and resurfacing the roadway. The aforementioned engineering work will also provide details regarding cost, timeline, and technical issues. This data will allow staff to prioritize, phase, coordinate, and budget in the most effective manner possible. In preparation for the planned improvements, CRA staff requested the Parks Department conduct a tree mitigation assessment in order to determine the condition of any trees that may require removal due to sidewalk construction. The assessment concluded that the majority of trees requiring removal are in fair to poor condition.
The CRA engineer and DRMP met with representatives from utility companies within the corridor, including GRU, Cox, and AT&T. Plans for undergrounding activities were discussed, and all agreed that joint-trenching the utilities was the best course of action. Designs from each utility are being solicited, as DRMP will need to compile this information into the preliminary plans. At this time, DRMP is compiling 30% plans for the 3rd Street improvements. However all progress is currently on hold, as GRU has informed CRA staff that they will be unable to address Porters improvements until after August 22nd, 2008.
Particularly of note, GRU has future plans to underground some major utility corridors running through the area. Due to tactical issues, GRU prefers these improvements be coordinated around the timelines for the Depot Park excavation/environmental remediation and the proposed FDOT Main Street rebuilding project. The CRA/DRMP 30% plans will help staff plan these activities in conjunction with current Porters improvements to ensure that resources are allocated as timely and efficiently as possible.
Fiscal Note
The contract with DRMP is for $24,200 and funded out of account number 9999-610-W231-W07.
Recommendation
Executive Director to CRA: Hear presentation from staff.