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Item # 5.a.

City Council (FY24)

Meeting Date:	02/27/2024
Department:	Parks & Recreation
Pillars:	Innovation in Entrepreneurship & Business Optimize the Addison Brand
Milestones:	Continue to enhance and promote Addison's Identity Leverage Addison's assets to grow and expand placemaking business programs and events that will set Addison apart to attract talent and businesses Promote and protect the Addison Way Prepare for the impact of new growth and development in Addison

AGENDA CAPTION:

Present, discuss and consider action on a Resolution approving an agreement with OJB Landscape Architecture for the Addison Circle Park Vision Plan in an amount not to exceed $188,000 and providing an effective date.

BACKGROUND:

The Park, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan adopted by Council in 2019 identified the need to plan for the redevelopment of Addison Circle Park and the Conference and Theatre Centre in conjunction with the Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The PROS plan includes recommendations for Addison Circle Park and the adjacent spaces surrounding the Conference Centre and Theatre. Those recommendations include:

•   Design and promote the park as Addison’s Central Hub.
•   Improve the park’s southern edge in relationship to the TOD and create a new gateway into the park.
•   Discuss impacts to special events and preserve lands and opportunities integral to Addison’s signature seasonal events.
•   Prioritize creating a gathering space along Festival Way that allows for park and light rail access to regularly occurring programs and activities.
•   Evaluate opportunities to connect the northwest plaza to the Conference Centre patio, improving the pavilion, plaza and grounds to support various public and private events.
•   Bolster outdoor programming and create daily activation opportunities that attract visitors to the park, such as programs implemented at Klyde Warren, Discovery Green, Bryant Park, etc.

To respond to these recommendations and align with the critical timing of the TOD development, $205,000 was allocated in the FY2023-24 budget that was adopted by the Council to develop a vision plan for the activation of Addison Circle Park.

In November 2023, staff issued RFQ 24-05 to solicit responses from qualified project teams to submit their qualifications to facilitate the development of a Vision Plan for the daily activation of Addison Circle Park. The RFQ identified the following metrics for the project and asked for respondents to provide their project experience related to the following metrics:
•   Track record for proven and successful public engagement strategies.
•   Creating visions for dynamic, multi-functional urban parks that serve as an amenity for residents and attract visitors of all ages and abilities.
•   Substantial experience developing programming bubble diagrams that include spatial analysis of uses and creating a park programming activity plan which includes daily, weekly, monthly seasonal and annual events.
•   Substantial experience developing park operations plans that identify management, programming, maintenance and security needs.
•   Track record with revenue generation for parks.

Eight teams responded to the RFQ. Four of the responding teams were selected to make additional presentations to the selection committee. OJB Landscape Architecture was identified by the selection committee as the most qualified team. An agreement in an amount not to exceed $188,000 is being brought to Council for consideration. This agreement fits within the project budget and the remaining funds will be allocated to the Benchmark Park Tour.

Some of the qualifications of the OJB team that contributed to their selection include:
•   Experience developing, operating and maintaining highly active parks.
•   Experience developing successful park programming strategies.
•   Quality of similar urban design projects.
•   Experience with philanthropic and external funding sources for activated parks.
•   Engagement strategies for gathering input and building a consensus.
•   Staff has asked representatives from OJB to make a presentation to introduce their firm and project experience to the Council.

RECOMMENDATION:

Administration recommends approval

Attachments
Presentation - Addison Circle Park Vision Plan
Resolution - Addison Circle Park Vision Plan
Project Schedule - Addison Circle Park Vision Plan