BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Update on the Santa Clara Valley Water District Signage Project.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive an update on the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) Signage Project, including inventory, replacement of damaged signs, and pilot signage need for locations with immediate need.
Body
SUMMARY:
Staff has made significant progress on the signage project since the last update at the Oct. 23, 2018 Board of Directors meeting. We are continuing the efforts to inventory all Valley Water signs throughout the county and have identified 300 severely damaged and outdated signs that need to be prioritized for replacement. We are putting together a request for proposals to identify qualified consultants to develop new replacement signage. Additionally, to test specifications, guidelines, and determine how the Valley Water brand looks on new signage, staff has identified several locations that need immediate signs. We will install signs in these locations as a pilot to help guide the procurement of all future Valley Water signage.
Signage Inventory
Staff has inventoried over 1,200 Valley Water signs and will be looking at other methods to continue the inventory process, which includes intern support, collaborating with outside organizations, and using the assistance of field staff. Without a clear number of how many signs exist, we understand this will be an ongoing effort. Staff met with Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department to learn about their process of inventorying their signage, which took them two years to complete. They used the support of fulltime interns to assist with locating and assessing the signage, similar to our process last summer. We will continue to use ArcGIS Survey123 to input the signage data (location, condition, photo, and type of sign). The data will eventually be exported into a customer relationship management system that will allow Valley Water staff and the public to use for ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the signage inventory. All users will be able to access the data to report damaged signage or other concerns.
Signage Replacement Rollout
After assessing the current inventory of signage, staff identified 300 severely damaged and outdated signs. We will prioritize these signs in the roll out of the signage replacement phase and are currently working to develop a request for proposal to identify qualified consultants to develop all new signage using the graphics based on the new Valley Water brand. Staff will work with the consultant to develop new sign standards, guidelines, and fabrication details. We will also ensure signage is in compliance with local municipality’s regulatory codes, including size, materials, and other standards.
In addition to the 300 severely damaged signs, staff will also prioritize water quality signs that include public health & safety messages. Many of the water quality signs are located at Valley Water bodies of water, including ponds and reservoirs. Staff will work in collaboration with Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department to ensure these regulatory signs are strategically placed and made visible to the public.
Pilot Signage
In the previous update to the Board, we addressed the request for legacy signs at capital project sites. To commemorate the vision and effort that has gone into capital projects around the county, we have embarked on plans to include legacy signs on projects. Legacy signs will communicate Valley Water’s investment in the site infrastructure and will remain after project construction is complete. Messaging on the signs will communicate key project improvements, benefits, funding sources, and include Valley Water’s new brand identity.
In addition to legacy signs, missing creek markers were also addressed in past signage efforts. There has been concerns that Valley Water owned creeks are not properly identified to the public. Staff is collaborating with external agencies to identify standards for existing creek markers and prominent locations that need creek signage.
In collaboration with the Board of Directors, staff has identified seven complete or nearly complete capital projects, where legacy signs will be installed and two locations at Berryessa Creek to install creek signage. Below is a list of the project and creek sites:
|
District |
Director |
Project / Creek Sites |
|
1 |
Varela |
Cunningham (legacy sign) |
|
2 |
Keegan |
Upper Guadalupe Reach 6 (legacy sign) |
|
3 |
Santos |
Upper Berryessa Creek (legacy sign) |
|
4 |
LeZotte |
Upper Guadalupe Reach 12 (legacy sign) |
|
5 |
Hsueh |
Blackberry Farms (legacy sign) |
|
6 |
Estremera |
Lower Silver Creek | 2505 Bambi Ln.(legacy sign) |
|
7 |
Kremen |
San Francisquito (legacy sign) |
|
3 |
Santos |
Berryessa Creek | Calaveras Blvd. near Hillview Dr. (creek marker) |
Staff will work with a couple of local vendors to fabricate the above-mentioned signage as test signs (Attachment 1 and Attachment 2). These test signs will guide the development of the sign standards, guidelines, fabrication details, as well as promoting Valley Water’s new brand identity.
Upon confirmation of signage installation schedules and pending availability of each Board Director; the legacy signs will be highlighted through unveiling ceremonies planned in summer of 2019. Unveilings will be accompanied by photo opportunities, blog posts, and be promoted via social media platforms.
Locations for another seven legacy signs will be recommended to each Board Director, following the completed installation of the legacy signs referenced above.
Moving forward, staff is developing plans to address the need for legacy signs for projects in various stages of construction, including planning/design, construction, and post-construction phases. This will include building the plans for legacy signs into the capital project planning process, so the signs will be ready once the project is complete.
Considerations for legacy sign messaging and design will include scalability, 30-50 year outdoor warranty, and anti-graffiti requirements. This effort will also explore other ways to instill legacy messaging, such as commemorative plantings and placing plaques on boulders. Plans are also underway to incorporate legacy signs into ribbon cutting ceremonies with follow-up conventional and social media opportunities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The eight pilot signs are estimated to cost $50,000 and will be funded by the following projects: 60171002 ($2,000), 40264011 ($8,000), 26154002, ($8,000), 26174041 ($8,000), 26154003 ($8,000), 40264008 ($8,000), 26284002 ($8,000).
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Creek Signage Mockups
Attachment 2: Legacy Signage Mockups
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Rick L. Callender, 408-630-2017