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Home My WebLink About2009 03 09 Regular 600 Electronic Programmable Message CenterCOMMISSION AGENDA Consent Informational ITEM 600 Public Hearing Regular X March 9, 2009 ~. Regular Meeting ~ e Authorization REQUEST: Community Development Department, Urban Beautification Division, is requesting that the City Commission review options for an Electronic Programmable Message Center located at the front of City Hall. PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the City Commission to review costs and options for a programmable message center located at City Hall, pursuant to a Commission request on February 9, 2009 as part of Agenda Item 408. CONSIDERATIONS: On February 9, 2009, at a regular Commission Meeting, as part of Agenda Item 408, the City Commission requested that Staffresearch costs for a City Hall Message Center that would provide information to residents about public meetings and other current events. Staff wishes to provide the City Commission with conceptual photos and estimated costs of four options that are immediately available for the installation of a Message Center located at the front of City Hall: 1. Message Center using existing monument. (See Attachment `3') • LED Message Center installed on top of the existing monument and framed with bricks to appear as an original feature. • Cost is estimated between $14,000 and $19,000 depending upon the communications method (wired or 1ZF) and programming features selected. • A text amendment to the City's Code of Ordinances (Sea 16-57. Prohibited signs) would be required. • A special exception to the City's Code of Ordinances (Sea 20-327. Architectural guidelines) would be required. 2. Message Center within a new monument. (See Attachment `4') • LED Message Center installed within a new monument feature. • Cost is estimated between $35,000 and $50,000 depending upon features of the new monument and the communications method (wired or RF), and programming features selected. • A text amendment to the City's Code of Ordinances (SeG 16-57. Prohibited signs) would be required. • A special exception to the City's Code of Ordinances (Sec. 20-327. Architectural guidelines) would be required. 3. Message Center mounted flat on building. (See Attachment `5') • LED Message Center mounted flat on the front, western end of the City Hall fagade, and framed as a finished feature. • Cost is estimated between $8,000 and $10,000 depending upon the communications method (wired or 1ZF) and programming features selected. • A text amendment to the City's Code of Ordinances (Sec. 16-57. Prohibited signs) would be required. 4. Message Center (FIN) mounted on building. (See Attachment `6') • LED Message Center mounted as avertically-oriented projecting sign (FIN), on the front Western end of the City Hall facade, and framed as a finished feature. • Cost is estimated between $12,000 and $14,000 depending upon the communications method (wired or RF) and programming features selected. • A text amendment to the City's Code of Ordinances (Sec. 16-57. Prohibited signs) would be required. If the City Commission wishes to pursue the installation of an Electronic Message Center at City Hall, the following should be addressed: 1. Choose the most appropriate location and design. 2. Determined the most secure method of programming for the message center. a) RF (radio frequency) communications is the least secure and least costly method of programming. b) A wired connection, either copper or fiber optic link communications, is the most secure and most costly to install method of programming. c) It is prudent to note that a fiber optic link would help to isolate City Hall against a lighting strike at or near the message center. 3. Identify a funding source for the project. 4. Modify City Code, as detailed above, based upon which location and design is chosen for the message center. Should the project be approved and funding become available, bid specifications would be created and the project released for public bidding consideration. It is estimated that the project could be completed within 60 days from execution of a contract with a suitable vendor. FUNDING: If the Commission wishes to proceed with the project, a funding source would need to be identified based upon costs related to the chosen location and design of the message board. 2 RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends the City Commission provide Staff with direction as deemed appropriate. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: The project would be implemented upon Commission approval and should be completed within 60 days from execution of a contract with a suitable vendor. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Monochrome Message Center -General Specifications 2. City Code of Ordinances - Signage (pertinent excerpts) 3. City Hall Existing Monument -Message Center Conceptual Photo 4. City Hall New Monument -Message Center Conceptual Photo 5. City Hall Building Facade -Message Center Conceptual Photo 6. City Hall Building Facade FIN -Message Center Conceptual Photo COMMISSION ACTION: 3 Attachment ~ 1' -March 9, 2009 Commission Item 600 General Specifications 1. MONOCHROME MESSAGE CENTER Message centers can be installed indoors and outdoors. Both single-sided and double-sided message centers are available. A. Type: Exterior electronic, monochrome, LED, single-sided or double-sided message center to be wall mounted 31 or 25 MM Monochrome with Grayscale LED Message Center. • 31-25 MM Monochrome LED Message Center can be provided in two heights and several widths. Available heights and the number of message lines with 8.5 inches (215 mm) high characters is as follows: 0 2 feet (0.6 m) high with two message lines. 0 3 feet (0.9 m) high with three message lines. • 31-25 MM Monochrome LED Message Center is fabricated with numerous LED display elements or pixels spaced at approximately 1.23 inch (31.25 mm). Red or Amber LED pixels can be provided. o LED display elements: Red or Amber LED. o LED pixel pitch: [1.23 inch] [31.25 mm]. o Pixel Brightness: 9,000 NITS (cd/m2). o Color capacity: 256 shades of red or amber. o Viewing angles: 140 degrees horizontal and 60 degrees vertical. o Hybrid pixel design: Each LED shall have protective louver. Depending on message center size, power consumption varies from 346 watts to 1094 watts. o Ambient operating temperature: 0 to 122 degrees F. o Maintenance access: Front o Input: 85-265 VAC. 2. MESSAGE CENTER CONTROL SYSTEM B. Operating software and other accessories to use with Windows based computer. Message center shall be controlled from remote location. Required processor capacity: Windows based, 98 minimum 2"d Edition, with 128 MB RAM (minimum). • Message center can be connected to a control computer by a wired fiber optic link, cable Gnk or wireless RF (line of sight) communications. o Communications link: Fiber optic cable, Ethernet cable, RF (line of sight) Wireless system. o Graphic capabilities: Text, animation, logos, multiple fonts, moving messages, and video capability. Message storage: Solid state flash. o Input: Control software has ability to import AVI and BMP images from Adobe, Premiere, PhotoShop, Illustrator and other standard computer graphics software. o Display dimming: 161evels controlled manually or automatic. o Automatic scheduling: Provide for creating schedule to display stored messages. 4 Attachment `2' -March 9, 2009 Commission Item 600 City Code - Signage (pertinent excerpts) Sec. 16-57. Prohibited signs. (5) Electronic signs, animated signs or signs of a flashing, running or revolving nature; (23) Any sign not expressly authorized under the City Code. (Code 1974, § 5-115; Ord. No. 2001-09, § 1, 2-26-01; Ord. No. 2001-50, § 2, 10-22-01; Ord. No. 2003-06, § 2, 12-8-03; Ord. No. 2006-18, § 2, 10-23-06) Sec. 20-327. Architectural guidelines. (f) Signs: (1) General requirements. • All signs shall be subject to a discretionary aesthetic appropriateness review by the DRC in order that signs are consistent and in harmony with the Winter Springs Town Center. The DRC shall use graphics in this section as nonbinding guidelines, but shall make a determination of appropriateness on a case by case basis. • Signs shall be flat against the facade, mounted projecting from the facade (FIN), or mounted above the top of the facade. Free standing monument signs are permitted by special exception along State Road 434 frontage. • Signs shall be externally lit. Individual letters and symbols may be internally lit or back-lit and may project no more than twelve (12) inches from the facade. (2) Finish materials • Wood: painted or natural • Metal: copper, brass, galvanized steel, aluminum • Painted canvas • Neon • Paint/engraved directly on facade surface (3) Conftgurations. • Maximum gross area of signs on a given facade shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the applicant's facade area. • Maximum area of any single sign mounted perpendicular to a given facade shall not exceed 10 square feet, except for FIN signs. All projecting signs shall be installed in such a manner that there shall be no visible angle iron support structure above a roof, building face or wall, unless such brackets are incorporated into the signage as decorative elements of the signage. •Signs shall maintain a minimum clear height above sidewalks of eight (8) feet. • All signs shall be designed to be compatible with the respective storefront and subject building in scale, proportion, and color and should be visually interesting and compatible in the context of the town center guidelines. • FIN signs are vertically oriented projecting signs, that are uniquely situated and customized for high visibility. Fin signs shall not exceed twenty-eight (28) feet in height above the ground and shall be placed at least twelve (12) feet above the public sidewalk. Fin signs shall be between fifteen (15) square feet and twenty-five (25) square feet in area, but shall not extend more than five (5) feet from the building wall. All fin signs shall be installed in such a manner that there shall be no visible angle iron support structure above a roof, building face or wall unless such brackets are incorporated into the signage as decorative elements of the signage. Attachment `3' -March 9, 2009 Commission Item 600 ,;~.. ~.• t~~ ~., .~, ~~ . ''*y, 5 ~; ~ :, r~~ `;~.. - . k .~ ... ~, , Y 6 ~ Y ~~.zY' c ~ ...,.L .,:~ :! f~J/~:I r~tl.;~ 4 • ~.. Attachment `4' -March 9, 2009 Commission Item 600 iV~ iK~ Y S yl~~'P'r')" j _ 4 ~ a'~~ ~~ ~ ~ i f ~1 is 4f r / i ~ ,:. A~ ~~ ~ _~ iM e ~"~ ~ ,~ • , F. 6 Attachment `5' -March 9, 2009 Commission Item 600 .~ s Attachment `6' -March 9, 2009 Commission Item 600 --~,a ~~ '; .k / r .~ ,} ~ i~ '. 6- / f 1 v ~~~ `~~