Council accepts East City Park stage update; staff to pursue 30% design and public outreach

Moscow — The Moscow City Council accepted a staff presentation and stakeholder feedback report on plans to replace the East City Park stage and directed staff to pursue additional public outreach and a 30% concept design and cost estimate.

Staff and Design West Architects presented two siting options: attaching a new stage to the existing restroom building (the “restroom location”) and rebuilding the stage in its historic footprint (the “existing location”). Staff said the restroom location would take advantage of the restroom structure (saving the cost of building a back wall), provide a more amphitheater-like slope for audience seating, reduce performer glare from the setting sun by changing the stage orientation, and use existing utilities and site work to reduce overall cost. Design West reported that continuing at the historic, existing footprint would likely be $50,000 to $70,000 more expensive because of increased concrete, electrical extension and site work.

Design West and staff summarized a November stakeholder meeting that included event organizers (Rendezvous in the Park, Renaissance Fair, Earth Day, Hemp Fest, Palouse Pride, the Moscow Community Band, Festival Dance and Leita Recovery Center), parks staff and arts staff. According to the presentation, stakeholders expressed unanimous support for the restroom-attached location and raised detailed concerns about load-in/load-out, power needs, circulation, accessible surfaces (a “dancers’ plaza”), and flexibility for lighting and sound.

Council members pressed staff on several topics during the discussion: how the load-in/load-out and vehicle maneuvering would be handled (staff said additional paving and maneuvering space southwest of the restrooms is anticipated, with details to be refined in design), how lighting and sound control would be accommodated (staff noted the design includes wiring and a head-end; a permanent pedestal or tented control position is planned rather than a permanent windowed control room), and whether mature trees would be removed (staff indicated preserving the three mature trees was a priority and that the restroom location avoids removing them). Stakeholders and council members also discussed repurposing materials from the removed stage and honoring past donors and volunteers in any new design.

Staff described next steps: additional stakeholder meetings, a public open house or council-chamber forum, outreach at spring events (farmers market, Renaissance Fair, Earth Day), advancing the selected concept to a 30% design and cost estimate, and returning to council with the 30% design, a cost estimate and a summary of public feedback. Council accepted the report (motion and second on the record) and recorded ayes from council members; this was a nonbinding acceptance of the report and not final authority to proceed to construction. Any construction phase would require separate council action and identified funding.

Key technical and planning points discussed: • Cost: staff estimated continuing at the existing location would be roughly $50,000–$70,000 more than attaching the stage to the restroom building, primarily due to extra concrete, electrical and site work. • Accessibility and surfacing: council and stakeholders recommended an amphitheater lawn with a durable all-weather surface in high-traffic “dancers’ plaza” areas to avoid mud and enable accessibility. • Sound/light control: the plan calls for a head-end with routed wiring and a permanent pedestal for sound/light operations; visiting contractors would likely bring a tented booth. • Trees: staff prioritized preserving mature trees and indicated the restroom location reduces the risk of tree removal. • Timeline and outreach: staff plans outreach over winter into spring, including a possible farmers market presence and a spring public meeting, then return with a 30% design and cost estimate.

Action taken: council accepted the report; staff will continue stakeholder/public outreach and advance the project to a 30% design and cost estimate for future council review and any funding requests.