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Clock Plaza master plan, Zephyr Park shortlist and downtown sound system move forward
Summary
Staff showed a master plan for Clock Plaza (stage, turf, fountain, public art wall, saved bricks) and said Zephyr Park construction-manager-at-risk candidates were shortlisted. Staff also reported the existing downtown sound system is unreliable and recommended replacement with a zoned audio system budgeted next year.
Zephyrhills staff presented a master plan for Clock Plaza and updates on related downtown projects during the Oct. 27 CRA meeting, and staff said they have ranked candidates for a construction-manager-at-risk contract for Zephyr Park.
Clock Plaza master plan: The design shown to the board preserves the existing bathroom building and places a stage and projection wall in front of it, uses the existing bricks in a place of honor, adds artificial turf for a softer event surface, string lighting, a seat wall with a fountain and a public art wall at the plaza's edge. Staff said the plan is intended to increase year-round usability and to improve pedestrian connections from Fifth Avenue toward Eighth Street.
Zephyr Park and trees: Staff reported they shortlisted candidates for a construction manager at risk for Zephyr Park and will return Nov. 10 with rankings and presentations; one shortlisted candidate is out of state, and the board requested an in-person presentation. Staff also warned that some downtown trees have shallow root systems that pop bricks and may not survive full redevelopment; staff will work with an arborist to determine whether trees can be saved or relocated.
Downtown audio: The city's outdoor sound system is eight years old and has reliability problems, the board heard. City IT and public-works staff said the current vendor is no longer in business; staff have identified a vendor whose system can reuse existing components where compatible and provide zoned audio so that different plaza/avenue areas can run separate audio (for example, a movie in Clock Plaza while an event runs on Fifth Avenue). Replacement would be paid in next year's budget.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the Clock Plaza drawings for additional input, bring Zephyr Park CMAR presentations to the Nov. 10 meeting, have the arborist evaluate existing plaza trees, and return with options and a budget for the downtown sound-system replacement for the next budget cycle.
