Council split over Peace Plaza fixes after accessibility complaints; staff seeks $175,000 to pilot incremental improvements

City staff presented a plan to address accessibility and navigation concerns at Peace Plaza after stakeholder interviews with people who experience mobility, vision or neurological challenges. Staff said those interviews showed accessible routes were unclear in places because raised-letter pavers and artwork made it difficult for some users to navigate the intended smooth paths.

Immediate steps already taken included added signage, moving planters, some paver resetting and enhanced daily maintenance; the city contracted RDG, a design/engineering firm, to conduct further stakeholder engagement and engineering evaluation. Staff proposed incremental near-term tactics—expanded smooth paver lanes on the east side, painted/ground signage to mark walk zones, selective resetting of pavers, and continued monitoring of use—beginning in March and continuing through August to assess whether those measures resolve navigation problems.

Staff also told the council the Destination Medical Center board was asked to authorize approximately $175,000 to fund the incremental work and additional engineering and cost estimating needed if larger interventions become necessary; staff said they planned to bring a formal recommendation to the city council for action. RDG staff explained that turning and resetting pavers (polymetric sand re-compaction, heat treatment for color match where needed) is feasible and is part of the proposed short-term approach.

Council reactions were mixed. Several council members, including Council member Wall and Council member Palmer, urged quicker or more complete fixes—flipping or flattening pavers where practicable or pursuing a larger redraw of the plaza surface to eliminate hazards. Other council members and the mayor supported an incremental, test-and-evaluate approach to avoid needless destruction of commissioned artwork and to reduce disruption to businesses that already endured construction. Staff repeatedly emphasized the plan is designed to minimize business disruption by doing smaller handwork interventions rather than mobilizing heavy equipment for a full reconstruction.

Staff also confirmed ancillary fixes: custom tree grates are being fabricated and will be installed in spring, and the mist/water feature is winterized and intended to return with resolved software/mechanical issues.

Next steps: staff will pursue the March–August pilot of incremental measures if DMC approves funding, return to council with the formal recommendation and cost estimates (including possible larger-scale options if pilot measures are insufficient), and continue engagement with stakeholders and the original artist.