City Commission to discuss roundabout landscaping

Arising from a concern about the visible differences in roundabouts at Five Points and along Ringling Boulevard, the City Commission will discuss guidelines for landscaping on roundabouts at its meeting Monday, Aug. 19.

The preliminary roundabout guidelines include separate levels of design. Level One is the most basic, but Levels Two and Three allow for more complex options — crosswalk pavers, ornamental-light fixtures, custom street signs — and would require city approval.

For the center islands in the roundabouts, Level One landscaping would include trees as a focal point. Level Two landscaping would include an ornamental wall around the focal point. Level Three would introduce a different focal feature, such as a sculpture, flagpoles or a clock tower. The Public Art Committee would need to approve any artwork at a roundabout.

The guidelines, written by city staff in conjunction with two consultants, include separate plans for large multi-lane roundabouts and medium and small single-lane roundabouts.

Also on the agenda for Monday’s meeting:

•Commissioners will consider the approval of a $1.1 million agreement with McKim and Creed for the first phase of engineering services at Lift Station 87. Earlier work on the lift station in Luke Wood Park stalled, which city officials blamed on the previous engineers.

•A discussion will be held regarding Robert Marbut, the consultant hired by the city and county to provide a plan to address homelessness in the area.

•Commissioners will decide whether to authorize the purchase of a sculpture, Bharata, to be installed at Five Points Park. The sculpture, which would cost $18,000, was previously on display in the park in 2011.

•A public hearing will be held regarding changing the name of Bradenton Road to Old Bradenton Road from North Tamiami Trail to the city line.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].