Policy D.2 Maintain beautiful and comfortable outdoor public places which provide a shared sense of ownership and belonging for Sunnyvale residents, business owners and visitors.

Policy C/4f Support the development of plazas, linear parks and pocket parks along pedestrian pathways in the downtown area as designated in the Downtown Specific Plan.

Goal: Urban Design-2 Increase open space and pedestrian-oriented environments in the downtown.

Policy: Urban Design-2 Maintain beautiful and comfortable outdoor public places which can be shared by Sunnyvale residents, business owners and visitors.

Goal: Open Space-1 Provide a public open space system in the downtown which links districts together and provides a pedestrian–oriented framework around which buildings are sited.

On June 18, 2002, Council awarded a design contract to Amphion Environmental, Inc. (Amphion) for professional design services for the Plaza. Amphion subsequently prepared a design that incorporated all of the design features that had been requested by Council and by the community. As part of this design effort, Amphion prepared a project estimate that indicated the project cannot be built within the available budget.

The currently funded balance in the Plaza Project is approximately $4,526,000, which includes $487,000 of Proposition 40 funding. Considering the uncertainty regarding the current availability of Proposition 40 funds, $4,039,000 is considered to be the available project balance. The original Council approved project estimate amounts to almost $6 million.

Staff subsequently requested Amphion to identify 3 additional options for constructing the Plaza in a phased approach so as to reduce the current project cost. All four options are summarized as follows:

In light of the current budget situation, staff is recommending that the project be constructed in a phased approach that would allow an initial phase to be constructed within the available funding. Alternative B is the only phased option that can be considered within the present budget.

Council direction is needed if the project is to be implemented in a phased approach since Council’s original direction was to design the ultimate project. By making a decision now to proceed with a phased project, immediate direction can be given to the consultant to modify the existing design. This direction will ensure that the Plaza project can continue to move forward in a timely manner. With the staff recommended Alternative B, construction would begin no sooner than August 2003 and could be completed by August 2004. This schedule assumes no unanticipated delays. Staff will continue to evaluate the project schedule and look for opportunities to expedite where possible.

Amphion has informed staff that the project design modifications for a scaled back project can be produced within the remaining consultant budget.