Meeting Notes:

The Silver Median Project is a joint community effort to install green stormwater infrastructure (GSI; aka rainwater harvesting) features to irrigate climate-ready trees and plants in order to turn an a dirt triangle at the intersection of Silver and Solano into a beautiful garden. The purpose of the meeting was to gather input from neighbors on the final design for the median plantings and hardscape  You may have seen announcements about this meeting in recent weeks on the NHNA Neighbors listserv. 

Shelby Stimson (Program Manager, Resilient Cities, Spatial Informatics Group - Natural Assets Laboratory) welcomed neighbors and church members and overviewed the partners and the project. 

Linley Green (Landscape Designer, PLAND Collaborative) reviewed the project goals and benefits. Linley presented an overview of site characteristics, including sight lines for safe driving through the intersection, height limits for planting due to driving conditions, and water movement during rain events.  Linley presented an overview of the project design, including use of cobble-lined swales, mulch-lined basins, and multiple soil sponges.  Linley noted that the project will not attempt to capture water running down Solano. That would require road alteration and is too complicated for the current project. Observations indicate that there will be plenty of run-off for the triangle garden without the Solano run-off. 

Irrigation for new plants during the vulnerable first year is funded through an existing grant and will be done by a contractor.  Neighbors and church members have also volunteered to monitor and assist with irrigation during plant establishment.

It was noted that project funding does include any pedestrian features, such as new sidewalks or crosswalk striping for intersections.  NHNA or Nob Hill neighbors may want to put in a request for the city to add a marked sidewalk along the eastern side of the triangle and crosswalk striping. A timely request may allow for pedestrian features to be installed at the same time as triangle planting. Shelby will help with such a request.

A question and answer session followed the design presentation. 

Q: Will there be money for repair (e.g., if a car takes out trees/rocks/basins)?

• SigNal does have a contract with CABQ to maintain GSI and, while Silver Median is not part of this contract officially, it's possible it can be adopted.
• Neighbors report that high speed vehicles have been known to drive over the median or crash into adjacent properties. The SE corner of the median is particularly vulnerable to erratic turns from Solano into Arlote.

Q: Does CABQ have a role in maintenance?

• No, because it is currently not in their asset inventory and no department is in charge of it. It is possible this could change in the future if a city department adopts it over time. Currently it will be maintained by neighborhood volunteers including City on a Hill. Applying the median into the Adopt-A-Median Program could be an avenue to formalize the maintenance among community members. Soliciting the Duke City Ambassadors is another avenue for maintenance. Finally, Shelby does have plans to help educate community members on GSI maintenance.

Q: What is the Project Timeframe?

• Phase 1 (design and community outreach) will come to a close in February when the 100% designs will be completed and a meeting with CABQ staff persons will confirm the project is ready to be approved. Funding for Phase 2 (construction) has been awarded, and funds should be allocated soon, although there is no definitive date. If funds are released soon, it is possible the installation begins late summer/early fall.  Construction should not take more than a few weeks.

Q: What are plans for irrigation? In some city projects, the plants are allowed to die.

• The Phase 2 grant does have funds allocated to watering, from a water truck, for the first year to ensure plants are getting proper irrigation during this most vulnerable period.

Q: Will the median improve safety and walkability, and will there be other pedestrian-friendly infrastructure added?

• GSI research does show traffic calming effects, and there are elements in the current design that will deter people from being too fast and reckless around the median such as 12" - 24" rock in the perimeter that act as a visual and physical buffer. No other pedestrian infrastructure will be part of the project (e.g., sidewalks, paint stripes) because of funding and scope limitations. However, if the community wants certain elements in this realm to be added by the city, there are plenty of low cost but effective options to enhance walkability and they should reach out to the city.

Q: Will there be new traffic signs, because sometimes this can make the project ugly?

• No traffic signage was brought up by DMD. There may be more aesthetic, GSI educational related signage, however.

Q: What types of permits or other CABQ red-tape is required to get through design and construction? Have you addressed it?

• CABQ staff in DMD and other departments have been active participants in the planning and design, and have signed on for letters of support. So any permits that have not yet been addressed should be supported and secured without issue. For Phase 2, construction permits will be secured by the installation contractor and likely will just need to be traffic barricades and excavation permits.

Q: How big will the trees be and will they crowd each other out? Will the multi-branched trees hang into the street and/or block vision?

• Usually 2" caliper trees are planted, and the plan will specify that trees are planted in an appropriate distance from each other so canopy competition is not an issue. Site-triangles confirm that trees will not obstruct vision, and they will be planted sufficiently far into the basin to not be a road nuisance.