Title
Artesian Commons Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss potential next steps for the Artesian Commons and provide direction to staff regarding future site activation and use.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss potential next steps for the Artesian Commons and provide direction to staff regarding future site activation and use.
Staff Contact:
Jennica Machado, Economic Development Director, Community Development, 360.480.9167
Presenter(s):
Jennica Machado, Economic Development Director, Community Development
Background and Analysis:
The Artesian Commons opened in May 2014 as a public space intended to support daily community use and activity in downtown Olympia. Over time, the site became increasingly challenging to manage due to recurring public safety concerns, vandalism, and substance use. These conditions affected both community members and City staff responsible for maintaining and monitoring the space.
In response, the City closed the Artesian Commons to public access in 2018. Since that time, the site has remained largely inactive and enclosed by fencing. Public access to the Artesian Well, located immediately adjacent to the Commons, has been maintained.
The City Council has requested information to help identify next steps for future use of the Artesian Commons site. To inform this discussion, City staff conducted an initial community engagement process that included two stakeholder focus groups, individual stakeholder conversations, and a community-wide survey. The engagement was intended to gather broad public input on priorities and ideas for the future use of the site.
Analysis
The community engagement feedback identified clear top priorities for the Artesian Commons site. These included:
Maintaining access to the Artesian Well
Keeping the site publicly owned and publicly accessible
Improving cleanliness and regular maintenance
Addressing safety con...
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