Despite pleas, time runs out for fountain
by Cheryl Gilman

Despite Stuart Rupp's ongoing pleas that the Arcade Plaza fountain not be destroyed or moved, the City Council moved forward on the redesign of the Arcade Plaza at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.
Rupp maintains that the fountain is a significant art piece that reflects the culture of Ojai. He said, "It is the only art piece that Wilson created that exists, and its water music helps you relax." Ojai resident Zelma Wilson was the first female architect allowed into the American Society of Architects.
Rupp came prepared with more than 1,000 signatures from people who wanted the fountain to remain. "Half of those people live in Ojai," he said, "the others come from as far away as Europe." He said he had surveyed customers and residents.
Rupp and his recently deceased wife, Nancy, have advertised their studio with pictures of the fountain on their brochures and Web site. Rupp said, "I have been treasurer of the Downtown Merchants' Association for over seven years. I don't know why I wasn't told of the plan to remove the fountain before it was voted on. The project seems to have been rushed through. I propose to just leave the fountain where it is and it won't change the design of the redevelopment of the Arcade."
Bea Dawson, owner of Noah's Apothecary, said, "The fountain draws so many people on a Sunday afternoon. It's a very cool and energetic place to be."
Richard Keit said, "The fountain is an unsung tradition for a lot of people who like to congregate there while waiting for seating at Bonnie Lu's. Children play around it. I suggest we renovate the fountain at our cost. Let's look at it as 70 percent complete and leave the fountain there and allow us to fix it."
Bill Miley said, "I knew Zelma Wilson in '68. Twenty years ago there must have been a lot of energy and love in the city. The fountain needs to be cared for and loved. If we maintain it, it won't need to be replaced. It can have its teeth brushed and hair combed by the city staff."
Councilmember Joe DeVito said, "We need to do whatever we can to have the fountain moved. And we have not rushed through the project. It has been in the making for over three years and there have been numerous public hearings."
Councilmember Sue Horgan said, "I stand behind my vote for the Arcade project because I think it is an excellent plan. I do support looking for another place for the fountain and relocating it."
Councilmember Rae Hanstad said, "I am not interested in adding significant costs to relocate the fountain. I still stand behind my original vote for the new design of the Arcade Plaza and don't think it should be delayed."
Councilmember David Bury said, "We will still have the water music and intimacy behind Bonny Lu's." A new fountain, sculpture and seating will be in that space. "I support relocation of the existing fountain also."
Mayor Olsen agreed and said, "I think the city should contribute to moving this significant piece."
In her report to the council on the project's status, Redevelopment Director Kathy McCann said, "While it is not staff's recommendation that the plan be revisited or reconsidered, it may be possible to preserve rather than demolish the existing fountain, and remove it to another site for installation ... The city has already been approached by Bernd Dressler about locating the fountain at his new project site (on Bryant Circle). Alternatively, if an attractive public location is not available, the council could surplus the fountain allowing any private citizen to reconstruct it."
Due to the importance of this project, the city solicited public involvement from the project's inception in 1997, including an ad hoc steering committee comprised of an agency member, Arcade merchant and members from the arts, planning and redevelopment commissions as well as city staff. The project consultants, RRM Design Group, conducted informal interviews with property owners, merchants, City Council members, city staff and key stakeholders including redevelopment staff, the Ojai Chamber of Commerce and local artists.
Community members participated in an interactive disposable camera survey. In this survey they took photographs of conditions members would like to or like not to see in the plaza. A community questionnaire was distributed to merchants, property owners and community members to solicit a broad range of input early in the process. Two Arcade Plaza newsletters were mailed to property owners and hand-delivered to plaza business owners. Additionally, the agency and commissions have held numerous public workshops and public hearings over the last several years to invite public participation and input on each phase of the project.
Due to the large scale of the project and its potential for disruption to the downtown area, the Arcade Plaza project manager and City Redevelopment analyst will have offices on site throughout the duration of the project. They hope that this will mitigate potential issues and problems, and provide open communication and direct access to staff by arcade merchants and property owners. The city staff has also contacted all utility companies to coordinate any work to be done during the demolition and post-demolition phase of the project.
McCann recommended that the council authorize the city staff to prepare specifications and call for bids for the project. The council unanimously approved. These bids are due back by the end of February. Construction is to begin in March and to be completed by November.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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