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MEMORANDUM October 26, 1992 TO: Bob Hammitt FROM: J.R. Medlin SUBJECT: Repairs Around Mall Fountain A meeting was held on Friday October 23, 1992 to discuss how we best should proceed to address the problem of the spalling bricks around the Mall's Willamette Fountain. Those present included Bob Hibschman, Doub Weber, Vic Martin, Claude Banker and me. Discussion revolved around if it was preferable to explore the reason for the continuing failures of the "fish scale" bricks inlaid around the fountain or to perform spot repairs as needed. The fountain has been shut down for the past ten months due to an unexplained loss of approximately 100,000 gallons of water per month. If this water loss and the problem with the bricks are related is unknown but could well be. Public Works staff have determined that if the need is for a long term solu- tion then a consultant is needed to be hired to determine the cause of the water loss and the brick spalling. This would likely require exploratory excavation and costs could easily exceed $ 15,000 including repairs to the excavated areas. After discussing possible options for the future of the fountain and likely political interpretations of any exploratory excavations it was decided not to proceed with any consultant work at this time. The appearance of surface finishes at the Mall is an important issue. An estimate for a repair of the spalled brick area east of the fountain was made by Dave Colley of the Maintenance Division Concrete Crew. This $4,600 esti- mate was for replacing the "fish scall" brick area which has separated from the underlying area with Mall Tint concrete with red -brick borders. This repair would match adjacent slab /brick patterns. Bob Hibschman explained that state law restricts this type of project from being funded by urban renewal monies. Unfortunately, this cost also exceeds the ability of the Mall Maintenance budget and would need be drawn from other Maintenance Divi- sion sources. In addition this did not include the new area which is spalling on the north side of the fountain. After consideration of these funding problems it was agreed that the Maintenance Division would only make "temporary" repairs sufficient to avoid trip hazards or other liability expo- sure. These patches would be made as durable as possible but would not need to match the appearance of adjacent surfaces. We would continue making re- pairs as necessary until the issues of reopening Willamette or redevelopment of the plaza change status.