By Kerry Lyman
After receiving about 700 votes in a survey on how to beautify Fernley’s roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 50A and U.S. 95A there is no clear favorite, though softscape, a mix of natural plants, flowers, shrubs and other living materials seemed to have a small edge over other alternatives, according to Olivia John, Fernley’s deputy public works director.
The survey was publicized using the city’s website, social media platforms and the city’s reader board, as well as link to the survey being mailed to the public with monthly water bills, John told the city council during a presentation last Wednesday.
Four main alternatives were presented during the survey, John said, hardscape, softscape, artificial and xeriscape. A mix of two of the main options was also allowed, as well as other ideas. Softscape received 26 percent of the votes, hardscape 23 percent, a mix of two received 20 percent, while artificial, xeriscape and other options received 17 percent, 9 percent and 5 percent of the votes, respectively, she said.
When mixing two of the four main options, representing 20 percent of all the votes, there was even less consensus: artificial and hardscape, 29 percent; artificial and softscape, 29 percent; hardscape and softscape, 28 percent; artificial and xeriscape, 6 percent; hardscape and xeriscape, 5 percent; and softscape and xeriscape, 3 percent.
Regarding actual votes, softscape, with 350 votes, led the pack. Hardscape came in a close second at 309 votes, while artificial came in with 221 votes, xeriscape gleaned 122 votes and all other alternatives came in at about 100 votes or less, John said.
The city council took no vote on the alternatives. The survey was requested by the council in March to get a feel for how the public wanted the roundabout to be designed. At that meeting, John noted that the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is responsible for maintenance of the roundabout, except for the center of the roundabout, which is the city’s responsibility.
However, although the city will be responsible for the costs, design and maintenance of the roundabout’s center, the city must work with NDOT to implement any center design that is decided upon, and nothing in the center may intrude upon the roadway if it is toppled over by the wind or a vehicle accident, she said.
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