In March 2000, Fisher & Hall Urban Design, with Lois Fisher as Director of Design, began working with city residents, staff and leaders in a series of focus groups, walking audits and design studios. The effort focused on developing a vision for the town center and it identified missing elements that would transform Downtown Cotati into a more functional and enjoyable place to live, visit, work, shop and play.  Fisher & Hall Urban Design then conducted a follow-up public process to help the community prioritize their preferences that came from that initial visioning process.  Through this follow-up process, the community included as their highest priorities the pedestrian-friendly re-design of the bridge, public seating, new streetlights and additional parking.  The design team included Winzler & Kelly civil engineers and W-Trans traffic engineers.