Under the direction of the City Council, the City has undertaken a comprehensive process to improve City street lighting and reduce cost associated with providing street lighting. The City spends approximately $500,000 in electricity costs and an additional $140,000 in operations and maintenance costs per year for street lighting. This expenditure represents approximately 1.7% of the City’s total budget.

Streetlight Policy

The Streetlight Policy is a guideline document for the public, City Council, and staff, outlining the streetlight level-of-service that is intended for different parts of the City and how that service will be delivered throughout the City. It is a standard that the public, City Council, and staff can fall back upon when request are made for the installation or removal of streetlights or when questions arise about the management and costs associated with providing the service of lighting public roadways. The Streetlight Policy DOES NOT provide any authority to remove existing streetlights. It is ONLY a guideline for the public, Council, and staff for providing the service of streetlights for the community.

The City Council reviewed the Streetlight Policy during two workshops. On October 20, 2009 the City Council adopted the City Streetlight Policy.

Streetlight Reductions

As a part of the 2010 budget process, the City Council undertook an effort to reduce the number of City streetlights in order to reduce long-term lighting costs. The City expends approximately $500,000 annually for electricity for street lighting.

On May 19, 2009, a map showing proposed street light removals was presented to Council. The Council then directed that lights proposed for removal be marked so that City residents would be informed of possible changes and have an opportunity to comment. Lights were marked on or before May 26, 2009 along with a request for public comment, with such comments accepted over the following 30 days.

On July 28, 2009, three reduction options, calling for the removal of 318, 181, and 126 lights respectively, were presented to the Council. The $25,000 savings target that was set in the FY2010 City Budget would require removing approximately 215 streetlights by the end of August. At the July 28, 2009 workshop, Council requested that staff develop further options that would minimize any reductions in residential areas in Service Zone 3.

On September 14, 2009, one additional option (Option D) was presented (see attached) to address the Council’s request to minimize the effect of the reductions on any residential areas and to improve the uniformity of the street lighting provided along major roadways in Service Zone. If fully implemented, this option would eliminate 106 streetlights and save approximately $14,000.

On October 20, 2009, Council ordered staff to implement a 45 day trial period for Option D, but further ordered that if, during that period, a resident living in the vicinity of a streetlight in question requested that light be turned back on, the City would do so. Council asked to be updated at the end of the 45 day trial period or earlier as warranted based on the public response to the trial.

Staff began implementing the trial early in December 2009 by turning off streetlights on a rolling basis. The final light was turned off in early February 2010. A black bag was placed over the trial fixtures to protect them from the weather and a sign was placed on the pole notifying residents that the light is under consideration for permanent removal. The sign provided information about the trial and contact information for requesting that the light be placed back in service. Although the trial began at the beginning of December 2009, the final trial light was not darkened until early February 2010 given other regular assignments performed by the electrical crew. If the 45 day trial period is adhered to for each light, the final streetlight could not be permanently removed until mid-March.

Eleven sets of residents have requested that a streetlight be restored. In response, ten lights were placed back in service.

Approximately 28 residents commented on streetlight removals, both positively and negatively. The majority of requests for light restoration were based on concerns relating to the security of private property.

Next Steps

Streetlight removal has so far focused on removing streetlights in Service Zone 3. An additional 250 streetlights can be removed in Service Zone 1 and 2 along arterials, in downtown, and at some locations in residential neighborhoods. Following the removal of the lights listed above, it is staff’s intent to shift from streetlight removal to streetlight installation in order to fulfill the requirements of the Department of Energy Mercury Streetlight Replacement Grant. Through the installation of new streetlights in downtown, along arterials, and in residential neighborhoods, it is the intent of staff to permanently remove streetlights which are located in close proximity to other streetlight locations that will be serviced by adjacent light locations as new streetlights are installed according to the Council adopted Streetlight Reduction Plan. Although the same service level lighting of lighting will be provided, a light may no longer be located in exactly the same place as it was before the installation of new light took place.