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Home My WebLink About10A Street Lighting Policy Report O � PRIp� h � v � 4646 Dakota Street SE Priar Lake, MN 55372 ` ��NNESD� P CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2013 AGENDA #: 10A PREPARED BY: LARRY POPPLER, CITY ENGINEER / INSPECTIONS DIRECTOR PRESENTED BY: LARRY POPPLER AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER A REPORT REGARDING THE CITY'S STREET LIGHTING POLICY DISCUSSION: introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to determine if the City Council would like to modify the City's street lighting policy. Hi StOry The City has had a long-standing policy bf paying for street light energy and maintenance costs. Annual costs exceed $100,000. Because of the City's position regarding the payment of ongoing energy and maintenance costs, a policy was developed to standardize street lights in the community. Working with the local energy companies, we have identified three lighting styles for use on certain j roadway types. For residential streets, the colonial or traditional light is used (see graphic). At the last Council meeting, Mike Van Arc asked that the City Council allow his neighbors to install a metal light on an existing power pole rather than follow the City's st�eet lighting policy. Mr. Van Arc also submitted a petition from four property owners on Rutgers requesting a street light, but not in accordance with the Council's policy. His rationale was the cost of the lights (he said $50). The City Council directed that the staff prepare a report and bring it to the City Council on October 28. Current Circumstances The lighting policy was adopted to promote safe travel for pedestrians and vehicles and to assure that over time the same style of lights would exist on each street. Lighting requests are made at the recommendation of the City Engineer or by resident petition. Lights are to be placed at intersections, at 300-foot spacing and in cul-de-sacs. One hundred or 150 watt traditional lights are used on neighborhood streets. The policy provides for one set of guidelines for new subdivisions and another for existing subdivisions. For existing neighborhoods, traffic lights are allowed where the daily traffic count is 2,000 (this is the typical loading of a collector street), and the City Engineer finds a significant improvement in safety. The lighting is installed at City expense and the City pays ongoing maintenance and energy costs. Where residents request additional lights for an existing neighborhood, a petition is required which represents 60% of the properties affected by the proposed light for Phone 952.447.9800 / Faac 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 100 lineal feet on each side of the proposed light. New street lights must meet current design requirements and shall match in style and wattage to those already in place. For existing developments the streetlights are purchased by affected residents; and the City pays the energy and maintenance costs in perpetuity. Conclusion The Council should determine if changes to the street lighting policy are appropriate. ISSUES: The Council may wish to consider the following in making its determination: • The current policy has been in place since 2007. Six lights have been installed by petition following this policy. Those who followed the policy may feel they were penalized if it is changed. By contrast, the policy has dictated the lighting style for approximately 400 lights installed on City or development projects. • The policy provides that the lights must meet the City's standards to be eligible for City-paid maintenance and energy costs. These costs are far more significant over the life of the light than the light itself. This was intended to be the motivation for agreeing to pay for the City-required lighting style. • The purpose of the policy is to ultimately have the same lighting style on every residential street. Any modification that allows other lighting styles undermines that objective. • The wooden pole light is about $150 in the Rutgers' case, where the traditional street light with a standalone fiberglass pole is $900 (costs vary based upon the immediate circumstances such as transformer location and power run). • The portion of the existing policy that addresses petitioned lights has not been extensively used (six lights since 2007). This may suggest that a change is needed to this portion of the policy. The Council could direct that the policy be revised to have the City pay 50% of the lights up to some maximum dollar amount. This will increase the street lighting budget, but would motivate people to use the petition portion of the policy to install the lighting styles the City desires. • The current policy is silent on installation of street lighting on reconstruction projects. It is current practice for the City to install new fiberglass lighting at strategic locations only. The lighting costs are assessed. In existing neighborhoods it is more difficult to locate lighting as certain property owners disagree with locations due to bedroom locations or other reasons. The policy could be amended to give guidance on installation of street lights on reconstruction projects. • The policy could be amended to allow LED lighting option. Currently the power companies do not allow this option, but it may be coming soon. FINANCIAL As determined by City Council direction. I M PACT: ALTERNATIVES: 1. Retain the existing policy. 2. Direct the staff to modify the policy as the Council deems appropriate. RECOMMENDED As determined by the Council. MOTION: 2 NOTES: 1.SHOEBOX LIGHT TO BE LOCATED ON COLLECTOR STREETS AND MAJOR INTERSECTIONS WITH 250 WATT HIGH-PRESSURE SODIUM LAMP. 2. TRADITIONAL LIGHT TO BE LOCATED ON RESIDENTIAL o STREETS WITH 150 WATT HIGH-PRESSURE SODIUM LAMP 0 3.DECORATIVE LIGHTS TO BE LOCATED AS DIRECTED BY � CITY ENGINEER WITH 150 WATT HIGH-PRESSURE I I—I I '' I I I- SODIUM LAMP. 4.LIGHTS INSTALLED PER MANUFACTURERS I I • ' 4 .• . I I— SPECIFICATIONS. — I I I I � � DECORATIVE ALTERNATIVE ELECTRICAL OUTLET ' BANNER ROD i 25-30' STEEL POLE 15' FIBERGLASS FIBERGLASS POLE � POLE � I�� I �� III,,.� I �� - 10% OF 10% OF — I I I I I I I I I I I POLE +2' POLE +2' -��—��—�� —��—��—�� SHOEBOX TRADITIONAL DECORATIVE APPROVED oF eR��.� PLATE # �� STREET LiGHT "�� ° TYPES 106 RESIDENTIAL STREET LIGHTING POLICY Implemented 2007 PURPOSE The Street Lighting Policy has been established to promote the safe travel of city streets in a manner both fair and affordable to the City and its residents. Residential street lighting promotes pedestrian and traffic safety by illuminating key intersections, traveled roadways, and public trails. Lighting requests shall come either by recommendation of the City Engineer or by resident petition. The capital costs of residential street lighting are determined by the policy outlined below. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS The design layout and details of new street lighting must meet the following standards: • Street lights shall be placed at all intersections • Street lights shall be installed every 300 feet between intersections • Street lights shall be installed at the end of cul-de-sacs • Shoe box style lights shall be installed at all intersections with collector streets, County roadways, and MnDOT highways. • Street light type must match the styles outlined in Plate #106 � 100 or 150 watt high pressure sodium lights are required for "traditional" or "decorative" style street lights. • 150 or 250 watt high pressure sodium lights are required for "shoebox" style street lights. NEW SUBDIVISIONS All new subdivisions must provide street lighting that meets the design requirements outlined as a part of this policy. All lighting plans require approval by the City and the utility company responsible for street light operation and maintenance. The developer shall pay the full capital cost of every light to be installed; this includes poles, fixtures, underground wiring, and all appurtenant work. The developer shall pay operation and maintenance for the light system until the City accepts the project, at which time the billing shall be transferred to the City. Where a developer wishes to install more lights than warranted by City policy, the monthly operation and maintenance costs of the additional lights shall be borne by the residents of the development through their homeowner's association or similar organization. Where a developer wishes to install non-standard lights, the residents of the development through their homeowners' association or similar organization are responsible for complete , maintenance and monthly operation costs. EXISTING SUBDIVISIONS Where traffic safety clearly warrants, a streetlight may be placed upon the recommendation of the City Engineer's office or the Traffic Safety Committee. The basis of such warrants shall be a minimum Average Daily Traffic of 2000 vehicles or a layout such that, in the City Engineer's City of Prior Lake Residential Street Lighting Policy 1 estimation, significant improvement in safety might be obtained by the placement of a streetlight. Since the benefit of such installations extends to the City as a whole, these will be done at city expense. Residents concerned with safety at a particular intersection may call the Engineering Department at 952-447-9830. When residents request additional lighting for their neighborhoods, they must do so by petition — signed by 60% of the properties affected by the proposed light. The affected area shall be 100 linear feet on either side of the proposed light or lighting area, on both sides of the street. The placement of the proposed light shall be specified in the petition. Petitioners shall approach the City prior to circulating their petition to obtain direction as to where streetlights are warranted for their neighborhoods. New street lights must meet current design requirements. In existing developments new lights shall match in style and wattage those already in place. If approved, each streetlight shall be purchased by the affected residents. Payment shall be made prior to the installation of the light and shall include the cost of poles, fixtures, underground wiring, and all appurtenant work. The method of payment shall be as directed by the City Finance Department. The City shall assume operation and maintenance costs for a light from the time it is energized by the utility company. City of Prior Lake Residential Street Lighting Policy 2