SR-507-000 (4)
EPWM: CC: AA: RDB: SG f:\data\spfiles\SP1797\cc1797_1_.23.4.doc
City Council Meeting: January 23, 2001 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Set a Public Hearing for March 27, 2001 for the
Formation of Various Street Light Assessment Districts, Determine
Whether an Ornamental Street Light Standard should be Adopted for All
Residential Installations, and Determine How Resulting Costs will be
Distributed
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council set a public hearing on March 27, 2001 in
accordance with Proposition 218 for the formation of the following street light
assessment districts:
District A Ozone Avenue - from Lincoln Boulevard to Glenn Court
District B Dewey Street - from 17th Street to 23rd Street
District C Robson Street - from 17th Street to Dewey Street
District D Marine Street - from Lincoln Boulevard to 17th Street
District E Strand Street - from 5th Street to 6th Street
District F Frederick Street - from Marine Street to Dewey Street
This report also recommends that Council consider adopting an ornamental style street
light standard on all residential installations and direct staff as to how the costs will be
distributed.
Background
In accordance with the Improvement Act of 1911, Proposition 218, and Santa Monica
Municipal Code 7.04.860, whenever 60 percent of the occupants of the residential units in
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any area petition the City Council to institute proceedings for residential street lighting, the
City Council institutes proceedings to provide residential street lighting to the area.
Successful petitions (those with greater than 60 percent support) have been received from
residents on these streets:
District A Ozone Avenue - from Lincoln Boulevard to Glenn Court
District B Dewey Street - from 17th Street to 23rd Street
District C Robson Street - from 17th Street to Dewey Street
District D Marine Street - from Lincoln Boulevard to 17th Street
District E Strand Street - from 5th Street to 6th Street
District F Frederick Street - from Marine Street to Dewey Street
In accordance with Proposition 218, notices of the proposed assessment and ballots for
the street lighting improvements must be sent to all eligible voters. Ballots were sent out
for these districts in July 2000, however, recent court interpretations of Proposition 218
indicate that eligible voters for residential properties are residents of the streets included
within the assessment district, either owners or renters; and the eligible voters for non-
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all
residential properties are owners of the properties. Since all eligible voters did not receive
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categories identified by the
interpretations were not notified
notification of the assessment, new ballots will be mailed out to all individuals. A new
public hearing must be scheduled in accordance with legal requirements.
Discussion
Street lights previously installed in residential areas fall into two basic categories, ?cobra
head? style and ?ornamental? style. Photos of both types are included as Attachment A.
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The ornamental style costs approximately 45% more than the cobra head style. In the past,
residents were able to choose between the two types of street lights, paying the additional
cost for the ornamental option, if selected. Consistent with previous Council discussions,
staff recommends that the City standardize to an ornamental street light, which improves
the aesthetics and pedestrian environment in residential zones.
On August 9, 2000, a public meeting was held at the Main Library Auditorium to discuss
the type, location, and approximate cost of the streetlights for these districts. Residents
were provided a choice of three ornamental style street lights, consisting of concrete and
metal poles, with ?acorn? style, polycarbonate globes, and internal aluminum reflectors.
Those in attendance selected the ?Nostalgia? style of ornamental street light, identified in
Attachment A.
The ornamental lights provide appropriate illumination for both vehicles and
pedestrians. To reduce light pollution, the fixture contains an internal refractor shield
that directs light downward, minimizing interference with the "dark night sky", and
providing a shade to prevent glare in windows of adjacent residential units.
Included in the budget section are three cost options for the assessment depending
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street lights
upon the determination of the City Council as to the type of streetlights to be used and
the cost share between the City and the property owners.
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Option 1: Uses the ornamental lights as the standard and the incremental increase
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First, the costs with a 50/50
split using the cobra head style lights;
in costs is shared 50/50 by the property owner and City.
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second, costs reflecting
Option 2: Uses the ornamental light as the standard with the City paying 100% of
the incremental increase in costs; and
Option 3: A 50/50 split between the City and property owners using the cobra head
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third, utilizing ornamental
lights as the standard and having the
style lights;
incremental increased cost shared
50/50 by the property owner and City.
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third option
Staff recommends Option 1. Residents as well as the City benefit from providing
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cost sharing
ornamental street lights as the residential standard and it is in keeping with the cost-
sharing concept of new street lights embraced by past City Councils.
Notices of the City?s intent to form an assessment district and hold a public hearing will be
mailed to eligible voters forty-five (45) days in advance of the public hearing in accordance
with State law. In addition to the notice, eligible voters will receive a ballot with which they
will be able to vote for or against the assessment. A list of properties and the assessment
map will be available to the City Council at the time of the public hearing.
Eligible voters may return their ballots by mail or deliver them to the City Clerk prior to the
close of the public hearing. At the hearing, the City Council will hear all objections and
protests, if any, to the proposed assessment. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the
assessment ballots submitted and not withdrawn, in support of or in opposition to the
proposed assessment will be tabulated. No assessment will be imposed if there is a
majority protest. A majority protest exists if, upon the conclusion of the hearing, ballots
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submitted in opposition to the assessment exceed the ballots submitted in favor of the
assessment. Tabulation of the assessment ballots will be weighted according to the
proportional financial obligation of the affected property.
Budget/Financial Impact
The total project costs listed below include staff time for engineering surveys, design,
public notifications, advertisements, construction and construction management.
Option No. 1- Ornamental style lights ? Property owner and City share 50/50 in the
incremental increase over the cost of cobra head style lights.
Estimated property owner assessments $ 218,000
Estimated City contributions* $ 392,000
Total project estimate $ 610,000
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Cobra head style lights -
cost share 50/50 ¶
¶
Option No. 2 ? Ornamental style lights ? City pays 100% of the incremental increase over
the cost of cobra head style lights.
Estimated property owner assessments $ 143,000
Estimated City contributions* $ 467,000
Total project estimate $ 610,000
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... [1]
Option No. 3 - Cobra head style lights - cost share 50/50
Estimated property owner assessments $ 143,000
Estimated City contributions* $ 272,000
Total project estimate $ 415,000
* Includes assessments for municipal owned properties
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Ornamental style lights ?
Property owner and City share 50/50 in
the incremental increase over the cost
of cobra head style lights.¶
¶
If the majority of the voters support the proposed assessment, funds in the amount of
$392,000 are currently available in the following accounts:
Account Name Account Number Amount
?New Streetlight Systems? C01015594.589000 $29,101
?New Streetlight Systems? C01015595.589000 $36,108
?New Streetlight Systems? C01015599.589000 $186,089
?Streetlight Retrofit Program? C01072400.589000 $ 140,702
Total??????.. $ 392,000
If Council elects Option 2, the additional $75,000 for the City contribution is available in
account C01072400.589000, ?Streetlight Retrofit Program.?
... [2]
The property owner?s share for the project will be paid through assessments and held in
Trust Account No. 80.201181.
Recommendation
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Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Set a Public Hearing for March 27, 2001 for the formation of various street light
assessment districts;
2. Direct staff to adopt ornamental style street lights for residential installations; and
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3. Approve Option 1 in the Budget/Financial Impact section of this report that allows for
the City and property owner to share 50/50 in the incremental cost of increase of the
ornamental style street light over the cobra head style streetlight.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works
Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Renee Cowhig, Maintenance Manager
Dave Britton, P.E., Sr. Civil Engineer
Ruth Odell, Engineering Support Services Supervisor
Sophia J. Gorelik, Project Manager, DMJM
Attachment A: Picture of Streetlights
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Cobra head style lights - cost share 50/50
Estimated property owner assessments $ 143,000
Estimated City contributions* $ 272,000
Total project estimate $ 415,000
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Ornamental style lights ? Property owner and City share 50/50 in the incremental
increase over the cost of cobra head style lights.
Estimated property owner assessments $ 240,500
Estimated City contributions* $ 369,500
Total project estimate $ 610,000