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sr-032779-11aSanta Monica, California T0: FROM: SUBJECT: Introduction Mayor and City Council City Staff March 14, 1979 ~® MAR 2 7 1979 Review of Street Lighting Policy and Recommendation for Improvements This report reviews the status of street lighting in Santa Monica and makes recommendations for improvements in existing lighting as well as a more rational method of obtaining street lights for areas of the City which have no lighting. Background In Santa Monica approximately one half of the City streets have street lights and the other half are not lighted except at intersections. All existing street lights have been installed at property owners' expense. Cost of installing the street lights have been financed through assessment districts whereby property owners in residential areas have paid 50% of the installation costs with the City having paid the remaining 50%. Property owners in commercial areas have paid 100% of the cost of instal- ling street lights. A71 maintenance and energy costs for all street lights have been paid by the City. Approximately 60% of the existing street lighting system is outdated as far as type of lighting standard and circuitry, and is inefficient with regard to the light source. During the past 20 years there have been a number of improvements in street lighting methods. These include ~/ MAR 2 7 1979 To: Mayor and City Council -2- March: 14, 1979 mercury vapor and high pressure sodium vapor light sources These. light sources are approximately twice and four times as efficient respectively in terms of lumens per watt when compared to incandescent lights. The City electrical crew has recently converted a large number of lights on several major streets from mercury vapor to sodium vapor at relatively little cost, using budgeted street light maintenance funds. These con- versions have resulted in a savings of energy use of 10% for the converted portions of the system while providing a 50{ increase ih lighting levels in those areas. A special situation exists in the commercial areas where half of the street lights were extinguished in 1974 during the energy crisis. This action saves approximately $40,000 annually, but has caused a certain amount of concern from merchants and residents in some areas. Currently a request from the Main Street Association, with support from the Chamber of Commerce, is asking for the lights which were extinguished in that area to be turned on. Also, liability problems may exist for the City if accidents or crimes occur near street lights which have been extinguished. t4any of the lights in these areas have been replaced with the more efficient light sources described above. This increase in light has partially offset some of the problems caused by -the energy conservation program, but the light intensity levels vary from extremely bright to very dark due to the large distances between the lighted luminaires. For the areas without lighting, as previously noted, a policy has existed for more than 20 years whereby lighting installation costs were paid for To: Mayor and City Council -3- March 14, 1979 by property owners by assessment district (with 50% City participation in residential areas). During the past three years several neighborhood groups have requested staff to prepare petitions which have subsequently been circulated. However, in each case, the necessary 60% of signatures of property owners were not obtained. It may be noted that by using the same assessment procedures as are currently being used for street trees, street lights could be ordered by Council's own motion without benefit of petitions. This might be desirable if there were an obvious public need in a particular area of the City. Energy Costs The total cost of energy to operate the current City street lighting system is approximately $300,000. There are currently 4,000 street lights in the City and the average annual energy cost of each streetlight is $75.00. There is little doubt that energy costs will be rising rapidly in-the coming months and years. These-costs will undoubtedly rise at a faster rate than most other'Gity expenses and will place an additional strain on the operating budget. Any expansion of the City's street lighting system or restoration of lights previously shut off will increase energy cost and consumption. However, Southern California Edison officials agree that operating street lights occurs mostly during non-peak usage hours and, therefore, does not add to the peak usage hours burden. To: Mayor and City Council -4- March 74, 1979 &enefits of Good Street Lighting Effective street lighting has the potential for reducing traffic accidents, (and, therefore, deaths and injuries), and crime. In addition, street lighting aids in pedestrian safety and-can increase civic pride as well as property values. Numerous studies have tended to show that the cost of installing and maintaining street lighting systems is more than recovered in cost savings due to reduced accidents and crime. Conclusions It is the opinion of staff that the present street lighting system is in need of improvement. A comprehensive plan for upgrading the existing system to more efficient light sources and circuitry should be formulated, together with sufficient appropriation of funds to complete the plan. Lt is also the conclusion of staff that the street lighting system should be expanded to include areas that are presently unlighted, if residents desire the lighting, and that there should be an easier method for residents to acquire the lighting if desired. lternatives There are several alternative courses of action available regarding the operation. of the existing street .lighting system. 1. Maintain Preseht Operation. This includes normal maintenance of incandescent. light sources, continuing the reduced lighting in commercial areas, and completing the conversion of mercury vapor light sources to high pressure sodium light sources. Once the conversion of the mercury vapor light sources is completed (within one year) upgrading of .the system will not be possible without additional funding. To: Mayor and City Council -5- March 14, 1979 2. Restore full lighting to areas previously cut back. This will require a restoration of funds to the street light maintenance budget to pay the additional energy costs. 3. Implement a long term plan of capital improvements to the present system to upgrade and modernize light sources and circuitry to result in a more efficient and effective street lighting system. 4. Authorize and implement a user charge whereby residents and businesses who benefit from the street lighting will be charged a fee to cover energy costs. Regarding the unlighted areas, there are also several alternatives: 1. Maintain present policy of installing new streetlights by assessment district .formed by residents' request. 2. Form street lighting assessment districts by Council action with the goal of providing street lighting for the en a re City. 3. Reduce the required percentage of frontage property owners who approve the formation of assessment districts from 60% to 50%. 4. Investigate other financing methods for expanding the system. Recommendations Considering the background of the City's street lighting program, the benefits of street lighting, the costs, and the available alternatives for improving and expanding the system, staff recommends the following: 1. It is recommended that, in the interest of public safety, the City Council authorize staff to restore full lighting to areas previously reduced due to the 1974 energy crisis. It is recommended that this restoration of lighting occur on street segments that meet the following criteria: (a) Streets that have at least 25% of businesses open after 6:00 p.m., or (b) Streets that have an average daily vehicle count of at least 15,000 vehicles. To: Mayor and City Council -6- Piarch 14, 1979 2. It is recommended that the City Council authorize staff to prepare a report describing methods of financing with user fees energy, maintenance, and modernization costs for all existing street lights.. The report will also include an analysis of methods of financing lighting in areas which are presently unlighted, Prepared by: Stan Scholl Neil Miller Attachment: Present-City Policy Regarding New Street Lights City Policy Regarding New-Street Light Requests from Citizens This policy for requests for new street lights was established several years ago and was reviewed by the City Council in January, 7978. The procedure for citizens who desire the installation of new street lights in residential neighborhoods is as follows: The City, from General funds or gas tax funds pays 50% of the cost of installation of lights and 100% of the energy costs of lights. The property owners pay 50% of the construction costs of the installation of street lights. Assessment District procedures are used to accomplish this work. In order to initiate the procedure for new street lights, a letter ~~ request should be sent to .the City Engineer, stating the exact location of the lights-desired. The City Engineering Department makes an official petition showing the boundaries of the proposed district (which may be small or large, depending on the number of people who vaish to have street lights) and showing the proposed cost for the entire project as well as the cost for each property owner. The persons desiring street lights then pick up this petition from the Engineering Department and circulate it among the property owners in the neighborhood for signatures. The City requires property owners representing 60% of the frontage in the proposed district to sign. the petition in order for the petition to be presented to the City Council with recommendations for approval. If a successful petition is submitted, it is submitted to the City Council and the Council may or may not approve the assessment district proceedings. This decision may be based on many factors, including availability of funds. Approximately half of the streets in Santa Monica have street lights and approximately half do not: Of the residential streets which have street lights, the property owners have been assessed in every case. In commercial 'areas; property-owners, by City policy, are assessed 100% of the cost of the construction, and the City from its general funds, pays for 100% of the energy and maintenance costs. For more information call the Engineering Department 393-4975, Ex. 240. General Services Department City of Santa Monica April, 1978 1~ ~ ~ , ~.: ,r . ~~ n g~~$~~~' ~~'~n'a~i`~s st'~~~ ~ e'''<. 4.>~.~r ., '„ d~ ~ s ~ 5-~a~CJ ~ ~.'° R`i.'."e~= ~ ~ ~"~ 3o-n~vrr:.'F~;mr^,5" ~:s,:~K;,,3.~~s ~.~ r~W'?' t"=:'n""1$ s~'a3 ~5 ~'>', -.a x, ;.. ~ ~.•. ~~ '..",~ ~ rim ~~~~f~ ::&3`-~?~ .,,~: ~ ^~~~<"".,3, (.~~ y~ / ~5'jr' :~ '43 (~ ~ l h ~ ~ ~ ~~~ -~ t 3 '~ ~~, .~ ~-~u~„~Ero~u~ wry. _ ® _ ~, / ~j~ ~ ~~ ~ ' ~' `fir` ~~ ~.~~~ ~ ~w ry 7 9 a ,~. 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