HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - October 20, 2021 H-03AGENDA ITEM ■+r
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J&% CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Receive Council Feedback Regarding Investment of Staff Time to Conduct Research
and Perform Detailed Design for Installation of Streetlights to Serve Unlit Areas
MEETING DATE: October 20, 2021
PREPARED BY: Electric Utility Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive Council Feedback Regarding Investment of Staff Time to
Conduct Research and Perform Detailed Design for Installation of
Streetlights to Serve Unlit Areas.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Council member Kahn has requested that the City consider providing
street lighting for Woodrow Street at the City's expense.
Staff has performed a preliminary analysis of the cost to provide lighting for Woodrow Street at approximately
$160,000. However, when considering all remaining areas of the City that are currently unlit (and have not
refused to be lighted) the city wide expense is estimated to be between $4.5M and $7M, with actual costs
dependent on a number of factors that would need to be further investigated as part of a detailed design
review. Staff anticipates that if Council opts to fund the Woodrow Street installation at City expense, the
Council will see similar requests for the remaining unlit areas, A map of the identified unlit streets is included
as Exhibit A.
Staff does not currently have a funding mechanism for the requested improvements at this time. With the
passage of Proposition 26, the Electric Utility can no longer fund this type of request. In new subdivisions,
streetlight improvements are funded by developers and ultimately the home buyers. Older subdivisions could
be funded through the formation of a special assessment district which is paid for by the residents in the
neighborhood directly affected, but this would require a vote of the residents. Alternatively, Council could
direct staff to reduce funding for existing general fund operations in order to create dollars necessary to
accommodate the request or look to year end excess reserves.
In addition to the up -front capital costs associated with the design and installation of additional streetlights, the
City would incur additional ongoing operational costs as it relates to energy charges incurred, the actual cost
of which would depend on the quantity and wattage associated with each installation.
Staff is requesting feedback and direction from Council on whether to invest staff time to develop a fully
engineered estimate for lighting on Woodrow Street and what funding strategy Council desires staff to pursue.
FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable.
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Jeff Berkheimer
Electric Utility Director
APPROVED: Steve SchwabaUer
Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager
Exhibit A
Unlit Area Map