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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - STREET LIGHTING (2)r i AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval [f C� Item to be presented by: UNFINISHED BUSINESS John E. Medina 40Z IV DATE: February 12, 1991 SUBJECT: STREET LIGHTING DEPARTMENT: Public Works BACKGROUND In October, the City Council reviewed a report which described a number of special districts within the City including the lighting district. Relative portions of the report are attached for your review. The Council directed staff to continue its research into street lighting within the City. In addition, staff was directed to investigate the use of solar powered lighting, particularly with emphasis on a pilot program. Our research indicates that solar powered lighting at the levels required for street lighting is in only the formative: stages. The major hurdle is the storage of electricity through improved battery systems that can provide the necessary energy for continuous nighttime illumination. At this time, these systems are not adequate to provide street lighting, however, they have been used in a number of areas such as parking lots and parks with apparent success. We are continuing to investigate possible locations for the installation of solar powered lighting in one of the City's parks. To date, we have-not found a suitable location. Many of our parks are designed to provide shaded areas and this conflicts with our need to provide solar access. We are continuing to review possible locations with the Parks and Recreation Department and will return to the Council for authorization of the pilot program with costs and details as soon as it is available. In recent years, the tendency has been to install street lights ,which provide as much illumination toward the ground and minimize the amount that is reflected skyward. The use of semi cut-off and full cut-off lights has been the standard for all new installations. These are the lights that from a distance appear to have no glass shield beneath them and can be seen only when you are nearly under the actual fixture. All new installations within the City are done with semi or full cut-off lighting, however, there are a number of existing lights which are the old style, drop bowl fixtures. In order to convert at one time all of the existing drop bowl fixtures in residential areas to full or semi cut-off, we estimate the cost to be approximately $770,000. These funds are currently not available in the lighting district, and we would not recommend this expenditure at this time. We would suggest that as part of the replacement schedule, fixtures become. inoperative after approximately 15 years, all drop bowl fixtures in residential areas be replaced with full cut-off lights. This can be done based on the design ap��Di�C�D • STREET LIGHTING • February 12, 1991 Page 2 standards and illumination requirements currently in place in the district. Deciding to replace the fixtures when they became inoperative rather than all at once would eventually eliminate all drop bowl units in residential areas without raising the cost to residential property owners or utilizing City funds. We had also previously analyzed the use of low pressure sodium lighting, that which gives off a peach colored glow instead of the high pressure sodium lights, which are currently installed throughout the City and are the ones with the yellow glow. Our analysis suggests that high pressure sodium lighting is more cost effective than low.pressure sodium lighting. Some of the factors involved in our analysis are attached for the Council's review. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The Council direct staff to inform the lighting district and the Edison Company to replace, when necessary, all drop bowl fixtures with full cut-off fixtures in residential areas. Agenda Report (Portion) High/Low Pressure Sodium Light Comparison /ce 6 0 HIGH/LOW PRESSURE SODIUM LIGHT COMPARISON HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM LAMP All colors are identifiable and lighted lamps appear golden white Life: For 150 watts 24,000 hours Actual Power Consumption: 200 watts for 150 watt H.P.S. lamp Available Wattage Range: 50, 70, 100, 150, 200, 250, 310, 400 and 1,000 watts Size: 8-15 inches Disposal: Normal Approximate Initial Cost: $87.00 (for 150 watt) LOW PRESSURE SODIUM LAMP Monocromatic output, no color discrimination is possible. Lighted lamps appear a saturated yellow. In general, citizens and law enforcement find these lights depressing. For 135 watts 18,000 hours 205 watts for 135 watt L.P.S. lamp 35, 55, 90, 135 and 180 watts 12 - 44 inches Special disposal precautions requires water tank and each lamp should be broken in that tank and water should be added.) $160.00 (for 135 watt) Replacement Costs: Low Pressure Sodium Lamps produced by two foreign manufactures, Norelco of Holland and G.E. of England. Therefore, replacement costs could be higher. In comparison, High Pressure Sodium Light is cheaper to operate and maintain.