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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLily Ave Tana Ridge Development Street Lighting ProposalMAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION DATE: 2/14/2017 WORK SESSION ITEM ITEM #: II AGENDA ITEM: Street Lighting Request – Tana Ridge Development (Lily Avenue) SUBMITTED BY: Emily Becker, City Planner THROUGH: Kristina Handt, City Administrator REVIEWED BY: BACKGROUND: Residents of the Tana Ridge development have requested street lights within the development on Lily Avenue. The reason for the street light request is for possible mitigation of recent vandalism within the neighborhood and to offer another level of safety for walkers and drivers at night. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: To consider the installation of street lights by the City within the Tana Ridge Development on Lily Avenue North. PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Petition Gathered. Residents of Tana Ridge held a meeting on December 8, 2016, during which the necessity of street lights within the development was discussed. Residents at this meeting signed a petition requesting the City to install the street lights. Ten signatures were gathered in this petition, attached. Past Practice. Staff conducted research in to similar past requests, and it was found that at least one such request was made in July of 2015. This was a request for a street light at the intersection of TH36 and Highlands Trail, and the reason for the request was to address a safety concern to assist in identifying the intersection location to allow vehicles sufficient braking distances along TH36. Both Public Works and the Fire Chief reviewed the intersection and supported the installation request. The cost of this installation was $2200. Lighting Standards. Usually a developer pays for the cost of streetlight installation. There are no standards that require lighting within a development; only standards that regulate lighting. Quote Received. Staff requested a quote from Xcel for the installation of four 30-40W LED cobra fixtures on 30’ direct buried fiberglass poles on Lily Avenue, and Xcel provided a quote, which is attached. City Council Workshop 2/14/17 Page 2 1. Standard Service = $18.31 per mo x 12 mo = $219.72 x 25 yrs. = $5,493.00. Xcel Energy maintains this system as long as the customer requests. Xcel Energy will replace the system like for like after 25 years if needed at no additional upfront cost to the customer. 2. Pre-Pay Option = $4.38 per mo x 12 mo = $52.56 x 25 yrs. = $1,314.00 + $2,968.23 (upfront cost for 1 light) = $4,282.23. Xcel Energy will only maintain lights for 25 years after this time customer must pay to have new lights installed. Research in to Vandalism. Staff asked the Sheriff’s office to provide the City with a list of calls to this neighborhood over the past 12 months that were vandalism related and solicited feedback about the safety of the neighborhood. Sgt. Jacobson replied with the following comment:” There were no ICR’s for any address on Lily Ave. that involve anything close to vandalism. There was one stolen trailer case and lots of “suspicious vehicle” calls, but nothing that turned into anything. Most were vehicles that were either going to or coming from an address in the development. The Lake Elmo deputies do not have any concerns about the area. If residents are seeing stuff and not reporting it they should start calling the sheriff’s office so they can get a better handle on any activity in the area. Staff Feedback. The Public Works Director has driven through the neighborhood to assess its need for streetlights. It is of Staff opinion that: • Street lights should not be used to prevent vandalism, as they are typically installed to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, not holding vandals at bay. • Installing these streetlights would not benefit the greater good of the City, only the residents of Tana Ridge, as Lily Avenue is a dead-end street. • Alternative Options. • Perhaps installing a streetlight at the intersection of 50th Street and Lily Avenue, which would serve both traffic and pedestrians on both 50th Street and Lily Avenue would be an option. Staff has asked Xcel for a quote on this and received the following response: o An LED cobra fixture fed overhead on the existing wood pole at this intersection could be installed at a cost of approx. $400.00 upfront. o A fiberglass pole fed underground with an LED cobra fixture would be a few thousand dollars upfront. • The Homeowner’s Association could install the streetlights after applying for and being issued Right-of-Way permits. FISCAL IMPACT: The costs associated with this project are outlined above. If the Council decides that the City should pay for the installation of these streetlights, it should also decide if the City should choose the pre-pay or standard installation cost option. OPTIONS: Council may: • Deny the request that the City pay for installation of street lights on Lily Avenue within the Tana Ridge Development. • Approve installation of one streetlight along 50th Street and Lily Avenue North. City Council Workshop 2/14/17 Page 3 • Approve the request that the City pay for installation of street lights on Lily Avenue within the Tana Ridge Development. RECOMMENDATION: For reasons outlined above, Staff does not recommend that the City pay for the installation of the four requested street lights within the Tana Ridge Development on Lily Avenue North. If the Council wishes to deny the request, it may do so with the following motion: “Move to deny the request the City pay for installation of streetlights along Lily Avenue of the Tana Ridge Development.” The Council may choose to pay for the installation of one streetlight at the intersection of 50th Street North and Lily Avenue North. If the Council wishes to pay for the installation of this one streetlight, it may do so with the following motion: “Move to approve the installation of one streetlight at the intersection of 50th Street North and Lily Avenue North at a cost of either: a) $400 for an LED cobra fixture fed overhead on the existing wood pole or b) (approximately) $2,000 for a fiberglass pole fed underground with an LED cobra fixture.” The Council may choose to approve the request for the City to pay for the installation of four streetlights within the Tana Ridge Development. It must also choose the pre-pay installation option or the standard installation cost option. “Move to approve the installation of four streetlights in the along Lily Avenue of the Tana Ridge Development with the pre-pay installation cost option.” “Move to approve the installation of four streetlights in the along Lily Avenue of the Tana Ridge Development with the standard installation cost option.” ATTACHMENTS: • Email request. • Xcel quote.