Agenda Packets - 1983/05/01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMO TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Clerk-Administrato DATE: April 22, 1983 SUBJECT: STREETLIGHT CONVERSION Attached please find a copy of a letter received by this office from the Lakeland Division of Northern States Power regarding the conversion of NSP-owned overhead streetlights to high pres- sure sodium. It is the proposal of NSP to convert the City's overhead mercury streetlights to high pressure sodium, should the City request such conversion, under two options. The first option is to convert the entire City system from mercury vapor to high pressure sodium at one time at a cost of $5.00 per unit. The second option would be to convert the streetlights at the time that the mercury ballasts fail with no charge being made by NSP for this conversion. In discussions with representatives of Northern States Power, staff has learned that at the present time high pressure sodium lamps, although more energy efficient, have a higher monthly operating charge from NSP, 50C per month, than mercury vapor due to the increased capital costs for high pressure sodium equipment versus the mercury vapor equipment. Staff has been further advised that it is more than likely that within the next few years this difference in monthly charges will reverse and high pressure sodium will be equal to or lower than mercury vapor for monthly operating costs. At the Department Head meeting on April 12, 1983 the Department Heads discussed the possibility of converting the City's street - lighting system from mercury vapor to high pressure sodium and concerns were raised regarding the desirability of such conver- sion considering the difference in lighting quality, i.e., high pressure sodium gives off a yellowish or orange light rather than the normal white light provided by mercury vapor. It was felt that the best way to determine whether or not the City wished to convert to high pressure sodium throughout the entire City would be to select one or two specific target areas within the City where such lighting could be evaluated in comparison to mercury vapor lighting in the same neighborhood. With that in mind, Acting Police Chief Smith prepared a memo, dated April 14, 1983, suggesting three potential areas where high pressure sodium lamps could be tested and valid comparisons made between them and mercury vapor lighting by the Police Department during their regular patrol activities. These areas include: Fairchild Avenue, Red Oak Drive, Sunnyside Road, and Eastwood Road north of Ardan Avenue, Hillview Road, Oakwood Drive, Terrace Drive, and Pinewood Drive between Jackson Drive and Quincy Street,and the area bounded by Woodcrest Drive, Long Lake Road, Ridge Lane, and Rainbow Lane.