HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 District Street Lights Agenda Item # 15
RUCKEE DONNER
Public Utility District
WORKSHOP
To: Board of Directors
From: Stephen Hollabaugh
Date: September 16, 2009
Subject: Discussion on District Street Lights
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
This workshop was requested by the Board.
2. HISTORY
A workshop was held at the August 19, 2009 Board meeting.
The District has had street lights and security lights within the District for decades.
Street lights are lighting systems installed along public and government corridors.
Security lights are lighting systems installed on private and commercial property.
The District Code Title 7, Chapter 7.52, (Street and Security Light Service) was
approved by the Board in November 2008.
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 7.52 concerning Rates:
7.52.020 Rates
7.52.020.1 The unmetered street/security light rate is listed in the Miscellaneous Fees
Schedule.
7.52.020.1 (A) All new street lights shall be metered.
7.52.020.1 (B) The District intends to research and locate customers and owners of
record for each street light and assign appropriate billing. If there is no corresponding
customer or owner of record, the street light may be removed.
The District has been reviewing all opportunities to maximize efficiency and benefit to
our customers. The un-owned streetlights are costly to our customers due to the
unfunded energy usage. The environmental benefits from reduced energy usage and
light pollution are substantial.
3. NEW INFORMATION
The District has been researching and locating customers concerning streetlights and
removinq those street liqhts that do not have an owner of record. In 2009, the District
has removed 26 un-owned streetlights for a total of 4600 watts removed.
An inquiry was made by the Board about how much it would cost to create a Street
Lighting Assessment District. Staff put together an estimate of what this may cost.
Some of the assumptions of the cost included LAFCO fees (if applicable), engineering
study, mapping facilities, legal costs, capital costs to install 500 new energy efficient
installations, administrative costs-setup and ongoing costs. The assumption of 500
new street lights assumed that 350 installations would be on existing poles and 150
installation would require new pole installations.
Assessment District Formation Costs:
LAFCO fees (if applicable) $ 25,000
Engineering Study 125,000
Mapping Facilities 25,000
Legal Costs 50,000
Capital Cost of Street Light installations - 500 lights 1,500,000
Contingency 25% 431,250
Total $2,156,250
Ongoing Costs:
Energy Costs (per year for 500 efficient installations $ 27,000
Operation costs - annual maintenance 30,000
Administrative costs 25,000
Contingency 25% 20,500
Total $ 102,500
First Year Grand Total $2,258,750
If the District were to finance this project the following is an estimate of the payments:
Assumptions: $2,200,000 financed, 10 years, 6% interest, 13086 customers
Annual payment equals $299,000 per year or$22.84/year/customer.
The Board also requested that staff begin to develop a public outreach plan to gauge
our customers interest in the District forming a street lighting Assessment District.
This outreach plan would likely include developing a web-based survey with extensive
outreach and advertising to raise awareness of the District's efforts. A budget for
developing and implementing this outreach plan is being investigated.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
This workshop does not have any fiscal impact to the District.
5. RECOMMENDATION
Receive this report and provide comment and direction.
Stephen Hollabaugh Michael D. Holley
Assistant General Manager General Manager