HomeMy WebLinkAboutStreetlight Standards and Request for Direction.pdf Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and Commission Members
FROM: Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Service
Chuck Winn, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Streetlight Standards and Request for Direction
MEETING DATE: May 24, 2010
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Action
RECOMMENDATION: Direct Staff to modify City of Bozeman Design Standards and
Specifications Policy to prohibit the installation of "Montana Angle", "Budget Angle" or similar
style street light poles, unless a variance is granted, and to require powder coating or painting of
all future street and signal poles light fixtures.
AND
Consider a motion to direct staff to modify the City of Bozeman Design Standards and
Specifications Policy to specify that all future street and signal light poles and fixtures shall be
"Hunter Green" or similar in color, excepting that all future street and signal light poles and
fixtures in the Downtown Historic District and North 7th Avenue TIF District shall be black,
unless a variance is granted.
AND
Consider a motion to direct staff to modify the City of Bozeman Design Standards and
Specifications Policy and/or Unified Development Code to identify acceptable street light
styles/models and manufacturers with the style/model options allowed in the City of Bozeman
Design Standards and/or Unified Development Code initially approved by the Commission.
BACKGROUND: The issue of angled street light poles has been discussed since their initial
installation on South 19th Avenue during the development of the Meadow Creek Subdivision.
These particular light poles are typically installed when clearance is required between the
lighting fixture and adjacent power lines. NorthWestern Energy requires a minimum clearance
of 10 feet between their conductors and light poles and fixtures. The angled light poles allow for
installation under or near power lines, while meeting both the desired head height and required
clearances from the electrical conductors.
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The aesthetics of the angled light poles has been actively debated in public forums and Staff has
been asked to bring back options to prohibit angled street light pole installation in the City and to
require all future street light and signal poles to be powder coated or painted.
If the Commission directs a change for one or both of these issues, the change can be
accomplished by modifying the City's Design Standards and Specifications Policy as provided
in Section 2.44.130, Bozeman Municipal Code. The amendment(s) would be drafted and the
public would be provided the opportunity to review the proposed amendment(s). The
amendment is then submitted to the Director of Public Services for review, and the Director
forwards the amendment to the City Manager for his approval through an Administrative Order.
If the City Manager elects to not issue an Administrative Order to amend the document, the
Public Services Director may submit the proposed revision to the City Commission through the
Ordinance amendment procedure.
DESIGN STANDARDS CONSIDERATIONS: In addition to prohibiting the installation of
"Montana Angle", "Budget Angle" or similar style street light poles, Staff needs direction from
the Commission on the following issues:
1. If the Design Standards and Specifications Policy is amended to require all future street
and signal light fixtures to be painted or powder coated, should the Policy specify the
color, and if so, should we allow only one color or offer specific color options. Staff
recommends that the dark green color that was used on South 19th Avenue be selected as
the preferred color, with the exception of the Historic Downtown and North 7th TIF
districts, where black would be accepted.
Staff checked with a representative from Montana Lines who is familiar with street light
and signal installation and was advised that if they know up-front that a fixture needs to be
colored, the cost difference between galvanized and painted is "negligible". This is
because some kind of treatment has to be done to the metal, and there is not much cost
difference between galvanized and a polyurethane paint. The additional cost comes into
play when they use a galvanized pole from the MDT supply yard and have to send it out to
be powder coated, which is what occurred with the South 19th lights and signal poles. The
two "major players" that serve Montana in the supply of poles offer factory direct color
options.
2. Should we limit street light options to a few manufacturers to promote uniformity and
reduce the number of spare parts the City keeps in inventory, or should the style continue
to be the installer's choice, subject to compliance with all other regulations and
requirements? Staff recommends that a few options be identified. If the Commission
agrees, is the design and style selection left to the discretion of Staff or does the
Commission want to make the decision?
Implications of this direction on the J & D Family Subdivision / Norton Subdivision: Staff
has been working with both development teams regarding the lighting issue. Redesign of the
street and/or median will add significantly to the developer's costs and considerably delay the
projects' timelines. The Norton Subdivision team has not yet ordered the "angle lights" that were
shown on the previously approved Preliminary Plat, and they are working with Staff Engineer
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Murray to investigate the feasibility, cost, and number of shorter (25 foot) street light poles that
would meet the clearance requirements from the power lines. The Commission should be aware
that the installation of shorter light poles will necessitate the installation of additional fixtures to
provide the same level of safe lighting at the pavement level, and the street corridor may look
more cluttered with an additional number of shorter poles.
FISCAL EFFECTS:
1. Prohibiting the installation of angle lights will likely result in the need for more fixtures,
which may increase the cost to the installer (developer or city). The style and number of
lights needed will determine the difference.
2. Requiring light and signal poles to be colored vs. galvanized metal should not significantly
increase the initial cost of the fixtures unless a signal pole from the MDT yard is being
used on an MDT route. As noted above, some kind of treatment has to be done to the
metal pole, and there is not much cost difference in cost between galvanized and
polyurethane paint treatment. The future cost of maintaining colored poles is not known at
this time, but some cost for maintenance is anticipated.
3. If we limit street light options to a few manufacturers to promote uniformity in style and
model, the cost of the fixture may be affected (either more or less) than other choices a
developer may have.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Attachments: None
Report compiled on: May 19, 2010
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