Consideration and Approval of Grant:  Arizona Department of Transportation Intergovernmental Agreement for light-emitting diode (LED) Street Lighting Procurement for Research. (IGA with ADOT re LED lighting)

Approval of the IGA will authorize ADOT STP funds in the amount of $199,000.00 (94.3%), City matching funds in the amount of $12,029.00 (5.7%) and City payment of ADOT PMDR in the amount of $10,000.00 for procurement of LED street lights associated with the FMPO - Street Lighting for Enhancing Dark Skies (SLEDS) research project.  The SLEDS research project is a cooperative effort developed by the FMPO, City of Flagstaff and the Dark Skies Community to evaluate the impact of different street lighting applications and technologies on the night sky. The City is seeking research that effectively and appropriately mitigates the impacts of street lighting options on the community's dark sky natural resource and is intended to provide a clear path forward and timeline for Low Pressure Sodium (LPS) to LED transition.  The City is responsible for costs above the $199,000.00 Federal-aid funding level.

This Council action will approve the funding for the procurement of LED street lights associated with the FMPO - SLEDS research project in the amount of $199,000.00 (94.3% Federal-Aid Funds, STP, FMPO TIP Project # F31401-2), City matching funds in the amount of $12,029.00 (5.7% Local match, Transportation Tax, Reserve for Transportation Improvements) and City payment of ADOT PMDR in the amount of $10,000.00 (Transportation Tax, Reserve for Transportation Improvements).  The $22,029.00 total City contribution is unbudgeted with funding coming from FY 2015, Transportation Tax, Reserve for Transportation Improvements. 
 

 

COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics

REGIONAL PLAN:
 IV.  Environmental Planning & Conservation
Goal E&C.5  Preserve dark skies as an unspoiled natural resource, basis for an important economic sector, and core element of community character.

VII.   Energy:
Goal E.1. Increase Energy Efficiency

X.   Transportation:
Goal T.2. Improve transportation safety and efficiency for all modes
Goal T.3. Provide transportation infrastructure that is conducive to conservation, preservation, and development goals to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on the natural and built environment.

No specific Council action has been issued with respect to this Grant.

1) Approve the IGA funding to utilize Fiscal Year 2015 STP funding and City of Flagstaff funding to procure LED street lights in association with the FMPO SLEDS research project.
2) Reject the IGA, which would forfeit the Fiscal Year 2015 STP allocation of $199,000.00 and significantly hamper the viability of the FMPO SLEDS research project.

The FMPO - SLEDS research project is a cooperative effort developed by the FMPO, City of Flagstaff and the Dark Skies Community as an outcome of the discussions that occurred at the 'Blinded by the Light' Dark Skies Conference held at the High Country Conference Center in August 2014.  The SLEDS research project will evaluate the impact of different street lighting applications and technologies on the community's dark sky natural resource and is intended to provide a clear path forward for LPS to LED transition.  The SLEDS project is focused on street lighting applications and technologies but, is expected to provide guidance and technical support for the Zoning Code's similar evolution from LPS to LED based technologies for on-site lighting applications.

STP funding is provided by the Federal Highways Administration, through the State of Arizona.  This funding is allocated on an annual basis to the FMPO and then awarded to the member agencies.  The August 2014 'Blinded by the Light' Conference, the SLEDS research project and this FY 2015 allocation for LED street lights have all utilized STP funding.

The City has been in discussions with the local Dark Skies community, primarily Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory for approximately 24 months regarding the evolution of the City's 3600 existing street lights from High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and LPS to some variation of an LED source.  LED technologies come in several forms from full spectrum 'white', to Narrow Band Amber.  Full spectrum white LEDs are the most energy efficient but, produce the highest amount of sky glow, while Narrow Band Amber are the least efficient and produce the smallest amount of sky glow. Energy efficiency and sky glow are two of the multitude of factors that shape this discussion.  Reliability, community acceptance, light trespass, compatibility with existing infrastructure, public safety, and marketplace availability are several of the other key factors that will be reviewed as part of the SLEDS project.

The City of Flagstaff was the first to be recognized by the International Dark Sky Association as an International Dark Sky City.  Flagstaff earned this distinction, in part, by the establishment in 1989 of a lighting code and engineering standards specifying the use of low LPS light fixtures for all roadway and parking lot lighting.  Today, LPS lights are increasingly difficult to acquire as low demand has prompted many manufacturers to stop production.  This SLEDS project is an opportunity for Flagstaff to demonstrate to other municipalities an innovative lighting solution for dark sky preservation with LED technology that achieves municipal objectives for safety and cost effectiveness and astronomical objectives for maintaining dark skies.

Collaborate - this project has been in the FMPO's Annual Work Program and Transportation Improvement Program which is annually reviewed and approved by the FMPO Executive Board and will be coordinated with the citizen led Dark Skies Lighting Code Working Group.