5.1.
| Public Works Committee |
| Meeting Date: | 11/18/2025 |
| Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: | {ud_pd8} |
Title:
Review Individual Street Light Request Estimated Costs and Timelines
Purpose/Background:
Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to review estimated street light installation costs and timelines related to individual street light requests.
Background:
On October 21, 2025, the Public Works Committee discussed potential revisions to the Traffic Control Modification Request Policy, including whether street light requests should be incorporated into the Policy. The street light discussion was prompted by a recent request for a streetlight at the intersection of 154th Lane and Zirconium Street to improve safety for children standing in the street while waiting for their school bus. This request was received in September via email from Chris Folen, property owner at 6711 154th Lane NW.
Mr. Folen attended the October Public Works Committee meeting remotely to voice his concerns for the safety of the children standing in the street do to a lack of lighting. He also commented on the placement of lights along his street, which he did not believe made sense and would instead be more helpful at intersections if they could be moved. He also clarified that he does not support more lighting, but would want to see proper light placement for safety reasons.
City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby had not inspected the lighting in his development or at the intersection of 154th Lane and Zirconium Street prior to the October Public Works Committee meeting. On October 27th City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby met with Mr. Folen on site to review the existing street lighting, at which time it was observed that several street light fixtures were mounted on mast arms on power poles in the middle of private property.
City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby contacted Connexus Energy who confirmed the private property owners are billed directly for the power to these lights since they are used for security purposes only. These lights therefore cannot simply be relocated to a power pole at the intersection of 154th Lane and Zirconium Street.
Connexus Energy provided the following estimated costs for individual street light installations during non-winter months. Winter construction includes frost charges, which generally increases costs by 20-percent or more.
• $580 to install a street light with an 8-foot mast arm
• $375 to install a security light fixture
• $2,600 to install a single-phase transformer on a pole
• $600 to $800 to install a pole (18-feet to 30-feet)
• $14/foot to install underground wire to serve the light
Connexus Energy also provided estimated timelines for installing street lights.
• 1 to 2 days to process an application after receipt
• 20 to 25 business days to design the project and submit a quote
• 14 to 20 business days to schedule an open trenching project
• 28 to 35 business days to schedule a boring project
Based on Connexus Energy’s cost and timeline estimates, staff estimates a non-winter street light installation would generally cost between $3,000 and $30,000, and would take between 40 and 65 business days to design and schedule the work prior to installation.
Time Frame/Observations/Alternatives:
Timeframe:
Staff estimate this case will take up to 20 minutes to present and discuss.
Observations/Alternatives:
Staff shared the cost information above and provided links to this case to Mr. Folen and to two other property owners who contacted staff on November 4th to request new street lights, one for a school bus stop in their neighborhood and one to light a dark street. All these property owners were informed they could attend the Public Works Committee meeting in person or remotely to listen to the discussion, respond to questions, and/or provide additional information.
Staff estimate this case will take up to 20 minutes to present and discuss.
Observations/Alternatives:
Staff shared the cost information above and provided links to this case to Mr. Folen and to two other property owners who contacted staff on November 4th to request new street lights, one for a school bus stop in their neighborhood and one to light a dark street. All these property owners were informed they could attend the Public Works Committee meeting in person or remotely to listen to the discussion, respond to questions, and/or provide additional information.
Funding Source:
Funding for street light improvements are paid from the Street Light Utility Fund.
Recommendation:
Based on the information presented in this case, staff recommends not approving street light installation requests for school bus stops on local streets unless extenuating circumstances exist, in which case staff can evaluate the request in detail and present staff’s findings at the next regularly scheduled Public Works Committee meeting. Staff also recommends evaluating all other requests on a case-by-case basis until such time that the Traffic Control Modification Request Policy is amended to incorporate street light requests.
Outcome/Action:
Dependent on discussion.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Hagen | Brian Hagen | 11/13/2025 03:11 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Bruce Westby
- Started On:
- 11/12/2025 01:41 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 11/13/2025