Agenda - Council - 05/24/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTRODUCTION The City of Ramsey has a policy which established two classifications for street lighting. The fa'st is priority arterial street lighting which is limited to intersections at State Trunk Highways, County Roads and arterial streets. The chief benefit from this type of lighting is the improved safety due to increased visibility at the intersection and also functions as a navigation aid to motorists who are seeking to locate the exact point of the intersection as they are approaching. Because of the general nature of the benefits from this type of lighting, it is the City's policy to finance the installation and operation and maintenance of these lights through the City's general fund. A second classification of street Lighting is subdivision street lighting. This type of lighting is provided at intersections and at intervals of approximately 200 to 300 feet along all streets within a subdivision. The major benefits from this type of lighting is increased pedestrian safety and security. These benefits occur chiefly to the residents of the individual subdivision, and therefore, City policy declares financing of subdivision lighting to be the responsibility of the benefitted property owners. It is also City policy to involve the benefitted residents of the subdivision in the decision on whether or not subdivision lighting should be installed. Until recently, the City of Ramsey had no efficient means of collecting the necessary funds for the installation and operation and maintenance of subdivision street lighting from areas outside the City's water and sewer utility districts. Recently, Anoka Electric Cooperative has entered into an agreement with the City to perform billing for its utility area. This billing system also allows for the possible billing of other City services such as the billing of subdivision street lights in rural areas. On April 12, 1994, the City Council received a petition calling for the feasibility study to consider the improvement of street lights to the Green Valley Estates 2nd Addition, and directed the City Engineer to prepare said feasibility study to advise on the cost of the project as it would affect each property owner. The purpose of this study is to accomplish that directive. NATURE QF THE IMPROVEMENT It is proposed that six ornamental street lights be installed in the locations identified in Figure A. These ornamental standards would consist of Anoka Electric Cooperative's traditionaire-style standard luminalre which is illustrated in Figure B. In addition, the City would, at the same time, have a priority intersection street light placed at the intersection of 177th Lane N.W. and St. Francis Boulevard N.W. The priority intersection light would consist of a Cobra Head-type luminaire placed on an existing power pole illuswated in Figure C. Ail installations would be performed by Anoka Electric Cooperative. All wiring to the proposed subdivision lights would be underground by plowing in cable and boring driveways where necessary. Turf would be restored to the satisfaction of the property owner. PROJECT COST The estimated cost is $3,480 for subdivision street lighting and $400 for the priority intersection light which would be installed at the same time. The cost estimate is based upon a proposal from Anoka Electric Cooperative. The City is proposing to recover the installation costs plus 15% for project overhead through the quarterly billing rate. This amortized cost would be recovered by the City over a period of ten years.