City explores contractor-led LED light maintenance and solar alternatives

The Arvada City Council convened on March 25, 2025, to discuss several key topics, primarily focusing on the management and maintenance of street lighting in the city. The meeting highlighted the potential for outsourcing maintenance tasks to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

The discussion began with a proposal to hire a contractor through the city’s procurement process to manage street light repairs and maintenance. The contractor would be responsible for coordinating with Excel Energy to address outages and ensure that repairs are conducted efficiently. The emphasis was on making government operations more efficient rather than expanding them, with the speaker noting that most municipalities typically outsource such maintenance tasks.

A significant point raised was the transition to LED lighting. The council discussed the need to convert all remaining street lights to LED technology, as maintenance for non-LED fixtures is more costly. The speaker outlined the next steps, which include proceeding with the ownership transfer of the lighting system and establishing a maintenance contract to ensure responsiveness after the city takes over.

Mayor Pro Tem Worman raised questions regarding the use of solar lights, citing previous challenges the city faced with this technology. The speaker acknowledged that while solar technology has improved, the return on investment remains a concern due to high initial costs and the quality of offshore products. It was suggested that solar lights might be suitable for specific applications, such as bike paths, but overall, grid-connected lights are seen as a better investment.

Another topic of concern was light pollution from street lights. Worman expressed residents' worries about the brightness of current LED fixtures. The speaker responded by discussing the potential for dimming technology and the importance of balancing light intensity with cost-effectiveness. The council noted that by controlling the lighting system, the city could directly address light pollution and adjust brightness levels as needed.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the city’s commitment to improving street lighting management through outsourcing and transitioning to LED technology while addressing concerns about costs and environmental impacts. The council plans to further explore these initiatives in upcoming sessions.