Finance committee reviews maintenance agreement with Miami Valley Lighting and downtown LED options

Council members reviewed Ordinance 25-02, an agreement authorizing the director of public service to contract with Miami Valley Lighting for lighting maintenance and related work in the downtown area.

Councilmember Osborne, speaking for the Finance Committee, said the agreement is largely a maintenance arrangement similar to the copy previously discussed in December and that additional lighting additions remain under development by department directors.

Officials described the intended scope as maintenance for the current system with potential conversion of existing teardrop fixtures to LED heads and a lighting analysis to assess pedestrian and street lighting needs. Mayor Pat and staff said they have identified areas of downtown they consider dark and want mapped for additional lighting. Staff also noted some streets currently have lights on only one side of the street, a condition council members said will require additional funding and time to address.

Administrators raised a timeline concern: Miami Valley Lighting was described as slow in producing quotes, and the city is coordinating work against the timetable of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) associated with work on Grant Street. Staff said they have paused some outreach to ensure lighting work would not conflict with the CDBG timeline and that Sam (staff) has taken back responsibility to advance the project.

No final vote on the ordinance appears in the workshop transcript; the discussion focused on contract language, additional features to be added by directors, a lighting study to model pedestrian and street illumination, and the timing required to meet grant deadlines.

Council members requested staff follow up with more detailed quotes and a map of proposed additions before the item returns for further action.