Commission weighs solar versus wired lighting for Alma parking lot; solar judged insufficient

Samantha, a city staff member, presented lighting diagrams for the Alma parking lot and said the solar option “is not enough” to light the entire lot from edge-mounted solar fixtures. “It looks like solar may not be, our option, feasible option in this case,” she said.

Staff showed that the solar poles are 17 feet tall with on-pole panels and batteries but that the distribution patterns would be better if fixtures could be placed in the center of the lot; the existing circulation and space do not allow that layout. Samantha said the solar fixtures cost $8,000 each.

As an alternative, staff presented wired Ameren-style poles with 10-foot arms that place the light source over the lot and provide full coverage. Samantha said those poles would require buried conduits, metering or use of an existing circuit, and likely tree trimming; she noted “this is gonna be only more expensive than that” (referring to solar).

Commissioners raised neighbor spill-light concerns. Samantha said the fixture optics can be adjusted to reduce spill to adjacent properties. There was no cost estimate for the wired option at the meeting; staff recommended getting formal pricing as the next step and said the district budget might fund installation.

Commissioners suggested quicker, lower-cost options for interim improvement — for example, restoring a pole at the lot entrance if power is available nearby — and asked staff to include such alternatives in price requests.

No formal vote was taken; staff recorded a direction to pursue price estimates for wired lighting and to return with cost options and potential budget sources.