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Council asks staff for a measurable standard as petition option for streetlight removal requests
Summary
After resident requests to remove proposed new intersection lights, council directed staff to return with a measurable light‑level standard (e.g., lumens or illuminance) and mapping so the council can consider a petition‑based removal option; members flagged safety concerns about waiving intersection lighting.
Roseville — Council members on July 14 discussed whether the city should create a petition process allowing residents to request removal of proposed streetlights at intersections, and asked staff to return with measurable lighting criteria and maps to inform any policy change.
Background: City staff explained that the 2024 streetlight policy standardizes intersection lighting and that staff had notified residents about planned installations for 2025. Three locations generated concern from residents; one example cited was a proposed intersection light sited across from a freeway/MDOT illumination that residents called redundant.
Staff research and options: Public Works Director Jesse Fryhammer reported that most neighboring Ramsey County cities do not offer a removal petition for intersection lights. Minneapolis has a detailed standard and a petition procedure but sets a high threshold (100% petition of fronting properties) and ties removal to measured levels of illuminance. Moorhead uses a technical review committee process. Fryhammer recommended either maintaining intersection lighting as the standard or returning with a narrowly defined petition option tied to a measurable standard (for example, an illuminance metric or lux threshold) and a city map of affected installations.
Council deliberation and direction: Council members expressed mixed views. Some members urged caution about allowing exceptions at intersections because of public‑safety concerns; others supported a narrowly framed petition process when existing ambient lighting already meets safety thresholds (for instance, from freeway lighting). Councillors asked staff to measure existing conditions at questioned locations, draft a light‑level standard and provide a map of planned intersection installations. The council asked staff to return to the council to consider a narrowly circumscribed petition process rather than immediate policy change.
Next steps: Public Works will sample illuminance at the locations of concern, prepare proposed numeric criteria (illuminance/lux or comparable measure) and bring a policy amendment or implementation procedure to a future council meeting for decision.
