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City to provide vouchers for residential safety lights under ARPA program
Summary
City staff described a reworked residential lighting program using ARPA funds: the city will buy lights and give vouchers at 311 for residents to pick up and install, rather than reimbursements.
City staff told a Spokane subcommittee on June 15 that a residential street-lighting program funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars will distribute lights via vouchers rather than reimbursements.
Under the program design described by staff, the city will purchase lights and make them available through a voucher pick-up at 311; residents who want new exterior lighting would obtain a voucher, collect the purchased fixture at a city location and install it on private property. Staff said the voucher approach was chosen to simplify administration and speed installations compared with a reimbursement model.
Why it matters: Council members said dark streets in certain neighborhoods are contributing to crime concerns and asked staff to prioritize quick deployment. One councilmember described being contacted by a resident who reported repeated shootings near a dark block and said “anything that we can do to try to improve that is gonna be a big benefit.”
Staff said program details had been through Office of Neighborhood Services, Finance and ARPA staff and that the current plan is to have residents pick up lights after receiving vouchers. Councilmembers asked staff to move quickly to get lights into neighborhoods most affected by vehicle- and pedestrian-safety issues.
Ending: Staff expect to begin distributing lights using the voucher mechanism; councilmembers requested reliable tracking to ensure installations reach the neediest blocks and asked for updates on program roll-out.
