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Palatka police begin LED lighting survey; city to commission broader study with FPL
Summary
Palatka police and staff began a targeted lighting study of dark spots on the North Side and recommended a citywide study with Florida Power & Light that could identify higher-lumen LED upgrades for parks and business districts.
The Palatka Police Department reported it has begun a targeted evaluation of street-lighting dark spots, starting in the North Side, and recommended a broader, citywide lighting study with FPL to produce a comprehensive cost analysis for LED upgrades.
Assistant Chief Newcomb said his department is logging locations where darkness correlates with crime or safety concerns; night-shift officers are collecting candidate poles for replacement. An FPL representative told staff the city’s existing streetlights were replaced over several years with 41‑watt LED bulbs (roughly 5,000 lumens) that are energy‑efficient but not substantially brighter than the prior high‑pressure sodium lamps. The representative identified a higher-output option (about 264 watts producing roughly 30,000 lumens) that other Florida cities have deployed in parks and business districts.
City staff told commissioners the cost for replacement depends on the number of poles, the cost to replace bulbs (retrofit/depreciation) and any additional power costs. FPL will perform a ride‑through with city staff at night to verify requested locations and provide a comprehensive cost estimate. Staff recommended performing a full‑city study rather than a single‑zone study so future upgrades would be planned and budgeted comprehensively. Commissioners asked staff to proceed, noting potential added costs and contract revisions with FPL would be required.
Staff will return with a cost estimate and contract implications after completing the field work and the FPL technical ride‑through.
