Residents urge city to turn on streetlights and restore on-call transit for seniors and disabled

Residents told the Greenfield City Council during public comment that two recently installed light posts near Mongolia 2nd face apartments have never been turned on and that the darkness creates safety and accessibility concerns for seniors, after-school students and others.

Gabby, a resident who said she had contacted Public Works Director Jamie and the utility, told council, “They were installed over 8 months ago. They've never been turned on. It's really dark.” She said Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) had told her the city needed to set up an account so PG&E could schedule activation: “PG and E ... told me was that the city must contact them, set up an account for PG and E to come out here and turn them on because they can make an order because there's no account created.”

Gabby told council she had previously emailed staff and had not received a solution and asked whether council could help ensure the light posts are activated. The mayor and staff acknowledged the comment and did not take a formal vote or action on the item during the meeting; no timetable for activation was provided on the record.

Other public commenters asked the council to reinstate or provide on-call transportation for disabled residents who cannot reach stores or other destinations via existing fixed-route services. One speaker described the service as essential for seniors and people with mobility limitations and asked the council and city manager to “bring back” a bus or on-call pick-up service to serve those residents. The council did not make a formal direction on the request during the meeting.

What was asked of the city

- Turn on two light posts outside the Mongolia 2nd face apartment complex (resident reports they have been dark for more than eight months). - For the city to contact PG&E to establish any required account and schedule activation. - Investigate on-call transportation or pickup service options for disabled and senior residents needing assistance to travel locally.

Council response and next steps

Residents’ comments were heard during the public comment period and acknowledged by the mayor. No formal motion, vote or transfer of funds occurred at the meeting on these requests. Staff present included Public Works Director Jamie, who Gabby said she had contacted previously; the transcript records the complaint and the utility explanation but does not record a staff commitment or deadline to resolve the lighting issue.

The council will consider these service and safety requests in the context of regular staff follow-up; residents seeking a response should follow up with the city manager’s office or Public Works to obtain status updates and tracking information.

Direct quotes from the meeting

- “They were installed over 8 months ago. They've never been turned on. It's really dark,” — Gabby (public comment).

- “PG and E ... told me was that the city must contact them, set up an account for PG and E to come out here and turn them on because they can make an order because there's no account created,” — Gabby (public comment).