Meadowdale athletic complex lighting upgrade approved for grants; EV charging phase noted

Council members sought clarifications on multiple capital memo items at the Oct. 6 Lynnwood work session, including a $1.2 million lighting upgrade for the Meadowdale Athletic Complex and a phase of the city’s electric‑vehicle (EV) charging rollout.

Monica (city staff) told council the Meadowdale lights project is a $1.2 million effort funded primarily with impact fees and capital funds rather than the general fund. She said the city secured a small grant from the county (about $50,000) and has engaged Snohomish PUD for a capital incentive estimate; staff noted an approximate PUD rebate of $60,000 toward the project. The upgrade will replace aging sodium‑halide fixtures with LEDs, allow remote control of lighting via a new controller cabinet, improve foot‑candle levels (better illumination), and expand rentable hours by making the facility safer and more usable later into the evening. Staff said an energy‑savings projection from PUD is forthcoming.

On EV charging, public works staff explained the current contract phase costs $51,074; earlier grant reimbursements covered roughly 60% of the phase. Combined earlier phases and the current phase push the contract total over $100,000, which triggers council approval. Staff said the majority of EV charging work has been grant funded and this phase draws from prior contract authority as well.

Why it matters: the Meadowdale lighting upgrade aims to improve safety and to generate additional rentals and usage of city athletic fields, supported by grants and a utility incentive. The EV charging clarification explains how grant timing and cumulative contract totals require council notification when thresholds are exceeded.

What’s next: staff will provide PUD energy‑savings projections and follow up with more detailed funding breakdowns; the EV‑charging contract phase was presented for council approval as a cumulative contract action.