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Final draft lighting study recommends LED upgrades, warmer color temp and phased improvements for downtown Vacaville
Summary
A consultant team presented a near‑final downtown lighting study that inventories existing poles and luminaires, recommends LED upgrades and improved optics, suggests a 3,000K color temperature and offers phased project scenarios including a full $10 million option.
A consultant team told the Vacaville City Council on Aug. 26 that a near‑final downtown lighting study recommends targeted LED upgrades, improved fixture optics and a phased approach to address underlit and overlit downtown segments.
Clanton & Associates, with partner Avari, presented an inventory and photometric model of the downtown right‑of‑way and public parking lots. The team measured 12 representative sites and found roughly half of existing fixtures have been converted to LED while many remaining luminaires use older high‑pressure sodium, induction or fluorescent technologies that are nearing end of service.
The study sets out three improvement scenarios: (1) a one‑for‑one LED retrofit for existing fixtures; (2) replacement of entire luminaires with higher‑quality optics to improve uniformity and reduce glare; and (3) adding new pole locations to fill gaps. The consultants said a full, citywide implementation that replaces poor fixtures and adds locations was estimated in the draft at about $10 million; a limited retrofit or phased approach would be less costly.
Consultants recommended a warmer color temperature (around 3,000 Kelvin) to reduce wildlife and human health impacts and suggested dimming or controls to lower light levels late at night. The report also noted areas of excessive light—particularly a Main Street site where measured illumination exceeded recommended levels—and underlit areas that affect pedestrian routes and creek/trail connectivity. The team recommended addressing equipment maintenance issues (rust, lights stuck on during the day, tree interference) and considering alley activation measures (murals with dedicated lighting) where pole placement is not possible.
Public commenters asked about ballfield lighting and park lights, wildlife impacts and whether solar‑powered fixtures are viable. The consultant said solar lighting is viable where unobstructed sunlight is available and that warmer color temperature and downward‑directed optics reduce impacts on birds and other wildlife; the consultant also noted motion sensors may be less reliable in bad weather and suggested dimming as a preferred strategy.
Ending
The council received the presentation and gave feedback on prioritizing pedestrian routes and high‑use connectors. Consultants said they will finalize cost QC, clarify fixture recommendations, prioritize short‑term safety fixes and present the final report to the council.
