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Committee hears staff updates on LED streetlight project, dark‑sky compliance and EV charging grant; county to pilot a Middleton compost kiosk
Summary
Staff told the committee the current LED streetlight bid does not include motion‑sensing fixtures for the grant cycle but confirmed dark‑skies requirements are specified; Kelly also briefed members on a Dane County EV‑charging grant that may bring a small number of public chargers to Middleton and described a county/USDA food‑waste kiosk pilot that includes one Middleton site.
City staff updated the Sustainability Committee on several items in the staff report: the LED streetlight conversion project, an EV‑charging grant coordinated by Dane County, and a county/USDA food‑waste kiosk pilot.
On street lighting, a committee member asked whether sensor‑triggered fixtures (lights that operate only on motion) had been considered. Staff said sensor technology was not in the current bid specifications for this grant cycle, which focuses on major routes (e.g., University Avenue) where continuous night lighting is preferred. Staff confirmed that the city’s lighting ordinance and the new specifications are dark‑skies compliant and that neighborhood lights in a future grant round could be evaluated for additional features such as sensors.
Kelly briefed members on a jointly written Dane County grant for EV charging that is intended to fill gaps not covered by federal corridor investments. CARPC’s regional analysis informed likely siting (prioritizing multifamily locations and rural gaps). Staff said Middleton is likely to receive some stations but not a dense network; final siting and community engagement will follow grant award decisions.
On the county/USDA food‑waste grant, staff said the county has budgeted kiosks in Madison and one in Middleton and has hired a project manager to operate the pilot and provide hauling and initial diversion reporting. Staff and several committee members discussed potential collaboration with GreenBox and other local vendors to avoid duplicative services and to sustain operations after grant funding ends.
Members raised the library/bookmobile procurement and whether an electric bookmobile was feasible; staff said library staff had not found a suitable EV model that matched needs and that the purchase status was unclear. The tourism trolley program was also discussed; staff said the trolley had been discontinued and was not a current city service.
Staff committed to follow up on vendor coordination for the county kiosk pilot and to return to the committee with updates on grant awards, siting and potential procurement options for vehicle electrification.
