Timnath hires consultant to evaluate buying streetlights and master plan for $145,000
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Summary
Council approved a $145,000 contract to evaluate acquiring non-private streetlights, create a streetlight master plan and support negotiations to buy lights from utilities. Staff said the town currently owns about one-third of 1,069 non-private lights and TownCo Lighting estimated an ROI just over seven years.
The Town of Timnath on Jan. 13 approved a $145,000 contract with a streetlight consultant to provide purchase support, a streetlight master plan and ownership negotiation assistance.
Staff (Smith) told council there are roughly 1,069 non-private street lights in town: about one-third owned by Xcel Energy, one-third by Poudre Valley REA and one-third by the town. TownCo Lighting previously completed feasibility and inventory work and estimated a payback of just over seven years if the town were to acquire the remaining lights. Smith said the proposed scope includes negotiating purchases from utilities, a master plan for standards and maintenance strategy and consideration of dark-sky initiatives.
Council members raised questions about return on investment and process mechanics. Staff explained that although developers pay for the upfront installation in some subdivisions, the town has historically assumed ownership of new lights and that acquisition requires buying existing assets from utilities. Council members praised improved responsiveness for town-owned lights and requested more detailed ROI information in project deliverables.
The council unanimously approved the contract to move forward with analysis and negotiation; staff emphasized this does not commit the town to purchase lights, only to perform the evaluation and negotiation support authorized by the contract.
