Draper staff proposes city take over maintenance of TRSSD street lights

City staff asked the Draper City Council on Jan. 6 to approve pursuing an agreement to assume maintenance of roughly 150 street lights currently within the Traverse Ridge Special Service District (TRSSD).

The staff presentation laid out that the city already maintains below-ground electrical connections and would need to add above-ground pole, foundation and lighting-component work, proactive replacement planning and storage for replacement poles. Staff said the work would be funded from TRSSD revenues deposited annually into a dedicated general-ledger account and that the district would provide an upfront lump-sum payment to cover proactive replacement and initial storage costs.

Public works staff framed the change as a response to residents'confusion over ownership and complaints that TRSSD had been slow to respond. "I want to take the street lights over," a staff member said, explaining the city's crews use asset-management software to track lights and can perform inventory and repairs more efficiently.

Council members pressed staff on fiscal safeguards, asking how the city would track the money, what would happen in heavy-snow years when TRSSD snowplow and lighting funds might be strained, and whether the tax collected by TRSSD explicitly distinguishes snow plowing from street lighting. Staff said the tax collection is a single lump sum and the proposed agreement would include provisions to address shortfalls, insurance claims and supply shortages; staff will present draft agreement language for council review.

There was general council support to pursue the agreement. Council indicated it preferred an upfront payment model to avoid repeated, time-consuming reimbursement claims, and asked staff to return with a proposed contract outline and the financial accounting treatment for TRSSD deposits.

Next steps: staff will draft an interlocal/agreement to bring back to the council for direction and possible approval.