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Council advances citywide street-lighting assessment to speed repairs
Summary
The Council heard a Bureau of Street Lighting presentation on a proposed citywide assessment to fund faster repairs and new technology, with the bureau recommending a $125 million-per-year long-term plan and outreach ahead of a parcel ballot under Prop 218.
The Bureau of Street Lighting told the City Council it will ask voters to approve a citywide assessment to pay for faster maintenance, new technology and an auditing mechanism to ensure transparency.
Miguel Sanlan, introduced as director of the bureau, said the contract amendment under consideration would let the city produce an engineer’s report, finalize ballot design and run a 60-day outreach program so the city can mail ballots to affected property owners. "We technically have never done it at this scale. This is the first time we're gonna be going to a citywide ballot," Sanlan said, noting current rates date to 1996.
Sanlan said a 2022 bureau needs assessment estimated roughly $125,000,000 a year would be needed to operate and maintain the system at target service levels. He told council members that with the assessment in place routine repairs could be completed in about a week, most major repairs within a month, and the bureau would add a three-year auditing requirement in the assessment to track outcomes and spending.
Council members questioned outreach and protest-vote mechanics under the city's Proposition 218 framework. Sanlan said the outreach plan includes direct mailings to affected parcel owners, social media buys and engagement with neighborhood councils and council offices. He described the protest-ballot process as a mailed vote confined to affected property owners and requiring a 45-day voting period before results are presented to council.
The presentation also discussed measures to reduce copper-wire theft and other causes of persistent outages. Sanlan said the assessment could fund more solar installations, cameras and sensors to reduce theft and to give information to law enforcement partners. He said the bureau plans a combination of procurement, solar purchases and expanded field capacity to address backlog.
Council members requested details on the final dollar ask and staffing plans; Sanlan said the bureau expects to present a recommendation in March and would seek to double field capacity with hiring ladders and apprentice pathways if the assessment passes.
The Council called the item for a vote after the presentation. The clerk recorded the vote on the item as five ayes on the motion to proceed with the contract amendment and related outreach (recorded on the meeting roll as five yes votes).
