Resident asks Auburn to review new white LED streetlights, citing glare and sleep impacts

At public comment during the June 22 council meeting, Adam Torella, a resident of the Sky Ridge neighborhood, requested the council refer a review of recent streetlight replacements after his neighborhood received bright white LED fixtures that he said cause glare and light spill into homes.

Torella said the previous amber lights were softer and better suited to residential areas and asked staff to review fixture specifications, color temperature, lumen output and shielding and to consider requiring warm, shielded residential lighting from contractors or utilities. He cited guidance from the American Medical Association and lighting bodies about minimizing blue‑rich light and noted research linking greater nighttime light exposure to health risks.

"I'm not opposed to street lighting for public safety. I'm just asking, that responsible, lighting being warm color temperature, proper shielding, lower brightness where appropriate and clear specifications for any contractors or utility providers performing this work," Torella said.

Public Works Director Mitchell Dean and City Manager John Rebe responded that the poles and many fixtures are owned by PG&E, limiting the city's direct control, and that staff are working with the utility's public affairs team. Rebe suggested council action or a petition could be helpful, and staff said they would continue outreach and try to identify standard specifications that could be requested of PG&E or contractors.

No formal action was taken; Torella asked the council to refer the issue to public works or engineering and to consider placing it on a future agenda if necessary.