Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 07-07-2015
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Development Services Department
Title:
title
Approval of and acceptance of the Street Light Plan for The Shops at Aspen Creek and acceptance of operation and maintenance of the decorative lights along Aspen Creek Drive within the Shops at Aspen Creek
End
Background:
The City of Broken Arrow contracted with Sig-Broken Arrow, LTD, on October 16, 2012, for the development of a high end retail development known as The Shops at Aspen Creek. The development is located mid-mile between Elm Place and Aspen Avenue just south of the Creek Turnpike and just north of Tucson Street.
The first phase of the development included a Warren Theatre and an interior street identified as Aspen Creek Drive. During the engineering design, Sig-Broken Arrow contemplated street lighting along Aspen Creek Drive. Their representatives decided to postpone placement of lights until the street was completed, but did place conduit crossings at certain locations along the street in anticipation of the street lights.
City staff provided a copy of the current street light policy, updated in October 2013, to Sig-Broken Arrow. As Sig-Broken Arrow’s Consultant began to work with Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) they realized two things. The policy allows for only two PSO standard lights that the City will pay service for. These poles are geared more toward residential subdivisions and not commercial subdivision use.
City Staff and Sig-Broken Arrow met in early 2014 to discuss the lighting along Aspen Creek Drive. Staff determined that the City’s current street light policy needs modification for commercial subdivisions if nonstandard PSO decorative poles are to be allowed. Both parties agreed to use this project as the standard to develop language and plans for the types of poles and lights not just for this project, but for future projects.
Sig-Broken Arrow hired a consultant to lay out a light plan and put together specifications with City Staff involvement. Staff was interested in having the lights be base mounted and not direct bury. It was contemplated that these would be similar to the decorative lights along Main Street. City staff and Sig-Broken Arrow representatives have met off and on to discuss, review and incorporate a commercial subdivision decorative light policy.
The final light plan is attached and reflects 10 decorative lights (designated as D) and 4 Cobra type lights at the intersections.
In addition, the City’s General Services Director did a cost determination and survey of comparable cities on maintenance and operation of commercial subdivision decorative lighting. Mr. Zirk determined that the 12 proposed decorative lights along Aspen Creek Drive would cost $24.00 or less per month (about $1.98/per month per light). The 92,100 watt lights along Main Street and Broadway cost an average of about $318.00 per month. In comparison, PSO charges the City $2.69 per light per month, maintenance included, for the standard street light normally seen in the City.
The survey of other cities reflects that most allow decorative lights that are paid for and installed by the Developer while the operation and maintenance is the responsibility of the City.
Staff believes it is desirable to have a policy for decorative lights that allow the City to provide cost effective, standardized commercial subdivision lighting. Staff recommends acceptance of the light plan at Shops at Aspen Creek and acceptance of the operation and maintenance of the decorative lights along Aspen Creek Drive within the Shops at Aspen Creek.
The revised street light policy will come back to Council for approval pursuant to the City Wide Traffic Control Manual (TCM) that is being developed by the Traffic Control Committee. It is anticipated that the manual will be completed the latter part of this year.
Cost: Annual Electricity, Maintenance and Operation
Prepared By: Michael Skates, P.E., CFM, Development Services Director
Reviewed By: General Services Department
Streets and Stormwater Department
Legal Department
Assistant City Manager
Approved By: Russell M. Gale, Acting City Manager
Attachments: Shops at Aspen Creek Street Light Plan
Draft Street Light Policy
Street Light Survey
Estimated Monthly Costs
Recommendation:
Approve and accept the Street Light Plan light plan for the Shops at Aspen Creek and accept the operation and maintenance of the decorative lights along Aspen Creek Drive within the Shops at Aspen Creek.