City Council Meeting: July 11, 2006

Agenda Item: _____  

To: Mayor and City Council 

From: Craig Perkins, Director – Environmental and Public Works Management

Subject: Formation of Street Light Assessment Districts and Setting a Public Hearing for September 12, 2006

Recommended Action

It is recommended that City Council:

1. accept the signed petitions at this time; and

2. set a public hearing on September 12, 2006 for the formation of the following street light assessment districts:

District “A”	30^th Street	Between Pico Boulevard and Pearl Street
District “B”	Georgina Avenue	Between 4^th Street and 7^th Street

Executive Summary

The installation of new street lights in residential areas is initiated by petition of the residents and/or property owners’ in accordance with the Improvement Act of 1911, Proposition 218, and Santa Monica Municipal Code 7.04.860. Successful petitions, those containing signatures of 60% of the eligible voters, have been received from residents on 30^th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pearl Street, and Georgina Avenue between 4th Street and 7th Street. A public meeting held May 3, 2006, provided residents from both districts the opportunity to choose from three street light styles. With Council approval, notices will be mailed to eligible voters informing them of a public hearing for the formation of street light assessment districts for districts “A” and “B”. The total cost for this project is estimated at $444,000, which includes the estimated property owner Proposition 218 assessment of $220,000 and the City’s estimated contribution of $224,000.

Discussion

In accordance with Proposition 218 and Santa Monica Municipal Code 7.04.860, whenever the occupants of sixty percent of the residential units in any given area petition the City Council to institute proceedings for residential street lighting improvement, the City Council shall institute proceedings under the Improvement Act of 1911 to provide residential street lighting to such area. Successful petitions, those with greater than sixty percent support, have been received from residents on these streets:

District “A” - 30^th Street between Pico Boulevard and Pearl Street

District “B” - Georgina Avenue between 4^th Street and 7^th Street

Notices of the City’s intent to form an assessment district and hold a public hearing will be mailed to eligible voters forty-five (45) days in advance of the public hearing. In addition to the notice, eligible voters will also receive a ballot with the option to vote for or against the assessment. A list of properties within the proposed assessment districts and the assessment district maps will be available for review at the time of the public hearing.

Eligible voters may return their ballots by mail or deliver them to the City Clerk prior to the close of the public hearing. At the hearing, the City Council will hear all objections and protests to the proposed assessment. At the conclusion of the public hearing, the assessment ballots submitted, and not withdrawn, in support of or in opposition to the proposed assessment will be tabulated. Tabulation of the assessment ballots will be weighted according to the proportional financial obligation of the affected property. No assessment will be imposed if there is a majority of votes opposing the assessment.

Public Outreach

A public meeting was held on May 3, 2006 at the Santa Monica Main Library to discuss the type, location, and approximate cost of the street lights for these districts. Consistent with Council policy, adopted January 23, 2001, to only install ornamental post-top style street lights on residential streets, residents were provided the option to choose from standard ornamental post-top type poles: the Aegean and Corsican concrete poles (manufactured by Ameron International) and the New York metal pole (manufactured by Antique Street Lamps).

Residents on 30^th Street (District “A”) selected the New York metal pole, and residents on Georgina Avenue (District “B”) selected the Aegean concrete pole.

Budget/Financial Impact

The total estimated cost for this project is $444,000 and includes engineering design, construction, construction management and administrative costs such as staff time for public notifications, advertisements, project management, invoicing, and bond administration.

The estimated breakdown of costs is as follows:

Estimated property owner assessments	$220,000
Estimated City contributions	$224,000
Total project estimate	$444,000

Presently, there are no funds budgeted for this assessment. If the majority of the voters support the proposed assessment, the project will not proceed unless Council appropriates $224,000 from the General Fund. Once the results of the balloting are known, staff will return to Council with required financial actions as a part of the fiscal year 2006-2007 mid-year budget review report. The remaining total costs for the project will be paid through property owner assessments and held in Agency Fund - Street Light Fund account number 801.201181.

Prepared by: Allan Sheth, Civil Engineering Associate

Approved:	Forwarded to Council:
Craig Perkins Director – Environmental and Public Works Management Department	P. Lamont Ewell City Manager

Attachment 1: New York metal pole

Attachment 2: Aegean concrete pole

Attachment 3: Corsican concrete poles