2. Pedestrian Lighting Fixtures on Preston Street

LAMPADAIRES POUR PIÉTONS SUR LA RUE Preston

Committee recommendations

That Council approve the following:

1. That the Preston BIA pay the capital and installation cost for any requested pedestrian fixtures above the City’s lighting policy.

2. That staff and the Preston BIA develop an appropriate payment system to ensure that the BIA is responsible for the maintenance, operational and hydro costs of the additional pedestrian fixtures.

recommandations du comité

Que le Conseil d’approuver

1. Que la zone d’amélioration commerciale (ZAC) de la rue Preston paie le coût en capital et les frais d’installation de tout lampadaire pour piétons requis au-delà de la politique d’éclairage de la Ville.

2. Que le personnel et la zone d’amélioration commerciale de la rue Preston mettent au point un système de paiement approprié selon lequel la ZAC serait responsable des frais d’entretien, d’exploitation et du coût de l’électricité des lampadaires pour piétons supplémentaires.

Documentation

1. Councillor Diane Holmes report dated 2 June 2008 (ACS2008-CCS-TRC-0006).

Report to / Rapport au :

Transportation Committee /

Comité des transports

and Council / et au Conseil

2 June 2008 / le 2 juin 2008

Submitted by / Soumis par :

Councillor / Conseillère Diane Holmes, Somerset Ward

Contact Person/Personne ressource: Councillor / Conseillère Diane Holmes,

Quartier Somerset Ward

(613) 580-2484 / Diane.Holmes@ottawa.ca

Somerset (14)

Ref. N°: ACS2008-CCS-TRC-0006

SUBJECT:	Pedestrian Lighting Fixtures on Preston Street

OBJET :	LAMPADAIRES POUR PIÉTONS SUR LA RUE Preston

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That Transportation Committee recommend Council approve the following:

1. That the Preston BIA pay the capital and installation cost for any requested pedestrian fixtures above the City’s lighting policy.

2. That staff and the Preston BIA develop an appropriate payment system to ensure that the BIA is responsible for the maintenance, operational and hydro costs of the additional pedestrian fixtures.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des transports recommande au Conseil d’approuver

BACKGROUND

The Preston Street Reconstruction project is commencing construction this season. Throughout the project, there has been a strong interest expressed by the public and the Preston Street BIA in recognizing and building on the vibrant pedestrian atmosphere of the street. An important element of this pedestrian-friendly environment is pedestrian lighting.

DISCUSSION

The preliminary design plan which was originally shown to the public at the Open House and presented to the Public Advisory Committee included a higher number of pedestrian fixtures than is presently permitted in the City of Ottawa’s lighting policy (approved in October 2007). The City’s new lighting plan allows for a maximum of 125 pedestrian fixtures throughout the corridor to be installed and maintained at the City’s expense.

There has been a request from the Preston BIA to reallocate some lighting to emphasize the commercial area and to add approximately 10 more fixtures than is allowed for under the City’s lighting policy. The BIA is willing to pay all capital and operational costs for the additional lighting.

It is possible to shift some of the pedestrian lighting along the corridor while adding pedestrian lighting to emphasize the commercial area. These changes will still conform to City standards for lighting levels.

CONSULTATION

The Councillor, BIA and resident representatives from the Public Advisory Committee met to discuss the proposal and agree upon the plan.

This item will be advertised in the local dailies as part of the Public Meeting Advertisement on Friday preceding the Transportation Committee Meeting.

Public Works and Services Comments:

PWS staff cannot support this recommendation because it is in contravention of the Right of Way Lighting Policy. In the policy, Section 3.1-iii states that when using the tall height and short height pole combination (which is being used in this case), the combination consists of a single short height pole between two tall poles. The BIA is asking to have more than the one short pole spaced between the two tall poles.

The Right of Way Lighting Policy was approved by Council in the Fall of 2007. During its development, the Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) were all consulted and asked for feedback. There were no concerns expressed as to what was being proposed for lighting treatments within BIA areas. There were also no concerns raised when the final draft was presented to Planning and Environment Committee and Council.

On Preston Street, staff have proposed, in keeping with the new policy, the addition of 125 decorative pedestrian fixtures at no cost to the BIA. The cost to the City will be in the neighbourhood of $887,500.

Prior to the new policy, if a BIA wanted decorative lighting, there was a cost sharing agreement between the BIA and the City (typically two-thirds of the capital costs would be borne by the BIA as well as additional ongoing operating costs). This approach, and similarly the type of payment system suggested in the report’s recommendation, were intentionally phased out by the new policy due to previous inherent problems and costs that had been encountered over the years.

Under the previous arrangement that allowed for cost sharing, the BIAs share for all 135 poles on Preston Street would be $632,610 in capital costs, and $6,486 annually for maintenance costs.

If the City of Ottawa was to cover the cost of the 125 decorative pedestrian fixtures ($887,500) and the BIA was to cover the incremental cost of the remaining 10 fixtures (as per the reports recommendation), the capital cost to the BIA would be $71,000 with an additional annual maintenance cost of approximately $728.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The Preston Street BIA are aware of the financial implications of this report and subject to Council approval will be responsible for 100% of the additional pedestrian lights above the approved City standard, including operating and maintenance costs.

DISPOSITION

The Public Works and Services Department staff are to take appropriate action as directed by the Committee.