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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 05 10 Informational 305 .1 " COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 305 CONSENT INFORMATIONAL X PUBLIC HEARING REGULAR May 10, 2004 Meeting MGR. 1/ Z",--"/DEPT J/}/' Authorization REQUEST: Public Works Department Urban Beautification Division advising the City Commission on the status of various streetlighting projects. PURPOSE: This item is necessary to inform the City Commission of the status of streetlighting projects related to the TLBD, Highlands HOA, Stone Gable and Winding Hollow, CONSIDERATION: The City Commission adopted the non-decorative concrete pole with a 100W cobra fixture as, the standard streetlight on April 13, 1998, Since then, various organizations have or are considering upgrading the streetlights in their community with the understanding that they will be responsible for the cost differential. To date, the Tuscawilla Lighting and Beautification District and Stone Gable have upgraded lighting and the Highlands and Winding Holloware considering doing the same. The unit cost for the baseline standard streetlight was $8.72 in 1998, increased to $9.71 in 2002, and will be increased to $10.32 effective June 1, 2004 as calculated based upon current Progress Energy rate schedules. This includes the pole ($3.86), fixture ($6.28), Gross Receipts Tax ($0.05), and municipal franchise fee ($0.13). Pricing is adjusted by Progress Energy annually in January as energy costs rise; therefore, staffwill be performing a review every January to adjust the baseline cost as necessary. The following is the status of various planned and active streetlighting projects: Tuscawilla LillhtinJ! and Beautification District There are 136 Flagler fixtures with Washington poles ($35.91 each/month) on Winter Springs Boulevard paid for by the TLBD. The bill is in the City's name and the cost differential funds are transferred from the TLBD account to the General Fund on a , . May 10, 2004 Information Item 305 Page 2 monthly basis. The cost differential per fixture will be $25.59 effective June 1, 2004. The TLBD Advisory Committee is conducting a study to ascertain costs involved with expanding the decorative lighting program to include Northern Way and main collector streets throughout Tuscawilla. Initial costs are not confirmed as of this time. Stone Gable HOA Currently, the bill for the 28 Biscayne fixtures on Victorian poles ($26.68 each/month) is billed to and paid for by the Stone Gable HOA. They invoice the City quarterly and we remit the baseline streetlighting cost to them. The baseline cost will increase to $10.32 per light per month effective June I, 2004. The Stone Gable HOA has not obtained 501(c)4 tax exempt status and pays additional costs for municipal utility tax and sales tax. Achieving tax exempt status Will eliminate these costs once proof is provided to Progress Energy. HiJ!hlands HOA The Highlands HOA proposed upgrading the existing streetlights on Sheoah Boulevard and Shepard Road to Flagler fixtures with Victorian poles ($28.97). The increased wattage of the new fixture would reduce the number of streetlights from 244 units to 180 units. The City Commission considered this request on January 13, 2003 and directed staff to work on a solution whereby the streetlights would be billed to the Highlands HOA and the City reimburses them similar to the Stone Gable arrangement. Because the Highlands HOA is apparently not tax exempt, HOA representatives were concerned about the additional costs of the municipal utility tax and sales tax that would be borne by the HOA. We have received written confirmation from Progress Energy that these two costs would not be passed on once proof of tax exempt status was provided to them. Staffwill be meeting with the Highlands HOA in the next two weeks to review our findings and provide them our cost projections for their review. Windinl! Hollow HOA Staff has had preliminary discussions with the Winding Hollow HOA and Progress Energy about the desire to upgrade the streetlights in Winding Hollow. No formal information or request has been received yet. COMMISSION ACTION: