CITY COUNCIL: Receive Report & Provide Direction on Year-Round Illumination of Ocean Avenue Median Lights

Meeting Date: Apri13, 2012
Prepared by: Heidi Burch Assistant City Administrator


City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive report and provide direction on year-round illumination of the Ocean Avenue
median lights.

Description: At the November 2, 2010 meeting, City Council unanimously approved the holiday median
lighting to start at the beginning of the Thanksgiving week and be extended until the start of
Daylight Saving Time in March on a temporary basis. The City has received positive comments
about the lighting period from residents, visitors and members of the business community and
there is interest in having the lights remain on throughout the year.

Overall Cost: The PG&E bill for extending the lighting period for an additional seven months
would be approximately $490 a year.

Staff Recommendation: Provide direction to staff.

Important Considerations: Since installing the LED median lights, the City has received many favorable
comments about having a longer period for the lights along the Ocean A venue median. It has been generally popular with residents, visitors and members of the business community. City special events held throughout the year also should benefit.

Decision Record: On November 2, 2010, Council approved the LED lighting along the Ocean Avenue
median to begin at the beginning of Thanksgiving week and extend through mid-March (start of Daylight Saving Time).

Reviewed by:

Jason Stilwell, City Administrator Date


CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT


TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: JASON STILWELL, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: HEIDI BURCH, ASST. CITY ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: APRIL 3, 2012
SUBJECT: RECEIVE REPORT AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON YEARROUND ILLUMINATION OF THE OCEAN AVENUE MEDIAN LIGHTS

RECOMMENDED MOTION
Consider and provide direction on having the Ocean A venue median lights remain illuminated on a year-round basis.

BACKGROUND

At the November 2, 2010 meeting, City Council unanimously approved having the holiday median lighting start at the beginning of Thanksgiving week and last until the start of Daylight Saving Time in March. Since that time, the City has received many favorable comments about the ambiance these lights bring to the community and appreciation that the median is lit well for the AT&T tournament and Presidents' Day weekend.

There is now interest from the public in extending the median lighting period even further, to make it year-round. It has been noted that City special events such as the car events, the Carmel Authors and Idea Festival, and the Carmel Art and Film Festival, all of which are held in the present "off' season for the lights, would benefit from having the median lit as it would be an extra attraction for visitors and event attendees.

FISCAL IMPACT

If the lighting period for the Ocean Avenue median were extended the additional seven
months, the PG&E bill would be approximately $490 more per year.

SUMMARY

Provide direction on the year-round lighting of the Ocean Avenue median.

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
CITY COUNCIL

RESOLUTION 2012-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA APPROVING THE YEAR-ROUND ILLUMINATION OF THE OCEAN AVENUE MEDIAN LIGHTS

WHEREAS, on November 2, 2010, the City Council approved the lighting period for the Ocean Avenue holiday median lights to run from the beginning of Thanksgiving week through the commencement of Daylight Saving Time in March; and

WHEREAS, after two years, the extended lighting period into mid-March has been
received with significant favorable comment.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES:

1. Approve having the median lights along Ocean A venue remain illuminated throughout the entire year.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL- BY-THE-
SEA this 3rd day of April 2012, by the following roll call vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

SIGNED:

SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR

ATTEST:

Heidi Burch, City Clerk