Copper lights are a good idea

The Coastline Pilot should get its facts straight before implying

that disapproval of the South Laguna Streetscape lights would save

the city $260,000 and obviate the need for a city hiring freeze.

The lights in question have not even been installed yet, so the

city cannot save on maintenance of items that are not yet in

existence. The hiring freeze is o7nowf7.

The lights are being installed with a federal transportation

grant, not from city funds. The lights are amenities that the city

cited in its grant application, and the “points” given for the

amenities played crucial roles in obtaining the grant.

The amount of savings that the staff projects if we used San Diego

Gas & Electric lights is $110 per year per light. With 20 lights, the

total annual savings would be $2,200. If the $80 annual set-aside for

replacement of the lights in 30 years were removed from the analysis,

as suggested by Council members Iseman and Egly, the difference would

be $30 per year per light, or $600 per year for all 20 lights. Saving

or spending either amount per year will hardly make a difference in

the decision to have a hiring freeze or not.

There is no street lighting in South Laguna except on Coast

Highway, and the city is paying to light most other neighborhoods in

town from the street lighting district fund. In the 2004-05 budget,

this fund has a projected income of $721,800 and expenditures of

$334,500. Since these funds can only be spent on street lighting, is

it really asking too much to allocate $600 or even $2,200 to maintain

lights in South Laguna?

The copper hooded light approved by the design review board and

the City Council is functional and appropriate. The approved light

meets all electrical quality standards. It is just not common enough

to be included in the utility company’s program. A hooded light was

selected because it weathers well in the marine environment and

because it relates well to the historical buildings as well as to the

more contemporary ones. (To see a sample of the approved

light-fixture head, see the lights at the high school sign at Park

Avenue and Short Street.)

All of the San Diego Gas & Electric lights except one are lanterns

that project light straight out and, in some cases, up. Using any of

these lights would bring immediate view impairment and light

pollution complaints from neighbors. The utility company’s only

hooded light is topped with a concrete cone and looks like it belongs

in an industrial area, not on a charming street.

Before going to the design review board for the approval of the

South Laguna Streetscape project, staff called a special meeting with

San Diego Gas & Electric, Caltrans, the streetscape design

consultant, a design review board member, city staff and community

representatives.

All of the options were thoroughly examined, and no one could come

up with a better solution than the copper hooded lights the

consultants had selected.

The purpose of the South Laguna Streetscape project is to provide

a safer, more attractive environment for pedestrians and to enhance

the setting for our businesses.

The lighting, planting, sidewalk improvements, bus shelters and

benches will all add distinction and quality to the area. The

Coastline Pilot should be supporting the community’s, and the city’s,

efforts to complete this very worthwhile project.

The proposed city sales tax increase is intended to pay for the

Bluebird Canyon landslide repairs.

I support it because I believe all of our other city projects

should not be canceled, reduced or put on hold because of our

commitment to restore the Bluebird neighborhood.

o7Ann Christoph is a board member of the South Laguna Civic

Associationf7.