Sedona City Council will get its first look at streetlight styles and costs on Wednesday, Oct. 28, for the continuous lighting going in on State Route 89A.
“The discussion about lights or no lights is over,” Sedona Mayor Rob Adams said Tuesday, Sept. 8, at a Sedona City Council meeting. “Highway lighting is coming to Sedona. The discussion now, is what is that lighting going to look like.”
According to City Manager Tim Ernster, the Arizona Department of Transportation plans to bring 50 to 60 lighting options to the Oct. 28 special City Council meeting. Every option is dark-sky compliant.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, ADOT will release its design criteria study so the public can study the report before Oct. 28. The study will be available on ADOT’s and the city of Sedona’s Web sites and at the city manager’s office.
The lighting alternatives vary in pole height, mast arm length, pole styles, fixtures, LED, high pressure sodium and everything in between, Ernster said.
“The decision isn’t whether or not we’re going to have streetlights,” Ernster said. Instead, the decision will be about finding streetlights that are best suited for the community.
How many lights will go up between Airport Road and Dry Creek Road depends on which option council chooses.
Some alternatives would require lighting on only one side of the highway, while other choices would see lights on both sides of State Route 89A.
The cost will also be determined based on the options council chooses.
ADOT’s funds cover the cost for its standard installation, but any options outside of ADOT’s standard lights will be at the city’s expense.
“We’re currently researching the possibility of trying to find grant money the city could use for any cost the city would incur for the street- lights,” Ernster said.
The public will be able to get its fair share of information and provide input sometime after the Oct. 28 meeting when the city plans to host an open house. The date has not been set.
The open house will include the presentation made at the Oct. 28 council meeting, along with displays of streetlights. Comment cards will also
be available to be filled out
and passed on to City Council.
After the Oct. 28 meeting and a public open house, ADOT plans to return to council the beginning of 2010 to hear its selection.
On Aug. 13, 2008, council voted 4-2 to direct ADOT “to move forward with dark sky compliant continuous roadway lighting from Airport Road to Dry Creek Road.”
Adams and Councilman Cliff Hamilton voted against it. Councilman Mark DiNunzio joined council July 2009 after its vote on streetlights.
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com
