Yard Lighting Initiative Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 8.
ITEM TITLE: Yard Lighting Initiative
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of changes to the Yard Lighting
Initiative that provides a match to property owners who install either front-
yard or rear-yard lighting that improves lighting levels on sidewalks and
alleys.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
❑ Yard Lighting Initiative-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
❑ Staff Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBE I
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Yard Lighting Initiative
DATE: October 15, 2015
As part of the Washington Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy, the City of Dubuque
established a Yard Lighting Initiative. This program provides a match to property
owners who install either Front yard lighting or Rear yard lighting that improves lighting
levels on sidewalks and alleys.
Assistant City Manager Cindy Steinhauser recommends City Council approval of
changes to the Yard Lighting Initiative as follows:
• Rename Neighborhood Enhancement Lighting Program
• Expand the coverage area to city-wide and increase promotion in older areas
that typically have heavier tree canopy that can impact light levels.
• Include the Neighborhood Enhancement Lighting Program into all city housing
rehabilitation projects. Funds from the program will be used to match city rehab
dollars to install front and rear lighting on these projects.
• Expand Owner/Occupied rehabilitation program to allow homeowners to use
rehab dollars to match the installation of front and rear lighting under this
program.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Micliael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBE I
erica .i
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Yard Lighting Initiative
DATE: October 15, 2015
Introduction
The purpose of this memo is to recommend changes to the Yard Lighting Initiative
Background
As part of the Washington Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy, the city of Dubuque
established a Yard Lighting Initiative. This program provides a match to property
owners who install either Front yard lighting or Rear yard lighting that improves lighting
levels on sidewalks and alleys. The program description is as follows:
Front yard lighting - Owners will be eligible for a rebate of up to half of$500.00
(maximum rebate of$250) towards the cost of purchase and installation of energy
efficient electric, gas and solar lighting fixtures installed in their front yard or attached
the house if lighting levels improve on the sidewalk.
Rear yard lighting - Owners will be eligible for a rebate of up to half of $200.00
(maximum rebate of$100) towards the cost of purchase and installation of energy
efficient electric, gas and solar lighting fixtures installed in their rear yard. The light
fixtures may be attached to the rear of the home or to owner's garage on the alley.
All required inspections and permits must be completed to be eligible to receive the
rebate from the city.
Fixtures using incandescent bulbs and motion-sensitive lighting fixtures are not eligible.
Neighborhood residents interested in taking advantage of this opportunity need to
complete the following specific steps for implementation of this new program.
To be eligible to receive the rebate, first contact the Building Services Department to
arrange for a preliminary inspection of your site. Once approval of your plan is received
and the work is finished, complete the attached form and return it to the Building
Services Department along with any requested supporting documentation.
Discussion
City staff, including Housing and Community Development Director Alvin Nash, Building
Services Manager Rich Russell and myself met to review the program and discuss
ways to improve the program to encourage more homeowner participation. The FY 15
budget currently has $5,000 in this program and there have been no applications
received for the fiscal year. Based upon our discussion we recommend the following
changes and enhancements to this program:
Program Revisions
• Rename Neighborhood Enhancement Lighting Program
• Expand the coverage area to city-wide and increase promotion in older areas
that typically have heavier tree canopy that can impact light levels.
• Include the Neighborhood Enhancement Lighting Program into all city housing
rehabilitation projects. Funds from the program will be used to match city rehab
dollars to install front and rear lighting on these projects.
• Expand Owner/Occupied rehabilitation program to allow homeowners to use
rehab dollars to match the installation of front and rear lighting under this
program.
• All other program terms remain the same
Marketing and outreach
• Building Services work with Public Information Office to revise program handouts
and include in all requests for new or remodeled residential permit requests
• Expand marketing efforts to include promotion through Housing and Community
Development Rehabilitation program.
Once these changes are approved and implemented our goal will be to assess mid-year
to look at addition program revisions to improve participation.
Recommendation
I recommend City Council approval of the proposed changes to this program.
Cc: Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
Alvin Nash, Housing and Community Development Director
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
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