RESEARCH DIVISION
TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY & UTILITIES SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES-amended
September 19, 2016
Lynwood Roberts Room
Ground Floor, City Hall
117 W. Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Al Ferraro (Chair), Doyle Carter (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Anna Lopez Brosche, Reggie Brown, Reggie Gaffney; Council Member John Crescimbeni was excused; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Kim Taylor, Council Auditor’s Office; Jordan Elsbury, Administration, Yvonne Mitchell, John J. Jackson, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 2:31 p.m.
The focus of the Special Committee Meeting was: the City’s relationship with JEA regarding street lights and traffic signals.
Mike Brost, JEA Vice President-General Manager, Electric Systems, and John Pappas, Director, Department of Public works, made the presentation.
Mr. Ross provided an overview of the responsibilities of the Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Jacksonville’s responsibilities for street lights and traffic signals. Many streets in the City are state roads.
FDOT has overall responsibility for lighting the FDOT streets in Jacksonville. COJ Public Works Department has the overall responsibility for lighting non-FDOT streets in Jacksonville (excluding private subdivisions).
Most of the lighting on Interstate roads and interchanges are lit by FDOT on metered lighting systems; the City park lighting is also metered.
Like street lights, traffic signals are un-metered. Traffic Engineering maintains a data base that captures all of the traffic signal equipment in service throughout the City. JEA bills monthly for the energy, based on consumption estimated from the City’s database. Unlike street lights, the City is responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of the traffic signal equipment and systems.
Requests for street light additions should be directed to Public Works, Traffic Engineering. Traffic Engineering will work with JEA on the design and have the final say on approval. If the lights are going on existing poles, there is typically no charge. If the request involves additional poles and/or conduit and conductor, a charge is established and the City identifies a funding source.
Requests for traffic signal additions/modifications should be directed to Public Works, Traffic Engineering. If approved, a funding source must be identified.
Street light issues may be reported to JEA by e-mail (JEA.com) or by calling 665-6000. JEA needs the address from the pole in order to respond. JEA receives and resolves approximately 20,000 street light issues annually.
Power outages affect traffic signals and require a JEA response. If there are other issues with traffic signal equipment, the City must respond and make repairs.
Messrs. Ross and Pappas gave an update on COJ/JEA’s LED conversion project. The initial push on the conversion targeted approximately 5,700 lights in 20 identified high crime areas. The second focus was on the high wattage major roadways around town.
Council Member Anna Lopez Brosche remarked on the situation downtown where street lights change too quickly for pedestrians to safely cross streets. She specifically cited the street lights in the vicinity of the senior citizen towers.
Council Member Greg Anderson spoke of his interest in the future: is there a better technology for the control of traffic? He said that he was uncertain as to whether or not the City is ahead of the curve.
In traffic control, John Pappas explained that the Public Works Department works very closely with the Planning & Development Department for a holistic approach for all kinds of factors.
There being no further business, the special meeting was adjourned at 3:42 p.m.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
09.26.16
Posted: 12:00 P.M.