AGENDA #8

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM:	Brian Curran, Police Chief George Small, P.E., Engineering Director Sgt. Jack Terry, Police Department Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager
SUBJECT:	Follow-up Report on a Petition Submitted by the UNC Student Body Requesting Street Lighting Improvements and Installation of Emergency Call Boxes in the Downtown Area
DATE:	May 5, 2008

PURPOSE

This is a follow-up report regarding a petition submitted by the UNC Student Body requesting street lighting improvements and the installation of emergency call boxes in the downtown area of Chapel Hill.

We recommend that the Council consider the following options for installation of emergency call boxes and pedestrian level lighting as requested by the UNC Student Body:

Option #1: Take no action which allows the Manager to proceed with the previously authorized following items:

1. Install pedestrian-level street lighting in the following areas using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• Northside Neighborhood
• Cameron Street -McCauley Street Area
• Rosemary Street between Hillsborough Street and Boundary Street
2. Install emergency call boxes at the following three general locations using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• McCauley Street and Ransom Street
• Mallette Street and Colony Court
• Church Street and Short Street

Option #2: Adopt the attached resolution that authorizes the Manager to proceed with the following items and work with the UNC Student Body and area residents to finalize the third location for emergency call boxes:

1. Install pedestrian-level street lighting in the following areas using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• Northside Neighborhood
• McCauley Street
• Rosemary Street between Hillsborough Street and Boundary Street
2. Install emergency call boxes at the following general locations using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• Mallette Street and Colony Court
• Church Street and Short Street
• A third location to be determined

We recommend that the Council consider Option #2 and adopt the attached resolution.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

At its March 26, 2007 meeting, the Town Council received a petition from the UNC Student Body Association requesting increased pedestrian-level street lighting and emergency call boxes in the downtown area.  At its September 24, 2007, meeting, the Council received a staff report and they approved a resolution authorizing the Manager to proceed with the following elements:

1. Install pedestrian-level street lighting in the following areas using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• Northside Neighborhood
• Cameron Street -McCauley Street Area
• Rosemary Street between Hillsborough Street and Boundary Street
2. Install emergency call boxes at the following three general locations using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• McCauley Street and Ransom Street
• Mallette Street and Colony Court
• Church Street and Short Street
3. Accept on behalf of the Town $80,000 from the UNC Student Body for installation of pedestrian-level street lighting improvements ($40,000) and installation of three emergency call boxes ($40,000) in the downtown area of Chapel Hill.
4. Town staff notify and work with area residents in determining the location of the call boxes and pedestrian street lighting.

The Student Body provided $80,000 to the Town in October, 2007 which was placed in a Town reserve account. 

Staff from the Police Department and Engineering Department held a public information meeting with area residents on April 8, 2008 at 7 pm at the Town Hall to discuss the location of the call boxes and pedestrian level lighting.  We notified 700 plus residents and 34 residents attended the meeting.  A majority of the residents who attended are from the Northside and McCauley Street areas.  Representatives from the University and Student Body also attended the meeting. 

Town staff presented and discussed the proposed location of call boxes and street lighting upgrades.  The proposed location of call boxes and recommended street lighting upgrades are provided in Attachment #2.

Key comments received from residents are as follows:

• Residents from the Northside neighborhood support the proposed call boxes and street light upgrades.  They requested more call boxes in the neighborhood.
• No opposition to the recommended pedestrian level lighting on Rosemary Street was noted.
• Several residents opposed the call box recommended at the intersection of McCauley Street and Ransom Street.
• Several residents opposed the recommended street lighting upgrade on McCauley Street.

Following the meeting, we informed the residents that we would provide a follow-up report to the Town Council at the May 5 meeting with several options for the Council’s consideration.

Since the public information meeting, we have revised the recommended street lighting on McCauley Street by reducing the number of additional lights.  Also, we think that it is reasonable to move on with the project but delay the installation of a call box at the intersection of McCauley Street and Ransom Street.  We recommend that the Town staff continue to work with the Student Body and the residents to finalize the location for the third call box.

NEXT STEPS

Upon approval of the attached resolution by the Town Council, we will move forward with the installation of call boxes and additional street lighting in Northside neighborhood.  We will seek Historic District Commission approval for the areas of Rosemary Street and McCauley Street before authorizing Duke Energy to install the street lighting upgrades.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution that authorizes the Manager to proceed with the following items and work with the UNC Student Body and area residents to finalize the third location for emergency call boxes:

1. Install pedestrian-level street lighting in the following areas using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• Northside Neighborhood
• McCauley Street
• Rosemary Street between Hillsborough Street and Boundary Street
2. Install emergency call boxes at the following general locations using up to $40,000 to be provided by the UNC Student Body:
• Mallette Street and Colony Court
• Church Street and Short Street
• A third location to be determined

ATTACHMENTS

1. September 24, 2007 Council Report (p. 5).
2. Location of Call Boxes and Recommended Street Lighting Upgrades (p. 8).
• [E. Rosemary Street Area Map
• Mallette Street Area Map
• McCauley St. and Cameron Ave. Area Map
• Northside neighborhood Area Map 1
• Northside neighborhood Area Map 2
• E. Rosemary Street Hillsborough St to Boundary St.
• McCauley Street Upgrade Street Lighting Map]