Key Biscayne is about to get a lot brighter at night after at least one of two recent decisions.
First, Council member Nancy Stoner wanted to let the audience know at last week’s Village Council meeting that the County has determined that 28 streetlights along Crandon Boulevard will be repaired or replaced.
Secondly, Council members voted 6-1 on a resolution authorizing the Village Manager to issue a work order to BCC Engineering, LLC for services relating to the streetlight conversion and transfer project, not to exceed $360,074.30.
This will include a design study to determine where the lighting is lacking and then that study will be presented to FPL.
Public Works Director Chris Miranda said FPL might come and assess one area, but not the entire Village, thus the need for this type of contractual service.
The question later will become, “Do we want to transfer the lights to FPL, or do we want to own the rights?” Village Manager Steve Williamson commented, although the vote to transfer assets was not on the Council’s agenda.
Also, part of the final agreement would be, “Do we want to absorb the lights in the (four) special taxing districts?”
Councilman Michael Bracken asked, “Don’t you think we should know the costs before doing a design?”
Ed London replied, “They don’t know how many lights we need.”
The study comes in at 30%, 60% and 90% increments, so at 30%, “We should know then,” Williamson said.
Councilman Fernando Vazquez said, “It’s a very important question,” regarding Bracken’s follow-up question, “Is it going to be 100 lights, 200?”
“But, we have to understand the process. It would be like taking your car to the shop and pay the guy $200 (up front) to tell you what’s wrong with it.”
The 30% design would come in at a cost of $47,000 plus another, $13,000-$15,000 for a photometric evaluation to determine where the lighting should be placed. That study could begin in February.