This report provides options and cost implications of adding alley lighting to areas facing high crime rates in response to motion CPS17-11 passed on June 2017 at the Community and Protective Services Committee meeting.
In addition, this report includes research into alley lighting programs in other municipalities.
Financial Impact
There are no financial implications for the recommended option. However, if one of the outlined other options were to be considered, a funding source is required and would need to be determined through the 2021 budget approval process.
Policy/Strategic Impact
The available options are consistent with The Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 2013-48 (OCP), specifically:
Section D11, Goal 3 - Community Security, “Ensure that Regina is a safe community where everyone feels secure in their homes and neighbourhoods.”
· 13.11 Recognize that prevention is a crucial component to health and safety.
· 13.12 Promote health and safety by embracing the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).
Environmental Impact
The introduction of alley lighting may create light pollution concerns from the adjacent properties. The additional lighting may also increase carbon emissions depending on the lighting options available.
There are no accessibility, risk/legal or other implications or considerations.
Administration reviewed the following options for alley lighting:
Option 1
Install alley lighting in certain locations by working in collaboration with the Regina Police Service. The increase lighting may contribute to reducing crime in these areas, however there may be some dissatisfaction with light pollution with the adjacent properties. The estimated capital cost for the City of Regina (City) is $250,000 with an annual operating cost of $40,000. This is similar to programs in Saskatoon and Hamilton. See Appendix A for additional details.
Advantages include:
· discourages easy access to garages as well as casual car theft in neighbourhoods where lighting is installed
· discourages nuisance foot traffic and pervasive property crime
· discourages unnecessary lingering in alleyways
· costs are minimal to individual property owners as the lighting project is shared across the entire community through a property taxes increase
Disadvantages include:
· neighboring residents may be disturbed by light infiltrating their properties
· may create a false sense of security, giving residents the feeling that it is safe to walk there at night
· high capital and operating costs for funding required not included in current budgets
Option 2
Install lighting in accordance with the current Local Improvement Program (LIP). This option has only been used once in the last ten years that the program has been available. The location of the lighting is the alley north of Angus Crescent (only half of the alley has lighting) from east of Retallack Street behind Davin School. A primary reason to only one alley is due to the costs and neighbourhood willingness associated with the LIP. The estimated costs charged to each property owner adjacent to the alley is between $625 to $1143, depending on the availability of current power pole infrastructure existing in the alley. This program is similar to options provided in other cities such as Edmonton, Calgary and Windsor. See Appendix B for additional details.
Advantages include:
· discourages easy access to garages as well as casual car theft in alleys where lighting has been approved by residents and installed
· discourages nuisance foot traffic and pervasive property crime
· discourages unnecessary lingering in alleyways
· costs are not borne by the City and paid for by participating property owners
Disadvantages include:
· lighting would only be installed in alleys where property owners were two-thirds in favour
· neighboring residents may be disturbed by light infiltrating their properties
· may create a false sense of security, giving residents the feeling that it is safe to walk there at night
· costs administered to all property owners adjacent to the alley, even those that were against the LIP
Option 3
Implement an Alley Lighting Rebate Program. This option would be similar to the Water Filter Rebate Program, and would allow homeowners to purchase, install and maintain lighting on their property at their discretion. The estimated operating costs for the City are expected to be $80,000 annually, depending the uptake in the community. This option was not available in the research conducted with programs in other municipalities. See Appendix C for additional details.
Advantages include:
· discourages easy access to garages as well as casual car theft in alleys adjacent to the properties installed
· discourages nuisance foot traffic and pervasive property crime
· discourages unnecessary lingering in alleyways
· costs are shared by the City and participating property owners
· installation borne by the property owner
Disadvantages include:
· lighting would only be installed behind properties that opted to participate in the rebate program
· neighboring residents may be disturbed by light infiltrating their properties
· may create a false sense of security, giving residents the feeling that it is safe to walk there at night
· operating costs incurred for funding not included in current budgets
None with respect to this report.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach for reducing crime through urban and environmental design and the management and use of built environments. CPTED strategies aim to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas and reduce opportunities for crime and fear of crime. In conjunction with other strategies and tools, well-lit paths and roadways can be a deterrent for criminals and discourages car and garage theft, nuisance foot traffic and unnecessary loitering in alleys.
Alley lighting is not widely used in the City of Regina. There has been one application under the LIP in the last ten years, and there was a neighbourhood installation of alley lighting in 2005/2006 (between Albert Street and Elphinstone Street, and between 7th Avenue and 9th Avenue). However, the use of the LIP and other installations in the community has been minimal. This may be due to the high capital and operating costs of providing public lighting, with additional challenges including resident disturbance by light pollution affecting adjacent properties and a false sense of security giving residents the feeling that it is safe to walk there at night.
A jurisdictional review of programs in other municipalities was conducted and is outlined in Appendix D. The review demonstrated each community has a different approach ranging from City funded lighting, property owner funded lighting, and no lighting programs at all. Through this review, the experience in other communities has demonstrated that alley lighting has had little effect on the crime rates. This would be the similar experience with the neighbourhood where lighting exists in Regina. Lastly, additional funding from other levels of government does not appear to be an option.
At the June 15, 2017 Community and Protective Services Committee meeting, motion CPS17-11 was passed:
1. That City Administration to research and report back to this Committee by Q4 2017 on the cost to add back alley lighting to Regina’s highest crime rate areas, which are identified in the Regina Police Service scatter/crime severity charts.
2. That alternative methods to fund this initiative be investigated, which would include, but not be limited to funding from other levels of government.
3. That should alternate funding options not be available at this time, that this item be forwarded to the 2018 budget deliberations.
4. That Administration, working with the Regina Police Service, provide a report back one year after the implementation of the program, to determine the effectiveness of the initiative.
The recommendation in this report is within the delegated authority of the Committee.
Respectfully Submitted, Respectfully Submitted,
{Signature}
Chris Warren, Director
Roadways & Transportation
Prepared by: Danielle Fortin, Senior Engineer