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Unfortunately we have a difficult time providing music education in our schools. The Redwood City School Foundation is working very hard through various kinds of avenues to raise money for music in the schools. It is very commendable." Councilman Ruskin, member of the Redwood City School Foundation, said the Foundation is now raising funds to bring music back to elementary schools, and will be having a fund raising event in late May. He described the Foundation's "Music Chairs Program" which is an attempt to endow Chairs of Music at elementary schools, a publici private partnership effort. Councilman Ruskin said that Mr. Anagnostou, who was in the audience, "has been kind enough to offer his facilities for that event (in late May.)" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------____n__- 8. STAFF REPORTS A. City Street Lights and the Downtown Street Lighting Project (804,701); REPORT: Traffic Engineer Gee, April 7, 1997 Senior Civil Engineer Sue, February 18, 1997 Engineering and Construction Manager Patterson presented the first of the two staff reports, which dealt with an update of City policies and the types of lights included in the City's 6,250 street lights. Manager Patterson thanked Traffic Engineer Gee for his complete report, and said that the City was paying $51,000 less in energy costs per year than in it did in 1980 when many of the street lights had been changed to low pressure sodium lights. Manager Patterson said that the City is using 5,106 low pressure sodium vapor lights, 1,095 high pressure sodium lights, and 49 mercury vapor lights. Some private commercial property owners, such as sales area, retail shopping areas and car dealerships, are using metal halide (very bright) lights, which are the most expensive to use. He said that low sodium lights were installed as a result of energy conservation efforts in the 1970s, but high pressure sodium lights were still used in the downtown area and in Redwood Shores. Manager Patterson said the subject report was in response to Council's concern about the yellow or dim light produced by the low sodium lights, which represent 87% of the street lights in Redwood City. He said staff wanted Council direction concerning which areas of the City should be using the high pressure sodium. "We have recommended that a commercial area... bounded by the Bayshore Freeway, Woodside Road, El Camino Real and Whipple Avenue be converted to high pressure sodium, which is the brighter type of light; that is where most of the commercial uses are located. The remaining lights would stay as the low pressure sodium, which are the most cost effective for the City." Manager Patterson said decisions about which kind of lights to use in other areas of the City do not have to be made immediately. Only the proposed Underground District (boundaries described above) is under consideration for high pressure sodium lights at this time. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 APRIL 7, 1997 MINUTES Page No. 232 PAGE 10