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other utility companies, not for street lights. Manager Patterson said that El Camino Real is undergrounded ITom the San Carlos border to Woodside Road. In response to Council questions regarding increased staff time for increased maintenance for high pressure sodium lights, Public Works Services Director Ingram reported that staff anticipates "we can gradually work our way into a maintenance cycle. We have tried to establish routine change outs in some of the other areas. We are not particularly concerned about staff time, but there will be higher costs for the purchase and disposal of the bulbs as well as the power to operate them." City Manager Everett said the timeline for a total conversion would depend on the availability of Rule 20A funds, unless Council wanted to expedite the change over which would involve amending the Capital Improvement Projects budget and eliminating other projects to accomplish this one. Councilwoman La Berge said she noticed "a very striking difference driving through Menlo Park, Redwood City and San Carlos. The yellow lights in Redwood City definitely leave a more dismal feeling, and it is very noticeable. I think it is important for us, as soon as possible, to replace those yellow lights so that we look as good as our neighboring communities." Manager Patterson said, "There is no established budget right now for changing these lights...If we look at the whole downtown area after this Underground District takes place, really the only two major streets that would clearly be the low pressure sodium are Veterans Boulevard and El Camino Real. Many of the other areas are residential, and those might be the last areas you change out, if ever." Councilman Leipzig said, "I just don't see a problem with these existing lights, and that's just a personal comment." In response to Councilman Leipzig's questions regarding maintenance costs, Manager Patterson said "The replacement is... $3.20 per bulb, for sending it away, because we have to get rid of the hazardous material." Director Ingram said, "It looks like for purchase and disposal at that level of activity, $6,400 per year in operating costs... replacement over time ofthe downtown area." In response to Councilman Ruskin's questions, Manager Patterson said yellow street lights have been a concern of the Council over many meetings, and was clearly expressed during the James Avenue Reconstruction Project. "If we are going to convert over, it seems very clear that this is a chance to get over 100 lights replaced at one time without a direct cost to the City. If we want to do all of them (in the broader downtown area outside the proposed District), some of them we may be able to change without a direct cost to the City, but I think there are quite a few that I think we will have to pay for ourselves if we wanted to do the complete area." In response to Councilman Leipzig's questions, Manager Patterson said, high pressure sodium lights are designed to last four years. "When they are first installed they are twice as bright as they need to be, and over four years their light output diminishes by almost half. At that point they should be replaced, although they keep putting out light for several years... Since each light is different you would have to go out with a light meter in every REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 APRIL 7,1997 MINUTES Page No. 234 PAGE 12