Committee recommends seven-year street‑lighting contract with Miami Valley Lighting LLC

The Community Partnership Committee on April 13 recommended that the city council authorize the director of public service and safety to enter a seven‑year full‑service street‑lighting agreement with Miami Valley Lighting LLC, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, and asked that the council consider the measure as emergency legislation so it can be executed before the current contract expires at the end of April.

The committee heard from Mr. Titterington, who said the Miami Valley Communications Council negotiated the contract on behalf of roughly 15–20 municipalities and reached what attendees described as a tentative, broadly acceptable agreement. He told the committee the previous contract was in place for 10 years and had only one increase during that term.

Committee members reviewed the proposed rate schedule provided in the staff report. As described to the committee, the schedule would apply a 5.5% increase in the first year, 4.0% in the second year, 3.25% in the third year and then annual increases of 2.75% for each of the final four years; the proposed term would run through the end of 2032. Mr. Titterington said the municipalities involved considered the overall structure "very reasonable."

Mr. Schilling asked whether the figures included a previously reported increase for downtown West Main Street lighting—cited during discussion as about $18,000 to $20,000—and whether that amount reflected pole purchases or rental fees. The presenter said the city may have purchased the downtown poles (so a monthly pole rental fee would not apply downtown) but that the city continues to pay the electric bill; the $18,000–$20,000 figure was calculated at the current rate and would be subject to annual adjustments under the new contract.

Committee members agreed to ask council to proceed under emergency legislation. The committee recorded unanimous support for moving forward; specific roll‑call tallies were not provided in the transcript.

The committee’s recommendation will be transmitted to council for final action on the emergency ordinance to authorize the director to execute the seven‑year agreement.