Brief

The Bureau of Street Lighting initiated a proposal to establish a lighting district covering Tennessee Avenue and Tennessee Place. After initial Council adoption in May 2026 and subsequent reconsideration requests in August, Council voted 14-0-1 on September 15, 2026 to adopt the item again, subject to further reconsideration under Council Rule 51. The ordinance became effective on May 28, 2026.

Full summary

The Bureau of Street Lighting submitted a proposal in January 2026 to establish a new Street Lighting Maintenance Assessment District covering Tennessee Avenue and Tennessee Place. The district covers 15 parcels, with individual annual assessments ranging from roughly $31.86 to $169.91 per parcel, for a total district assessment of $902.67 per year. The Council referred the proposal in February 2026, adopted it on May 12 under Council Rule 51 subject to reconsideration, and the ordinance took effect May 28, 2026. As required by Proposition 218, the City notified all 15 affected property owners and mailed weighted assessment ballots before a public hearing. Six of the fifteen property owners cast ballots by the August 18, 2026 hearing deadline. Four voted yes, representing $148.68 in weighted assessment value, and two voted no, representing $74.34. That margin — 66.67% in favor by weighted value — cleared the Proposition 218 threshold requiring a majority of weighted ballots cast. City Clerk Patrice Y. Lattimore certified the results on August 20, 2026, and recommended that the Council deny any protests, confirm the assessments, and adopt the ordinance formally levying the charges and ordering maintenance of the lighting system. The August reconsideration activity stems from this Proposition 218 ballot process playing out after the initial May adoption. On August 12, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Nithya Raman moved to reconsider this file along with a batch of similar lighting district files from the August 11 Council meeting. The Council held the final public hearing on August 18, voted 13-0-2, and continued the matter with the formal ordinance scheduled for presentation on September 15, 2026. The file remains open pending that ordinance adoption.

Activity (15)

• 2026-09-15 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2026-08-21 City Clerk document(s) referred to Council.
• 2026-08-20 Document submitted by City Clerk, dated August 20, 2026.
• 2026-08-18 Council continued hearing and Ordinance to be presented on September 15, 2026.
• 2026-08-14 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on August 18, 2026.
• 2026-08-12 Council reconsidered the item, and continued the hearing to August 18, 2026 and Ordinance to be presented on September 15, 2026
• 2026-08-11 Council continued hearing and Ordinance to be presented on September 15, 2026 .
• 2026-08-07 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on August 11, 2026.
• 2026-05-18 Ordinance posted/published. Ordinance effective date: May 28, 2026.
• 2026-05-15 Council action final.
• 2026-05-13 City Clerk transmitted file to Mayor. Last day for Mayor to act is May 26, 2026.
• 2026-05-12 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2026-05-08 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on May 12, 2026.
• 2026-02-18 Bureau of Street Lighting document(s) referred to Council.
• 2026-02-18 Document submitted by Bureau of Street Lighting, dated January 28, 2026.

Documents (11)

• 2026-08-20 Report from City Clerk · report
• 2026-08-12 Communication from Board of Public Works - Assessment Hearing · communication
• 2026-08-12 Motion (Hernandez - Raman) · motion
• 2026-08-11 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-07-01 Communication from Bureau of Street Lighting - Mailing Package · other
• 2026-05-28 Final Ordinance of Intention No. 188930 · other
• 2026-05-18 Declaration of Posting · other
• 2026-05-15 Mayor Concurrence/Council Action · other
• 2026-05-12 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-01-28 Attachment to Report dated 1-28-26 - Draft Ordinance of Intention · attachment
• 2026-01-28 Report from Bureau of Street Lighting · report

Council votes (5)

• 2026-09-15 Vote — 14-0-1 · Regular
• 2026-08-18 Vote — 13-0-2 · Regular
• 2026-08-12 Adopted to Continue — 14-0-1 · Regular
• 2026-08-11 Adopted — 14-0-1 · Regular
• 2026-05-12 Adopted — 14-0-1 · Regular