Brief

The Bureau of Street Lighting initiated an ordinance to establish a lighting district for Tennessee Avenue and Tennessee Place. City Council adopted the ordinance on May 12, 2026 by a vote of 14-0-1. The ordinance was transmitted to the Mayor on May 13 and published on May 18, with an effective date of May 28, 2026.

Full summary

The Bureau of Street Lighting proposed creating a new street lighting maintenance assessment district covering a short stretch of Tennessee Place (201 to 351 feet east of Westgate Avenue) and Tennessee Avenue (124 to 466 feet east of Westgate Avenue) in Council District 11. The district was triggered by a private development project and covers three streetlights serving 15 single-family residential parcels. The total annual assessment is $902.67, split among affected property owners based on lot size, land use, and proximity to the lighting system. Individual assessments range from roughly $32 to $170 per parcel per year. Assessments were calculated using the Bureau's standard methodology under Proposition 218, which requires that only properties receiving a special benefit from the lighting be assessed, and that each assessment not exceed the proportional cost of that benefit. The formula weighs equivalent dwelling units, a benefit zone rate, and adjustment factors including partial lighting frontage and lot shape. All 15 parcels are classified as residential and fall into Benefit Zone 3, the rate for modern lighting on arterial streets, set at $226.55 per equivalent dwelling unit. Most parcels receive a partial lighting factor of 0.25, significantly reducing their individual assessments. Future annual increases are capped at the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index without requiring a new property owner ballot. Under Proposition 218, property owners were entitled to cast weighted ballots opposing the assessment before Council could confirm it. If weighted no votes had exceeded yes votes, the district would have been abandoned and the lighting system removed or left unbuilt. The Bureau of Street Lighting cast yes ballots on behalf of any Council-controlled public properties in the district, per longstanding Council policy. No weighted majority opposition materialized, allowing the proceedings to move forward. The Bureau submitted its report and the Ordinance of Intention in late January 2026, and the file was referred to Council in February. Council adopted the ordinance 14-0-1 on May 12, 2026. The City Clerk transmitted it to the Mayor on May 13, and it was published on May 18 with an effective date of May 28, 2026.

Activity (6)

• 2026-05-18 Ordinance posted/published. Ordinance effective date: May 28, 2026.
• 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 (5)

• 2026-05-28 Final Ordinance of Intention No. 188930 · other
• 2026-05-18 Declaration of Posting · 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