Katy City Council members declined a request Monday to install street lighting outside West Houston Charter School at Eleventh Street and Avenue A, saying it would set an unwanted precedent in Katy.

But city leaders said they would pick up lighting usage costs if the school comes up with the $1,900 CenterPoint Energy said it would charge to install three light poles.

Lighting is a safety issue in their older neighborhood, with students and teachers often walking to their cars in the dark on winter nights, school officials said. After Monday’s vote, Parent Teacher Organization president April Stover said school leaders have a tight budget but would “come up with something” – including a possible fundraising campaign -- to get the lighting project done.

City officials agree with the charter school’s need for additional lighting. But City Administrator Johnny Nelson said the power company usually installs street lighting at no charge, with the city picking up the electricity charges. In this case, the power company says the area does not have adequate easements for normal installation.

Since the issue came up earlier this month, the company dropped the price from $2,814 to $1,900. “That’s not in the city budget,” noted Councilman Larry Gore.

School officials said the city should consider the cost of not having adequate lighting in older neighborhoods. West Houston Charter School is a public charter school with grades kindergarten through 8th grade.

“If you want to improve the older neighborhoods of Katy, lighting is one of the major things,” said Stover. “It can be put in the budget.”

In other business, Katy City Council members accepted paving and bridge improvements for Kingsland Boulevard Monday night, just in time for an official ribbon-cutting Tuesday morning in honor of this much-anticipated east-west thoroughfare through the Katy area.

“I know the people out there are going to be glad to see that open. And we are too, because it moves traffic,” said Mayor Don Elder.

The vote Monday night turns the concrete bridge, drainage and paving improvements on both sides of Willow Fork over to the city for future maintenance and upkeep. The four-lane project connects Kingsland Boulevard from Pin Oak Road to F.M. 1463.

The city and Fort Bend County paid for improvements to the east bank of Willow Fork. Woodcreek Developers paid for the bridge and improvements on the west bank.

Council members also accepted paving and drainage improvements on Katy Mills Boulevard, from Katy Mills Circle to Market Place Drive. The street will be closed until a traffic signal is complete at Katy Mills Boulevard and Market Place Drive, says city engineer David Leyendecker.