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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/26/2016 - NIGHT SKY INITIATIVEDATE: STAFF: July 26, 2016 Ginny Sawyer, Policy and Project Manager WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Night Sky Initiative. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to inform Council of the current Night Sky Initiative and proposed staff work. The Night Sky Initiative is one element of the Nature in the City Strategic Plan. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. Does Council support the initiative’s goals? If yes, 2. Does Council support staff bringing a resolution for Council consideration? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Following the adoption of the Nature in the City (NIC) Strategic Plan, staff began the early work of identifying current City efforts that were already in place to support City Practice and Policy ObjectiveCP2 (Attachment 1): CP2: Work cross-departmentally and with external partners toward a darker night sky. The NIC Strategic Plan encourages ensuring that existing dark sky locations are protected, baseline and trends in regional night skies are monitored, and regulatory changes to facilitate best practices for dark skies are implemented. This identification process led to the creation of a large interdepartmental team that is now organized through the City Manager’s Office. The team is made up of staff from:  Utilities  Building Services  Planning  Operation Services  Police Services  Safety, Security, and Risk management  Natural Areas  Recreation  Partners from the National Park Service Objectives and Focus Areas The team has identified four main objectives and three focus areas. Objectives 1. Reduce sky glow (brightening of the night sky caused by outdoor lighting) July 26, 2016 Page 2 2. Reduce light trespass (light being cast where it is not intended or needed) 3. Reduce glare (excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort) 4. Optimize light color, balancing night vision and health needs (e.g., reduce blue-rich white light) Meeting these objectives will not only improve the night sky but will also maintain safe environments, support human and wildlife health, and improve habitat for plants and wildlife. Focus Area Technology and Research  Lighting o Research lighting trends and best practices with emphasis on night sky protection, energy efficiency, aesthetics, human and wildlife health.  Safety and Security o Research lighting trends and best practices including public and private applications that reduce glare and improve visibility. Policy and Codes  Land Use Code o Research, draft and vet applicable Land Use lighting code  Building Code o Research, draft, vet, and enforce applicable best practice lighting codes  Natural Areas Focus o Pursue independent 3rd party Dark Sky Certification o Continue regular night sky monitoring with regional partners Education and Awareness  Develop website  Continue existing education programs (Contractor Series, etc.) and develop new programs  Conduct lighting tours and surveys with citizens  Develop and promote best practice lighting material  Work with local retail providers Scope The Night Sky Initiative objectives and focus areas include both operations internal to the City organization (street lighting, outdoor facility lighting, etc.) and external practices of residents and businesses (codes, education and awareness.) Public Outreach Staff has presented the Night Sky Initiative at the June Board and Commission Super Meeting, to the Energy Board, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board, and the Natural Resources Advisory Board. All Boards have been supportive and interested. Staff presented general concepts and goals and did not ask for any action from the boards. Next Steps If Council supports the Night Sky Initiative efforts, the team will continue in its work and will bring forward the draft Resolution at a future meeting for Council consideration. July 26, 2016 Page 3 ATTACHMENTS 1. Nature in the City Night Sky Objective (PDF) 2. Draft Resolution (PDF) 3. Powerpoint presentation (PDF) 56 Nature In The City Chapter 3: Policies 2015 4XDOLW\ 6WHZDUGVKLS 3KRWR&UHGLW$YD'LDPRQG &3 :RUN FURVVGHSDUWPHQWDOO\ DQG ZLWKH[WHUQDOSDUWQHUVWRZDUGDGDUNHU QLJKWVN\ Dark night skies are an important, yet sometimes overlooked value of nature. The absence of natural darkness that all living organisms have evolved with over time can have numerous negative impacts. Wildlife are impacted by artiﬁcial light and sky glow. Behavioral and physiological changes due to artiﬁcial light include altered circadian rhythms, spatial disorientation, disrupted reproduction, and altered predator/prey relationships. These impacts can be detrimental on their own, but are often combined with other environmental stressors, which may trigger population and ecosystem level changes. Human circadian rhythms can be impacted by bright nights as well, with a lack of quality sleep having many health consequences. Beyond health concerns, losing the ability to view a starry sky impacts stargazers, community heritage, connection with the natural environment, and a small-town character. The City will establish regional partnerships to address night sky brightness issues, including partnering with the National Park Service Night Skies Program and adjacent communities in Northern Colorado and Wyoming. Education, combined with a regional regulatory environment that fosters careful use of exterior lighting will be essential to conserve this resource at the regional scale. An ongoing citizen science program monitoring night sky brightness across the City annually provides a baseline condition and will show trends in night sky quality. Additionally, review and alignment of existing City Land Use and Building Codes related to lighting will be conducted to reﬂect best practices for exterior lighting. The City will incorporate night sky conservation standards regarding exterior lighting intensity, color temperature, and timing. Such best practices for exterior lighting can enhance safety, reduce energy use, and improve the environment. Finally, in important locations where the night sky is still relatively dark, such as Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, the City will seek recognition of these areas by independent certiﬁcation programs. The City also has an opportunity to elevate its status, marketing appeal, and quality of life for its citizens by pursing Dark Sky Community certiﬁcation. 2XWFRPH A regional darker night sky Dark Sky Resolution WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins is committed to improving and maintaining our unique sense of place, neighborhood livability, safety, and quality of life; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins is growing and population density is increasing which can bring an increased amount of both residential and commercial exterior lighting; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins and its residents support conservation efforts and the natural environment through programs such as the Climate Action Plan and Nature in the City; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins seeks to promote a culture, both internally and externally, of innovation, best practice, and socially and environmentally friendly planning and actions; and WHEREAS, dark sky compliant lighting practices can preserve, protect, and enhance the night sky and can mitigate adverse impacts to human health and wildlife habitat; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins supports eliminating glare, reducing light trespass, and minimizing light pollution while conserving energy and resources; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins will lead by example by improving, retrofitting, and pursuing standards where necessary to support night sky protection efforts; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City will endorse and incorporate the principles and pursuit of protecting and preserving the night sky through implementation of best lighting practices at City-owned facilities and within City-owned lighting. Section 2. That the City will incorporate dark sky policies and standards into Building Codes, Land Use Codes, and Streetscape standards when applicable and appropriate. Section 3. That the City will educate and raise awareness publically to encourage best lighting practices throughout the community. Section 4. That the City will seek to obtain dark sky certification by an independent body for Natural Areas and other locations in the region that have high quality night skies; and that the City will continue to partner and monitor regional night sky measures annually. Section 5. That the City will pursue night sky protection without compromising health, safety or security. ATTACHMENT 2 1 City Council Work Session Night Sky Initiative July 26, 2016 ATTACHMENT 3 Direction Sought 1. Does Council support the initiative’s goals? If yes, 2. Does Council support staff bringing a resolution for Council consideration? 2 Purpose Nature in the City Objective CP2: Work cross-departmentally and with external partners toward a darker night sky. The Night Sky Initiative will: § Maintain safety and security § Develop and implement best practices in outdoor lighting § Reduce light pollution § Support human and ecological health 3 Objectives § Reduce sky glow (increase night sky visibility) § Reduce light trespass and light glare § Optimize light color and balance 4 Focus Area – Technology and Research § Research and evaluate new and next generation lighting • LEDs/rapidly evolving technology • New, more effective measures and considerations: • color temperature, efficiency, percent blue light, etc. § Track and ensure meeting existing goals: • Energy conservation • Cost efficiency • Safety and Security 5 Focus Area – Policy and Codes § Land Use and Building Code • Incorporate best practices into code updates § Natural Areas • Pursue Dark Sky Certification from an independent body § Citywide • Consider Council Resolution and future ordinances to support stated efforts and objectives 6 Focus Area – Education and Awareness Promote Outdoor Lighting Best Practices: § Light only where you need it § Light only when you need it § Shield lights and direct them downward § Use the minimum amount of light needed § Select the most energy efficient lighting § Select lamps with warmer colors 7 2003 Northeast Blackout 8 9 10 11 12 Bright light glare makes traffic signage hard to read. 13 Walmart in Longmont 14 Overlighting can create dark shadows. Direction Sought 1. Does Council support the initiative’s goals? If yes, 2. Does Council support staff bringing a resolution for Council consideration? 15 ATTACHMENT 1