Title
Consider Directing Staff to Review and Update Outdoor Lighting Regulations, also Referred to as Night Sky or Dark Sky, to Reduce Light Pollution. (Mayor Spencer) [Continued from January 3, 2017]
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COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM
Name of Councilmember requesting referral: Trish Spencer
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 6:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): December 21, 2016
Council Meeting date: January 3, 2017
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:
Consider directing staff to review and update outdoor lighting regulations, also referred to as night sky or dark sky, to reduce light pollution. The review should include: 1) other cities’ regulations; 2) light pollution impacts on the environment, nearby residences, human health, wildlife and flight paths; 3) addressing parking lots and solar parking structures which are lit throughout the entire night; 4) hours of use, such as 10:00 p.m. shut off or motion activated lights; and 5) wattage of light bulbs.
Based on the American Medical Association’s study regarding LED impacts on human health, wildlife and the environment, the International Dark-Sky Association (<http://darksky.org/ama-report-affirms-human-health-impacts-from-leds/>) suggests:
• Minimizing and controlling blue-rich environmental lighting by using the lowest emission of blue light possible to reduce glare.
• Using 3000K or lower lighting for outdoor installations such as roadways.
• Properly shielding all LED lighting to minimize glare and detrimental human and environmental effects, and considering dimming or extinguishing LED lighting during off-peak time periods or overnight.