Transcript Ordinance implementation - City Of Dripping Springs

LIGHTING ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATION
Michelle & Ross Fischer
SPREAD THE WORD
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Issue press releases after ordinance adopted
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Articles in newspapers, newsletters, blogs
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Publicize on the City website and through social media
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Speak with local community organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary
Club, Lions Club and get them to provide information about it in their newsletter or
website
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Inform local companies that sell lighting fixtures and get them to carry compliant fixtures
SPREAD THE WORD
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Send a letter to contractors and electricians who do work in your community
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Attach information about the ordinance, its requirements, and where more information can
be attained, to development and building permit applications
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Include a Compliance Agreement in applications and require that it be submitted for an
application to be administratively complete
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Set an example by bringing City lighting fixtures into compliance
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEW COMERS, THE UNINFORMED OR
UNENGAGED CITIZENS, AND THE OUT OF TOWN
CONTRACTORS? WHAT CAN A CITY DO TO INFORM THEM
ABOUT ITS LIGHTING ORDINANCE?
THERE ARE WRONG AND RIGHT WAYS
TO EDUCATE YOUR CITIZEN/CUSTOMER
WRONG WAYS
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It’s the law, you must comply
RIGHT WAYS
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Educate your citizen/customer as soon as possible
Here are some things you can inform them about:
EXPLAIN WHY THE CITY HAS A
LIGHTING ORDINANCE
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Reduce light trespass and glare
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Reduce light pollution
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Improve safety
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Reduce energy waste and save money
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Reduce harm to human health
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Reduce harm to wildlife
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Preserve the nighttime sky; improve visibility of stars, Milky Way
You can change the order of the reasons based on your conversation. You may
be able to tell that one of the reasons might catch the citizen’s attention and buy
in more readily than some of the other reasons.
PRACTICAL ACTIONS A HOME OR BUSINESS
OWNER CAN UNDERTAKE TO REDUCE LIGHT
POLLUTION, TRESPASS AND GLARE
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Use light only where needed
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Use only as much light as needed
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Shine lights down, not up
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Use efficient light sources for outdoor lighting around homes and businesses
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Show examples of lighting fixtures
LIGHTING FOR SAFETY
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Goal of nighttime lighting is to have good safety and security at night
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Brighter does not mean safer
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Effective lighting helps people be safe, not just feel safe
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Shielded lights increases your visibility and decreases distractions, such as glare
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Smart lighting directs the light where it will be most useful
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Moderate lighting helps people find their way and see details because you can see
beyond the point of illumination
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Permanent lights help criminals see what they are doing, less light or motion sensor lights
make criminals use a flash light and draw attention to themselves
REDUCE WASTED ENERGY AND SAVE MONEY
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Over $2.2 billion a year spent on lighting the night time sky via unshielded lights and
these lights are responsible for 14.7 million tons of carbon dioxide waste
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Better lights save energy and money
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Dark sky fixtures are priced similar to traditional fixtures or costs are offset through
energy efficiency
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Shielded lights use less wattage and save money, reduce energy use, and reduce carbon
footprint
HARM TO HUMAN HEALTH
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Excessive light at night negatively impacts many areas of human health
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Blue lights at night can cause more eyestrain and fatigue than other types of light
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Aging eyes are vulnerable to eyestrain and loss of night vision
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Circadian rhythms are disrupted by lights at night
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Production of melatonin can be reduced by night lights
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Sleep disorders
HARM TO WILDLIFE
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Lights can affect the biological clock and circadian rhythm, mating, migration, sleep, and
finding food
OTHER WAYS TO CONTINUE EDUCATING THE
PUBLIC ABOUT YOUR LIGHTING ORDINANCE
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Recognize businesses that comply
-photos of the business' lighting on the city website
-a letter of thanks
-a window decal or certificate that recognizes compliance
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Create a grant fund to assist home and business owners in bringing nonconforming lights
into compliance
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Sponsor star gazing parties
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Sponsor educational and recreational events that educate citizens about the Lighting
Ordinance
EXAMPLES WE BROUGHT WITH US
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Lighting Ordinance
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Good/Bad Lighting fixture examples
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Information provided on City website
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Lighting Ordinance Compliance Agreement
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Information sheets and brochures on dark sky lighting
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Thank you letter to compliant businesses
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Window decal
QUESTIONS?