Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2020-03:  A resolution approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff for a jointly funded dark sky code compliance specialist.

The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County are partnering to jointly fund a Code Compliance Officer II-Dark Sky Specialist.  This position will be housed with the City of Flagstaff.  The Dark Specialist will focus on addressing existing outdoor lighting violations, documenting non-conforming lighting, and educating builders, developers, homeowners, and commercial business owners and operators about our local dark sky requirements.  The Dark Sky Officer performs inspections for all new incoming outdoor lighting permit applications and assists with permitting and future zoning code updates.  The attached Intergovernmental Agreement outlines how the position will be funded and utilized by both entities as well as a reporting process.

Coconino County has agreed to split the cost of the Dark Sky Code Compliance Specialist for a term of two years.  In addition, Lowell Observatory has agreed to provide a total of $10,000 for the position with $5,000 provided each year over the two-year term.  The City of Flagstaff has funded the position on-going.

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Council Goals
Code Compliance - Achieve comprehensive and equitable code compliance through plan review and inspection services
Environmental and Natural Resources - Actively manage and protect all environmental and natural resources
Community Outreach - Enhance public transparency and accessibility

Regional Plan
Goal E&C.5. Preserve dark skies as an unspoiled natural resource, basis for an important economic sector, and core element of community character.

Flagstaff Strategic Plan
Strategic Priority #1: Provide exceptional service
Strategic Priority #4:  Work in partnership to enhance a safe and livable community

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The Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station (NOFS) completed a Mission Compatibility Light Pollution Study to evaluate mission impact from light pollution.  The study determined that no more than a 10% increase in sky brightening can occur and still maintain mission compatibility.  The study identifies six strategies to keep sky brightness at an acceptable level.  While all strategies will require staff resources to implement and enforce, several will be more staff intensive than others.  In particular, the strategy to identify and track lighting retrofits will require significant work from our Code Compliance program.  The lighting standards allow non-conforming lights to continue until the fixture is replaced or the use is expanded.  Staff is aware that the replacement of lighting often happens without the necessary permit.  In these cases, conforming lighting can become non-conforming.  The strategy calls for creating a database of existing non-conforming lighting including fixtures, lamp types, wattages, and a photo of each fixture.  This will be a time-intensive activity that will require developing subject expertise and some evening or overnight work.  

Changing conditions in outdoor lighting types are also having a significant impact on the Code Compliance resources.   The preferred lighting source in Flagstaff since the inception of the Outdoor Lighting Standards has been Low-Pressure Sodium.  These fixtures have become obsolete and are being replaced with non-conforming white LED fixtures.  The number of outdoor lighting violations is increasing and the Dark Sky community has been working with staff to pursue the most egregious cases.

The Code Compliance Officer II- Dark Sky Specialist provides a variety of services to the community.  In addition to working on the six strategies identified in the light pollution study, we have created a resource in the community to assist owners with our lighting standards and the Dark Sky program.  The Dark Sky Specialist works with owners to identify compliant light fixtures (luminaries) and with retailers, manufacturers, and distributors to ensure that luminaries meet our code requirements.  The Specialist works nights with the use of a visible light spectrometer in order to identify non-conforming lighting and violations.  This technical analysis is critical to the dark sky program as we move away from low-pressure sodium lights and replace them with LEDs.  White LEDs represent the greatest impact/threat to dark skies.  Narrow spectrum amber LEDs are the preferred technology for dark sky compliant lighting.  Lighting technology and products change regularly, so having this full-time position focused on lighting provides consistent enforcement and should allow the introduction of new technologies as they become available.  As the first International Dark Sky Community, both Flagstaff’s culture and economy benefit from the program.   Creating this position demonstrates our commitment to Dark Skies and provides needed resources and services to the community.         

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