B | Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-24: An ordinance amending hours of use for City Parks and the hours for lighting of sport courts within City Parks. | ||||||
Ms. Hagin addressed Council and stated that the ordinance stemmed from the conversation with Council in September 2023. At that time, the Council decided that the sport court lighting at Bushmaster Park and Thorpe Park would end at 9:00 p.m. and that all other parks would close at 10:00 p.m. every day of the week. The ordinance was written to reflect the hours of sunrise to 9:00 p.m. for the lighted sports courts, and sunrise to 10:00 p.m. for general park hours. Audria Smith addressed Council with concerns about the continued noise of pickleball. She believed that an extra hour was not sufficient. She was concerned about increased noise when the new 16 courts were in use. She also indicated that there was confusion about the meaning of sunrise when the noise rules indicated no loud play until 8:00 a.m. Mayor Daggett indicated that the current lighting was from the late 90’s. She asked if the lighting was dark sky compliant. Ms. Hagin stated that the lights had shields and that they were pointed downward to meek dark sky compliance. The new courts would be more dark sky compliant with the upgraded lighting system. Mayor Daggett asked if there were concerns about enforcement challenges with different hours at different parks. Ms. Hagin indicated no, there were only two parks that were lit and those would be the only two with different hours; the other 24 parts would close at 10:00 p.m. Councilmember McCarthy stated that people who lived in the area would continue to be unable to use their backyards because of the noise. He felt that it was disrespectful and suggested that no pickleball courts be lit. Councilmember Sweet asked if there was a plan to replace trees at Bushmaster Park. Ms. Hagin stated that staff were in contract negotiations that would include a one-for-one exchange in trees. Councilmember Matthews asked about plans to do any sound abatement. Ms. Hagin stated that it would be included in a future discussion about the design of the courts. |
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Moved by Councilmember Khara House, seconded by Vice Mayor Austin Aslan to read Ordinance No. 2023-24 by title only for the first time. Moved by Councilmember Jim McCarthy, seconded by Vice Mayor Austin Aslan to amend the motion to add that pickleball courts do not have lighting but the lighting remains as proposed for all other courts. Deputy City Attorney Kevin Fincel explained that the ordinance was about lighting in general and discussions or direction regarding the design and lighting of pickleball courts specifically should occur separately. The ordinance pertains specifically to sport court lighting and the hours of operation for that lighting. Motion to amend withdrawn by Councilmember McCarthy and supported by Vice Mayor Aslan. Moved by Councilmember Jim McCarthy to amend the motion to add that parks will open at sunrise or 8:00 a.m. whichever is later. Motion failed for lack of a second. ORIGINAL MOTION: | |||||||
Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously | |||||||
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF, AMENDING CITY CODE TITLE 8, PUBLIC WAYS AND PROPERTY, CHAPTER 11, POLICIES REGARDING USE OF MUNICIPAL PARKS, SECTION 8-11-001-0005, USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC/HOURS OF USE; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, SEVERABILITY, AUTHORITY FOR CLERICAL CORRECTIONS, AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE | |||||||