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Item 9A - WIMBERLYLIGHTING VARIANCE CONSIDERATION Southlake City Council January 15, 2013 March 17, 2012Senior Day at Senior High Softball Field Parents asked themselves: Why aren’t the fields lit? How does Dragon baseball feel? Is it feasible for CISD to light the fields? 1/22/2013 2 Student-Athletes Need Lights Softball Homes games across town Substandard facilities Competitive disadvantage Baseball Home games at 4pm (missed classes) Away games better attended Competitive disadvantage Virtually every 5A high school softball and baseball field in Texas is lit, except Carroll Senior High 1/22/2013 3 Debunking the Myths Over the past several months, community discussion of the lighting issues has resulted in the publication of numerous myths about lights. We have done the due diligence to debunk the myths. Press for the real truth. Let’s have an honest debate. Don’t Believe the Myths! 1/22/2013 4 Debunking the Myths MYTH #1: CISD promised there would never be lights installed at CSHS softball and baseball fields. FACTS: A 10 month process has yet to yield a written or audio promise by CISD or the City of Southlake. Full disclosure of the 2010 P&Z and City Council hearing transcripts shows that CISD merely stated that there was no intent to install lights as part of the 2009 bond project. 1/22/2013 5 Debunking the Myths MYTH #2: This lighting initiative has been rushed or fast-tracked. FACTS: Parent conversations began in March 2012 First contact with CISD was May 18, 2012, at parent request Public Comments at CISD Board meetings in 2012 on June 4, September 10, November 5, November 13, and December 3 Public Comments at City Council December 4, 2012 Public Comments at P&Z January 3, 2013 Public Comments at City Council January 15, 2013 Eight opportunities for community to express views publicly! 1/22/2013 6 Debunking the Myths MYTH #3: CSHS baseball and softball fields were built as “practice fields.” FACTS: Fields were built as game fields. Games have been held since construction (albeit during daylight). There is ample stadium seating at both fields. There are press boxes on both fields. There are concessions for each field. There are public restrooms at each field. There are new locker rooms and training rooms for both facilities. There are ample-sized dugouts with storage at both fields. Except for lights, both fields are 5A-quality game fields. 1/22/2013 7 Debunking the Myths MYTH #4: Bob Jones Softball Complex was built to accommodate high school softball. FACTS: CISD had no involvement in the development of Bob Jones nor were they ever consulted. The field is larger than a regulation high school field. There is insufficient seating. There are no locker rooms. There is no training room. There is no press box or PA system. Dugouts are not large enough for players and their equipment. Bob Jones is not equivalent to a 5A high school field. 1/22/2013 8 Debunking the Myths MYTH #5: All Stone Lakes and Park Place residents will be affected by the installation of lights at CSHS. FACTS: Perimeter neighbors may be affected. Spillover can be effectively mitigated with landscape screening. CISD is adhering to the MINIMUM lighting requirement required by the University Interscholastic League. Most real estate valuation experts believe that the quality of CISD schools is the primary driver of the high home values enjoyed by Southlake residents. 100% of homeowners in Stone Lakes and Park Place had knowledge of neighboring school when purchasing their homes. 94% OF THE YEAR, THE LIGHTS WILL BE OFF! 1/22/2013 9 Debunking the Myths MYTH #6: The neighbors’ property values will decrease. FACTS: CISD is primary driver of increasing home values in Southlake. No experts in home valuation have spoken to support the devaluation claim. Stone Lakes and Park Place have maintained competitive values over 10 years compared with surrounding neighborhoods near CSHS. 1/22/2013 10 Debunking the Myths 1/22/2013 11 Debunking the Myths MYTH #7: There are better options available for night games. FACTS: A baseball/softball complex near Dragon Stadium is a fiscally irresponsible expenditure of taxpayer money ($4 million versus $330,000). The proposed Bicentennial 60x90 field does not have locker rooms, training facilities, sufficient parking, stadium seating, press box, or PA system in the plans. Bob Jones is not a high school quality field and is not an equivalent facility to the proposed Bicentennial 60x90 field under Title IX . There is no plan to offer an equivalent playing experience for softball. Lighting the fields at CSHS is the most expedient, cost effective, and responsible decision for benefitting the kids of CISD and the City of Southlake. CISD CAREFULLY EXPLORED ALL OPTIONS AND CHOSE TO LIGHT CSHS. 1/22/2013 12 Debunking the Myths MYTH #8: School athletics are not as important as academics, and unencumbered bond funds should be spent in the classroom. FACTS: Athletics and other extracurricular activities offered by a collective school system are deemed educational by the State of Texas. CISD, relying on the recommendation of a citizen-led Bond Advisory Committee, deemed the bond expenditure appropriate. CISD approved bond fund expenditures for band instruments and science labs at the same meeting in December based on BAC recommendations. 1/22/2013 13 Who Will Benefit from the Lights? Hundreds of baseball and softball players annually Their parents, siblings, and other family members Other students and other fans of softball and baseball These same people from our opponents who are subject to no night games at Southlake The baseball and softball programs at Carroll CISD The City of Southlake THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, PARENTS, FANS, VISITORS, AND CITIZENS! 1/22/2013 14 Neighborhood Impact Four Homes Affected 1/22/2013 15 The Four Homes Affected 1/22/2013 16 But, not so bad with mitigation . . . Spillover from vertical sports lights are essentially cut in half with landscaping. [Chris Tribble, June 1, 2010 City Council North Park lighting ordinance variance request] CISD has offered to implement a variety of landscape features to mitigate the sound and light from the fields. Mitigation features are comparable if not better than those at North Park. Other accommodations offered include a limit on night games per year, earlier start times for night games, no field rental for night games, and shutting off all but 2 light poles at the end of the game 1/22/2013 17 CISD Has Primary Jurisdiction “Collective school systems have absolute authority to manage the educational issues relating to serving the public needs in Texas. General purpose units of government such as the City enact public health, safety, and welfare regulations.” “The lighting issues presented relate to the district using athletic fields for athletic functions and Texas courts have determined that athletic activities if mandated and controlled by the school district fall under the educational idea. So the city’s ability to limit is bound by the reasonability test and our ordinance cannot go so far as to interrupt their educational programs. A lighted field is essential to the districts’ ability to use the field for educational purposes and therefore the school district would have primary jurisdiction.” [City Attorney Allen Taylor, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes February 15, 2000] 1/22/2013 18 Council Member Concerns Mitigation for light and noise No property devaluation All other options considered Avoid student hardships Honor CISD decision Overstepping Council’s authority Don’t overlook the girls 1/22/2013 19 Council Member Concerns Mitigation for light and noise No property devaluation All other options considered Avoid student hardships Honor CISD decision Overstepping Council’s authority Don’t overlook the girls 1/22/2013 20 Conclusion The most expedient, effective, and economical solution to our substandard facilities is to light the senior high fields. That solution benefits many and impacts very few: Don’t let the tail wag the dog. Continue to improve one of the biggest drawing cards to Southlake – the schools. Don’t believe the myths. Don’t forget the girls. Thanks very much for all you do for our community! 1/22/2013 21