Resident urges city to shield golf-range lights, questions contractor oversight of Paradigm

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — During the July 24 call to the public, resident Karen Flynn asked the City Council to require shielding of lights at the municipal golf course driving range and urged closer oversight of the course contractor, Paradigm.

Flynn, who said she has presented the issue multiple times since the new range lights were turned on, told the council a petition signed by 93 residents living on streets immediately surrounding the range asked that the range lights be turned off by 8 p.m. She said the range lights remain on nightly, regularly until 10 p.m., and that light intrusion affects residents' homes. Flynn said she began counting patrons who were actually hitting balls at about 8 p.m. and reported monthly averages: "In April, an average of 9 people were using the range at 08:00. In May, it was 4. In June, it was 10. And for July, the average is 7. Since the range opened in April, the overall average number of patrons hitting balls at 8PM is 7 and a half." She told the council there is an "easy resolution to this issue: Shield the lights." Flynn repeated the request that the city bring the range lights into compliance "in accordance with city code."

Flynn also raised several contract-management concerns about Paradigm, the golf course operator. She told the council that, based on public-records responses, one of Paradigm's first front-office hires is the son of the parks and recreation director, and, she said, "for at least the first 6 months, no such [conflict] plan was in place." She said the city admitted, in response to a records request, that four months after Paradigm started performing it had not submitted documentation required to receive a business license. Flynn said a letter to the editor in the Herald Review and public records suggest that from September through March Paradigm had not submitted required monthly financial reports; when reports were submitted, she said Paradigm designated much of the financial report as proprietary and unavailable to the public and that the city accepted that designation.

Flynn disputed a staff statement that driving-range hours could not be changed without renegotiating the agreement, citing what she called "paragraph b 4 of the agreement" and saying the agreement states operating hours shall be mutually approved. Flynn asked the council to determine whether operating hours could be adjusted without renegotiation.

She also called attention to a line in the city's upcoming budget for $5,800,000 for energy savings at the golf course, saying those taxpayer-funded improvements would reduce Paradigm's costs and increase its profits and urging the council to determine what the city is receiving in exchange for that assistance. Flynn said, "I suggest you look closely at the city's agreement with Paradigm to ensure that the city is receiving all the deliverables to which it is entitled, including accurate, complete, and timely financial reports, and that you have those reports audited before providing any assistance with their utility costs that they may claim to need."

No formal action or vote on Flynn's requests was recorded during the meeting. The council did not announce follow-up direction on the matter in the July 24 record; Flynn's remarks were part of the public comment portion of the meeting.

Discussion versus formal action: Flynn's statements and requests were recorded as public comment (discussion). The transcript does not show council direction, assignment to staff, or a formal motion or vote related to Flynn's requests during the July 24 meeting.