Alpine council reviews dark-sky enforcement plan; one year until compliance deadline

Alpine city officials and outside experts on Thursday reviewed steps the city will take to implement its outdoor lighting, or “dark sky,” ordinance and urged stepped-up outreach and enforcement with about one year remaining before the ordinance’s compliance deadline. The discussion, led by Steven Hummel of McDonald Observatory and Building Official Jessica Isley, outlined outreach already done, remaining technical work with businesses and a path for citizens to submit complaints. The dark-sky ordinance was adopted July 6, 2021, and the five-year compliance window means July 6, 2026 is the target for full enforcement, Hummel said. “We have about a year… to get there,” he said. Hummel added that most city-owned lighting is already compliant, but commercial sites remain the largest problem. Why this matters: Alpine’s dark skies are a tourism asset and the ordinance sets technical and enforcement requirements for outdoor lighting citywide. Council members said they want to prioritize outreach and voluntary compliance before issuing fines. Key facts and decisions: McDonald Observatory and city staff said the city has previously sent letters and educational materials; the building department relies heavily on citizen complaints to identify noncompliant lighting because city inspectors generally do not work evening hours. Jessica Isley told residents, “You would submit a complaint online on the City of Alpine website… It is really helpful if you have pictures.” Speakers and roles: Steven Hummel, McDonald Observatory; Chris Ruggier, Director of Tourism (dark-sky committee); Jessica Isley, Building Official, City of Alpine; Richard Bartres, Ward 5 resident and amateur astronomer (public comment); Mayor (presiding); City Manager (Gio); Council members who spoke included Councilmember Stevens and Councilmember Rucas. Enforcement, exemptions and assistance: Hummel said federal properties (he cited a local federal investigative office identified later in the meeting as HSI) are technically exempt and may require council outreach; TxDOT has begun adjusting highway lighting voluntarily. McDonald Observatory can help with outreach and has private funds to subsidize fixtures, but cannot cover labor or electrician costs, staff said. Jessica Isley described the enforcement path: education, letters, certified letters and citations if necessary, with court as the last step. Council direction and next steps: Councilmembers urged staff to prioritize commercial properties first and to supply ward-level lists of noncompliant businesses so councilmembers can help encourage voluntary fixes. Councilmember Stevens volunteered to contact noncompliant businesses in Ward 5. City staff said they will continue targeted outreach and pursue coordination with partners; Isley said complaints can be submitted online or in person and are most effective when accompanied by nighttime photos. Community context: Public commenter Richard Bartres described sky-glow he attributes to nearby commercial and government lighting and asked the council to press remaining noncompliant sites to reduce glare. Hummel and Ruggier emphasized the economic value of dark skies: a regional survey found dark skies influence tourist decisions, and McDonald Observatory noted the broader reserve is a recognized asset. Outcomes: No regulatory penalties were imposed at the meeting. Council gave direction to staff to continue outreach, prioritize commercial properties and produce lists of noncompliant sites for council follow-up. The building official confirmed the fine/enforcement process would be handled by code enforcement once the compliance period ends on July 6, 2026. Ending note: Staff asked residents to submit complaints with photos through the city website and said the city will continue outreach and coordination with McDonald Observatory and other partners as the July 2026 enforcement date approaches.