Council agrees to send letter on Ralph Carter Park concerns, keeps park lighting schedule

Palm Coast City Council on Feb. 11 gave consensus to send a letter to a resident (Ms. Petruzzi) responding to complaints about lighting and activity at Ralph Carter Park, while maintaining existing park operations and lighting schedules.

A councilmember who prepared the draft letter said staff reviewed property records and found that of 117 properties near the park, 91 were purchased after the park and lights opened in February 2009. "After reviewing the concerns raised, we examined the history of the homeownership in the area. Out of the 117 properties near the park, 91 were purchased after the park opening," the councilmember said, arguing it is difficult to alter preexisting park infrastructure to accommodate later arrivals.

The draft letter described actions the city has already taken: implementing measures to control illegal parking, addressing noise complaints, modifying park lighting so lights now turn off by 8:30 p.m. when the park is in use, and installing shields on lights to reduce spillover. A councilmember noted that roughly 500 children play football at the park every Saturday and that the lighting contributes to safety.

Councilmembers asked for consensus to send the letter; the councilmember asking for consensus said the data and steps taken were included in the letter and then asked, "Do I have consensus to send this letter out?" A council consensus was recorded in the meeting transcript.

The council did not direct changes to park operations beyond what staff had already implemented.