Council approves upgraded LED field lighting at Salmon Park; Heritage Park considered later

Sachse City Council on a motion approved agenda item E2 to replace field lighting at Salmon Park with LED fixtures, with councilmembers saying the Salmon installation is a smaller pilot before pursuing a larger, costlier upgrade at Heritage Park.

City staff told the council the Salmon Park project was not included in the current budget and recommended paying from the city’s fund balance rather than using third‑party financing. “This was a project that we started pursuing after the budget was adopted,” said Miss Nash, adding her recommendation: “we use fund balance for this instead and not pay the interest rate, to be able to ultimately save dollars.”

The vendor for the work is FSG, which staff said is on the city’s BuyBoard/VIBOR procurement system and therefore pre‑cleared. A representative for FSG told council that while the project will increase the “foot candles” on the playing surface, “it’s not going to have the light pollution that would push out to the residents. They’re not gonna be affected any differently by doing this project because the way that the light is directed onto the fields.”

Staff described Salmon Park as a smaller test case; if the installation is successful, the council may pursue a larger program at Heritage Park, which staff described as “a great deal more” expensive. Staff also said the city has completed a preliminary savings analysis for one field and expects similar results across multiple fields.

Council and staff discussed timing and availability. Staff estimated the work could be completed in a February–March installation window but acknowledged supply timing could delay work into the summer if necessary. Staff provided an estimated usage rate for the fields — “about 130 to 150 nights a year” — to justify energy savings and future rental revenue potential. One councilmember noted the upgraded facility would likely increase rentals and revenue for that location.

Funding and accounting drew questions. A councilmember asked why $40,000 for the project was coming from unallocated funds instead of the Parks and Recreation program; staff explained that projects started outside the annual budget are charged to the department and then addressed through later budget amendments approved by council. Councilmembers suggested park development fees (which must be approved by the Park Board) or MDD funds as alternative sources; staff said the MDD funds already are earmarked for existing assignments.

A motion to “approve E2 as presented” was moved and seconded; the motion carried. The motion language and the proceedings recorded in the meeting minutes identify the item as E2; the recorded vote tally was not specified during the open meeting.

The council directed staff to proceed with the Salmon Park installation and to continue researching rebates (including Encore) and other incentives that could affect project economics; staff will return with additional information before committing to larger installations at Heritage Park.