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Buffetown readies public announcement after Dark Sky community designation
Summary
Staff reported Bluff's Dark Sky community application was approved. The town reviewed boilerplate text, photos and suggested viewing sites and agreed to send materials to Dark Sky International pending quick council feedback.
Town staff told the council that Bluff has been approved as a Dark Sky community and that the town should coordinate its own announcement with Dark Sky International's publication timeline.
Erin Nelson and communications intern Josie Law reviewed draft boilerplate language, proposed photographs and captions, and asked council for a few recommended viewing sites to include in the release. Staff proposed a tentative announcement date designed to coincide with a new moon for optimal viewing and suggested Bluff Community Center, Sand Island and Comb Ridge as visitor sites while acknowledging the council would avoid naming any location that conflicts with pending cemetery ordinances.
Josie described outreach materials she has prepared, including an educational brochure on the exterior-lighting ordinance, a visitor-facing kiosk sign describing Bluff's Dark Sky status and options for business recognition. Staff requested council feedback within 24 business hours so the town could transmit the package to Dark Sky International on a short lead time.
Next steps: staff will collect final edits from council, finalize captions and images, and submit the announcement packet to Dark Sky International within the requested window; the town plans a separate local announcement and website content once the international release is scheduled.
