Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dark Sky Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Liberty Hill council postpones vote on dark‑sky regulations after packed public comment period
Summary
After more than a dozen residents urged the council to preserve the city’s international dark‑sky designation, Liberty Hill’s council voted unanimously to move the agenda item to a future meeting so the mayor and additional staff can be present.
Dozens of residents filled the council chamber to press Liberty Hill leaders to keep the city’s international dark‑sky designation intact, and the council unanimously postponed a scheduled vote on proposed lighting and electronic message display regulations.
Mayor Pro Tem Williams opened the public‑comment period and invited speakers to address agenda item 7f, which staff had listed as “international dark sky city designation and related lighting and signing regulations.” Elizabeth Neal “Liz” Brannigan told the council she supports the ordinance and that her home lighting is already shielded. “I think all of these things are valuable,” Brannigan said, urging the council to “honor the beauty of Texas” by keeping the ordinance.
Nick Page, a contractor who lives outside city limits, said he supported the dark‑sky rules and rejected claims that advocates are anti‑growth. “All those lights that are on 29 can be mitigated,” Page said, describing light pollution that he said already blots out stars from his back porch.
Longtime residents and members of the Save Our Stars group emphasized the town’s international designation and the role regulation plays in protecting wildlife, health and economic opportunities. Leah Jenkins, who described herself as a former planning and zoning official, said the designation is “not just a symbolic designation” and that the ordinance supports multimillion‑dollar economic opportunity for the community. Molly Evans, a Save Our Stars organizer, said the effort began after a power outage that reminded residents of the night sky they value.
After the series of in‑person comments and two written submissions read into the record, a councilmember moved to postpone item 7f so Mayor Macilia — who was out of town — and other staff could participate. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously, allowing the council to take the matter up at a future meeting.
Why it matters: Residents framed the debate as one of community character and long‑term economic value tied to the dark‑sky designation; proponents warned that granting exceptions for a few electronic message displays could jeopardize the city’s certification and enforcement consistency.
What’s next: The council did not debate ordinance language tonight; the dark‑skies item will return at a later meeting for further discussion when more council members and staff, including the mayor, can participate.
