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Neighbors petition council over proposed Beckham Park lighting; resident files notice to circulate charter-change petition
Summary
Public commenters asked the council to reject plans for tall field lights at Beckham Park, citing wildlife, noise and neighborhood impacts. Another speaker submitted a notice of intent to circulate a charter-change petition to replace the city's weak-mayor system with a directly elected strong mayor.
Two public commenters used the meeting's public-comment period to press the council on separate governance and neighborhood-land-use issues.
Randy Stewart told council he had tried since February to obtain clear instructions from the city clerk's office about initiating a petition to amend the city charter to move from a council-selected, weak-mayor system to a directly elected four-year strong-mayor model. Stewart said he filed a "notice of intent to circulate a petition" and asked staff to confirm procedure; staff replied that the document should be submitted to the city clerk and legal would provide guidance, but that staff could not respond substantively during the public-comment period.
Danny Stanley, who said he represents 18 homes adjacent to Beckham Park, said he and neighbors oppose installing 70-foot lighting standards for nighttime sports at the park. Stanley said the flyers announcing a meeting did not explain the subject clearly, that residents across the street from Tok High School already experience intrusive lighting, and that Beckham Park hosts nesting raptors in a park corner. He provided a signed petition and said residents supported daytime cricket but opposed converting the park into an illuminated nighttime sports complex. He asked the council to examine master-plan authority, environmental impacts and whether the city complied with notice requirements.
Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns and indicated the question would be referred to legal and the parks department for review of permitting, environmental and notification requirements. The speakers asked staff to confirm receipt of the petition and to provide a substantive procedure-by-procedure explanation once the documents are formally submitted to the clerk.
No council action was taken during the meeting; both matters were recorded in the public record and staff committed to follow up with the petitioners and provide procedural guidance and environmental/land-use information as appropriate.
