Local dark‑sky advocates urge Logan to adopt night‑friendly lighting and consider a proclamation

Lisa Stoner, who identified herself as a Cache Valley Starlight Alliance representative and a Dark Sky Utah board member, opened the April 7 meeting’s invocation with a presentation about night‑sky preservation and outdoor lighting practices.

Stoner explained that 'dark sky' policies do not mean darkness but rather properly targeted outdoor lighting, and she said well‑directed lighting can improve nighttime visibility while avoiding light trespass into homes. She described health and environmental impacts linked to excessive nighttime lighting — disrupting circadian rhythms and affecting wildlife — and highlighted potential economic benefits from astro‑tourism.

Stoner gave practical recommendations for the city and residents: prioritize purposeful fixtures, use adaptive controls (dimmers/motion sensors), prefer warmer amber LEDs over high‑blue lights, and consider targeted programs such as an 'amber porch light exchange' being piloted with Logan High School students. She also said the local Starlight Alliance is hosting a community event on April 16 at the library and has ordinance templates and review services available from Dark Sky International.

Stoner concluded by asking the council to consider a dark‑sky proclamation and to make night‑friendly lighting a community priority; she then invited questions from council members.

What happens next: staff offered to share Stoner’s contact information with council members for follow‑up, and the alliance’s April 16 event and porch‑light exchange were noted as immediate outreach steps.