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Council discusses lighting Goddard water tower and neighborhood access concerns
Summary
Council debated a proposal to light the city's water tower for promotional value and branding while council members raised concerns about light pollution and lack of sidewalks for seniors and schoolchildren; staff said design options could mitigate brightness and that sidewalks pose engineering and easement challenges.
Council members debated a proposal to light Goddard's water tower as a branding element and considered neighborhood access and safety needs.
Council member (S5) expressed enthusiasm for lighting the water tower for promotional value, but Council member (S2) pressed for caution about brightness and impacts on nearby residents: "Is it going to be a bit consciously bright at night when they are going to sleep?" S2 said the area has limited access and lacks sidewalks, creating safety concerns for seniors and children.
Council member (S3) and staff (S4) said designers could account for light pollution and proposed options such as ground lighting, shrouds or fixtures aimed inward beneath the tower bowl to reduce off-site glare. "They would give us a design that would account for that," S3 said, describing typical mitigation approaches.
Members agreed the water tower lighting has promotional appeal but questioned whether the expense should be deferred until new development increases revenues. Several council members urged prioritizing pedestrian connectivity and sidewalks in that neighborhood before pursuing branding projects.
No final decision was made; council directed staff to gather additional cost estimates and design alternatives that limit light spill and to include sidewalk and access improvements in future budgeting discussions.
