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Dixon Girls Softball urges city to fix ballfield lights, questions who will pay for field repairs
Summary
Dixon Girls Softball President Jennifer told the Parks and Recreation Commission that lights installed under a PG&E-funded conversion produce inadequate ground-level illumination and that the club has measured lumens and provided diagrams to staff; she also urged the city to contribute more than a half truckload of fill dirt for field repairs.
Jennifer, president of Dixon Girls Softball, told the commission the lights installed on Field 3 (an April 2023 PG&E-funded conversion) make it “almost like a hologram effect” and that players and umpires cannot reliably see the ball. “We couldn’t see the ball,” she said, and described a February 2024 tournament in which a USA Softball umpire postponed a game because visibility was poor.
Jennifer said she and a board member measured lumens on both fields, provided diagrams and recommended specifications for softball play, and gave that information to staff member Dave Horgan. “I gave them a diagram for both fields,” she said, adding that the diagrams show light levels well below playing standards and that DGS (Dixon Girls Softball) should not be expected to pay for repairs to fields they do not control.
Public Works Director Lauren Coteau said the conversion was completed at no cost to the city under PG&E bill financing but acknowledged the city and the contractor disagree about whether the lights produce adequate ground-level illumination. “The lights are bright when you look at them, but the light is not reaching the ground appropriately,” she said, and confirmed the issue has been escalated to the contractor’s management with a plan to meet and discuss potential fixes, such as adding heads or changing fixtures.
Commissioners asked whether technical standards exist and whether the city can arrange additional testing. A commissioner noted industry guidance (roughly 10 lumens per square foot for some recreational uses) and encouraged staff to rely on technical measurements rather than lay judgment. Jennifer said she is willing to share the lumens diagrams with staff and contractor management.
Next steps: staff said they have escalated the matter to contractor management and will schedule follow-up meetings; no formal action or vote on funding was taken at this meeting.
