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Commission spotlight shines on complaints
By MELISSA LATTMAN
| Article published on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 |
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BELLEAIR BEACH – At its May 4 meeting, the Belleair Beach City Council discussed the idea of a possible lighting ordinance, as suggested by a property owner last month.
In April, the council decided to have the city staff do research on lighting ordinances.
At Monday’s meeting, people shared concerns about lights at night. Renter Joe Killian described how the light from a property across the water from the Harrison Avenue house he rents reflects into the house with a 75-foot glass wall. The property owners, Richard and Kim Molepske, also described the intense light.
“We thought the lights were annoying,” Richard Molepske said. “Please go and try and visualize sleeping in the bedroom at night.”
Kim Molepske said they have offered to pay for shields for lights on the Wedgewood Drive home causing the problem for their renter. Molepske said the homeowners would not accept her offer of the shields and she doesn’t know how to rectify the problem without an ordinance.
The owners of the Wedgewood Drive home wrote a letter to the city saying they had asked neighbors and had not had complaints before this one and that they had adjusted the lights. They had previously had a boat and motor stolen, and needed the lights as a security measure.
Another resident, Bill Ward, said he had same problems with lights staying on late at night and shining into the bedroom of his home. He said he thought it was good to discuss lights and important to educate people. All lights should be hooded and directed, he said.
Council member Rob Baldwin said he would support an ordinance to deal with lights in some manner. Another problem is lots of lights may not be bothering anyone, he said.
Councilmember Dick Crowl asked if there could be some form of mediation to help resolve the lighting dispute.
The council discussed not getting too detailed in any proposed ordinance. Councilmember Stan Sofer said he would not support it if the ordinance got specific down to the light bulb type, but he agreed with a generic policy, which would give the authority to sit down and talk about the lights.
Mayor Lynn Rives said he would like to have the staff do research and he does not want to over regulate. The council decided they probably would discuss lights again on June 2 based on what the staff recommends.
In other business:
• The council passed on second and final reading changes to the city code on peddlers and solicitors. The changes, including not requiring a permit for political or religious messages, is based on a Supreme Court ruling. The ordinance also extends the time for solicitors from 5 p.m. until sunset, but prohibits peddlers and solicitors between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. The ordinance does say if the resident tells them to leave they cannot stay.
• On June 2 the council plans to vote on the initial phase of audio equipment for the new community center. After about 20 minutes of discussion, they decided they would get prices on at least the basic audio equipment needed to be installed before the buildings’ ceilings are finished. They discussed and will most likely delay the purchase of monitors and television equipment until next year’s budget is finalized in September, councilors said.
• The council passed on first reading an ordinance on discharges into the city’s storm sewer system.
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Article published on Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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