Meeting Minutes - February 12, 2003
Southern Arizona Section of The International Darksky Association (SA-IDA)

1. Meeting called to order at 1730 by V-Pres John.  Members present were John, Don, Dick,
Joe, Scott, Avery, and Byron.

2. No minutes from January as the meeting this was a sports lighting field trip.

3. Treasure's report by Byron: 1307.64 dollars in SA-IDA's checking account.

4. Science Fair (SARSEF).  Three to four judges are needed from SA-IDA as we will be doing our own
judging, Tuesday March 18th.  Prizes will be awarded to projects on light pollution related subjects only. Joe
and John volunteered to judge, Byron may be able to help.  Starizona, Stellar Visions, and Skyworks will
also donate gifts. SA-IDA allotted $175 dollars for cash prizes as well ($100 first, $50 second, and $25 third
place awards).

5. The IDA Annual General Meeting is to be held in Tucson on March 20-23, 2003. Please check IDA's web
site for more information and registration.  Some events may be free.

6. Border Patrol Lights.  On June 14th,  the U.S. Border Patrol activated twenty light towers for a couple of
miles along the border in the small border entry port of Naco. These powerful lights could be seen for miles,
creating extreme light trespass, glare and skyglow.  After action by Doug Snyder and several other people in
the area, by November 19th, the B.P. has shielded and redirected the lights.  Several SA-IDA members may
go down to this area in April to see if this warrants an excellence in lighting award.  John to coordinate.

7. Lighting Complaints. Two obtrusive lighting complaints were verified as legitimate by IDA and the forms
were sent to the proper authorities. They were for Ted Walker at Casa Grande Highway just west  of I-10
and 3875 N. Business Circle Drive.  Three new obtrusive lighting complaint forms were turned in to Scott by
one of the members for businesses located on North Oracle Road.

8. Sale of Illegal Outdoor Lights.  Update on illegal lights for sale at Home Depot and Lowe's. SA-IDA sent
a letter, dated August 1, 2002,  to Mr. Ray Majuta of the City of Tucson concerning illegal outdoor lights
being sold at the Oracle and Wetmore Home Depot Store.  We have not received a response, but according
to Mr. Majuta the city does not have the right to review the lights and tell the store what it can sell and not
sell. However, once an outdoor light is installed the city can take action if it violates city code.  The city of
Tucson will not put its new lighting code into effect until the suit against Clear Channel (formally Eller
Media) is settled, to ensure the new code does not conflict with the ruling from the lawsuit.

The Home Depot in Oro Valley was visited earlier this week to review their stock of outdoor lights.  They
are selling many large (over 2000 lumens) outdoor security lights without any shields that are clearly in
violation of Oro Valley codes.  This was called to the attention of the lighting department manger and the
assistant store manager who both claimed this was news to them.  They indicated all products are selected by
division buyers who office in California.  An address was obtained to write to them.  The Oro Valley
building department was contacted and they are looking into their code to see how they may be able to bring
pressure on Home Depot to not sell these unshielded fixtures.  

Lowe's was also visited last week and they are selling over a dozen unshielded outdoor lights.  It was
suggested that a visit to Lowes to meet with their store manager may be beneficial.  John will coordinate. 
However it is believed the best strategy may be to contact the corporate buyers for both stores as well as
working with the outdoor lighting committee. 

Joe discussed Outdoor Lighting Codes with a city of Marana official and learned they are totally re-writing
their code which will be similar to Oro Valley's.  They expect to adopt the new code in the Spring or
Summer of 2003.

9. Joint Meeting.  A meeting in conjunction with the Audubon Society can take place as early as this
September. SA-IDA will do the preprogram portion of their meeting which lasts for about 30 minutes. This
will focus on the importance of shield lights using the step ladder and naked/shielded  light bulb
demonstration.  The main part of the program will be a talk by their Audubon program chairman, Tom
DeMoss, topic to be nocturnal birds. We will need to contact Tom in early August to set things up.  The
Audubon club does not meet during the summer.

10. Light Pollution Meter (LPM). Byron assembled 5 printed circuit boards and Joe assembled 5 PVC
housings (cost of $7 each for PVC materials) which were brought to the meeting.  Avery will put the
assemblies together and have these prototypes ready to show at the March 20-23 IDA Annual meeting held
in Tucson.  Minor changes to the circuit board and tube assembly may be required. Avery has been in
contact with a high school student who may work on a calibrating technique for the LPM as a science
project.

11.  SA-IDA Web site.  Joe mentioned he was seeking electronic copies of Outdoor Lighting Codes for State
of Arizona, City of Tucson, South Tucson, Sahuarita, Oro Valley, Marana, and Pima County to post on our
web site.  Links to the Huachuca Astronomy Club will be made for access to Cochise County codes that they
have posted. 

12. Meeting adjourned 1900 hours.

Respectfully submitted,
Dick West
edited by jmf