Alamosa’s dark sky sign standards came under sharp criticism Wednesday when a local business owner told city council the regulations are undermining major private investment. Development Services Director Rachel James acknowledged staff agrees the 500-lumen brightness limit is too restrictive.
Levi Willner, owner of Extreme Graphics, said the city’s sign code unintentionally reduces visibility and creates safety concerns.
The 3,000 Kelvin color temperature limit works for residential lights but not commercial signage, Willner said. Most internally illuminated signs are engineered at 6,000 to 7,000 Kelvin to preserve contrast, legibility, and color accuracy.
Forcing 3,000K materially alters trademark colors – blues shift to green, whites turn yellow, and contrast drops. Willner specifically referenced the Spring Hill Suites project, calling it the largest downtown development in decades that the city should support rather than undermine.
The 500-lumen standard is roughly equivalent to a single household light bulb and insufficient for identifying businesses at night, in snow, or in rain, Willner said. The code references 500 lumens for decorative fixtures but is being applied as a brightness cap on signage.
Willner also raised enforcement inconsistencies. Signs for businesses closed for decades – including Alamosa Sporting Goods, Valley Food Co-op, the Wet Paintbrush, and Hobby Town at the Villa Mall – remain lit while active businesses face increasingly strict standards.
Willner asked council to suspend the 3,000K and 500-lumen limits during code review.
Development Services Director Rachel James said staff agrees the lumen standard is too restrictive. New lighting at the Housing Authority generated brightness complaints, but meeting city standards produces very dim lights. A staff member demonstrated the difference with a device he built.
A work session is scheduled March 4 to review the regulations.
James noted Spring Hill Suites locations exist in Flagstaff, Teton County Wyoming, and Scottsdale – communities with dark sky standards much stricter than Alamosa’s. She encouraged the developer to contact those locations about their lighting and design solutions.
James explained Kelvin ratings relate to warmth – 6000 Kelvin appears white while 3000 Kelvin appears yellow. She deferred to Willner’s expertise but suggested creative solutions might exist using vinyl and alternative colors. The city is not changing the McDonald’s golden arches, she noted.
The code is a living document that can be changed if it doesn’t serve community goals, James said. But council’s guidance was to adopt dark skies standards and support becoming a dark sky reserve, which the community strongly requested.
Staff was reluctant to adopt standards because the industry is relatively new with many unknowns, making the city somewhat of a test case. Developer feedback is valuable in this ongoing process, James said.
James said developers share responsibility for reaching out to corporate offices about how other locations comply with dark sky regulations.
City Manager Heather Sanchez said restrictive codes take time for markets to adjust. Other dark sky communities have addressed these issues, with various brands finding compliance solutions. This is one of the first requests since the new standards took effect.
New City Website and Text Communication Platform
The city launched alamosa.gov and TextMyGov, a text-based communication platform that provides $10,000-per-instance indemnification against accessibility lawsuits.
An IT staff member said the platform addresses HB 21-1110, a state law mandating accessibility standards for government electronic communications. Non-compliance creates lawsuit liability.
The city adopted Streamline for the main city website, library website, and Parks and Recreation website. Navigation is easier, accessibility is enhanced, and the platform includes features the previous WordPress site lacked.
The Parks and Recreation website received the most significant transformation after operating on a temporary Google site.
Accessibility Protections
The platform includes Doc Access, which translates every PDF document on the website for accessible viewing regardless of the document’s original format. The website also provides access to ARIA, a free mediation service for accessibility issues.
A councilor clarified that Doc Access provides $10,000-per-instance indemnification, noting the state typically sues for about $7,500 per accessibility violation.
The city is transitioning to alamosa.gov email addresses from ci.alamosa.co.us addresses. The old cityofalamosa.org website remains active temporarily while Google search results update to show the new site. A banner on the old site redirects visitors.
TextMyGov Features
Residents text Alamosa to 91896 to receive city information and updates. The system has an automated backend – texting trash provides trash schedules, texting city hall provides directions.
For complex questions, city staff reviews messages and responds through the Public Information Officer. The system allows geographic targeting to reach specific neighborhoods through opt-in registration.
The comprehensive plan process will use the platform for meeting scheduling.
Councilor Michael Carson praised the choice, noting many entities face frivolous accessibility lawsuits. Other councilors said the text system provides convenient access to information. A website committee with representatives from all departments spent extensive time reviewing content for the transition.
Community Event Sponsorships
Council unanimously approved $5,000 in sponsorships for seven community events, shifting to a reimbursement-after-event policy.
The city splits its $10,000 annual sponsorship budget in half for each half-year cycle. The sponsorship committee’s recommendations:
- Cinco de Mayo Block Party: $2,000 plus stage use
- Alamosa Round-UP: $1,500 plus stage, tent, venue, electricity and water
- Rollin Deep Car Show: $750 plus stage use
- Sixth Annual SoCo Spring Soiree: $250 plus course use
- Alamosa Chamber Art Gala: $200
- Mysterious Valley Productions Spring Fest: $200 plus stage use
- Fourth Annual SoCo Ice Bowl at Rio Frio Fest: $100 plus course use
The city previously issued sponsorship funds in advance but will now mirror Visit Alamosa’s approach – reimbursing expenses after events occur. This ensures events happen without issues before releasing funds.
Councilor Michael Carson moved approval. Councilor Dawn Krebs asked whether in-kind support like stages and water would continue under the reimbursement model. City Manager Heather Sanchez confirmed it would.
Councilor Jan Vigil, who serves on the sponsorship committee with Councilor Liz Hensley, referenced former Councilor Grego’s observation that these funds serve as seed money to launch community events. He encouraged residents to apply.
Rio Frio Festival Competition
City Manager Sanchez announced the Rio Frio competition between council and department heads scheduled for January 23-25, noting council won the inaugural year but hasn’t won since.
Scores are weighted to account for more department heads than councilors. Sanchez will be absent that weekend but said staff usually fields a strong team. The festival offers activities from polar plunges to ice sculptures and bonfires.
Generation Wild Grant
Council unanimously approved on first reading Ordinance No. 1-2026, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for the 2026-2030 Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund Generation Wild Grant.
A Parks Director explained GOCO requires a memorandum of understanding among the 12 coalition partners to define roles and ensure accountability. When partners include government agencies, the MOU becomes an intergovernmental agreement requiring a city ordinance.
The grant brings $2 million to the San Luis Valley for outdoor activities from 5K races to fishing programs. Council had already approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the grant agreement.
Councilor Jan Vigil moved to approve the ordinance on first reading with a public hearing set for January 21.
Consent Calendar
Council unanimously approved four consent calendar items:
Ordinance No. 2-2026 amends an intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Revitalize Main Street Grant for the Hunt Avenue Cultural Trail. The amendment adds $178,566 from a Multi-Modal Options Funds grant to the existing $1.2 million CDOT grant approved in 2023.
Second Amendment to Adcock Annexation Agreement clarifies cost recovery payments triggered upon sale are not triggered upon transfer to a related entity. The amendment allows Gateway to transfer lots to WC Gateway LLC without triggering per-acre recovery fees since this is an internal transfer.
Resolution No. 1-2026 designates the bulletin board in the City Hall entryway as the official location for posting public meeting notices for 2026, providing safe harbor protections under Colorado’s Sunshine Law.
Council also approved the December 17, 2025 meeting minutes.
Council Comment
A councilor offered thoughts and prayers for those affected by tragic events in other states, including an incident in Minneapolis, encouraging residents to support stressed neighbors.
Mayor Coleman made extensive remarks about the upcoming Rio Frio competition between council and staff. Coleman said he hates to lose but council has been beaten repeatedly by staff in recent years.
Coleman said council will not accept continued embarrassment. He asked all councilors to attend and document their participation. If council shows up in numbers like they did initially, they will win.
Beyond the competitive humor, Coleman explained showing up to community events demonstrates council cares about events, staff, and the community. He said he would make phone calls and potentially rent a van to ensure participation.
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