In accordance with this acknowledgment, we recognize:
Whereas, Portland is a growing city in a growing metropolitan area and with growth and development comes more outdoor lighting; and
Whereas, with increased outdoor lighting comes increased light pollution; and Whereas, 80 percent of North Americans cannot see the Milky Way from where they live; and Whereas, light pollution has negative impacts on human health, safety and culture, and is increasingly understood to be an equity issue; and
Whereas, light pollution wastes energy, increases our carbon footprint, and has widespread and deleterious impacts on whole ecosystems including fish, mammals, invertebrates, amphibians, and plants; and
Whereas Portland is on the Pacific Flyway which brings millions of birds into our airspace during migration and light pollution represents a major threat to migratory birds, including interfering with migratory patterns and contributing to collisions, which cause up to 1 billion bird deaths every year; and
Whereas, North American’s bird populations have declined nearly 30 percent since the 1970’s; and Whereas Portland’s light pollution can be seen from 100 miles or more away and impacts Oregonians far outside of the Metro area; and Whereas, the City of Portland has adopted policies directed at reducing light pollution in Portland including in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan, the Climate Action Plan, and the Green Building Policy; and
Whereas the Dark Skies strategy is an essential part of creating a healthy, equitable and resilient city; and
Whereas, the Dark Skies report was presented to City Council on September 17, 2020 and calls for comprehensive regulatory and public outreach approaches to address light pollution from homes, buildings, commercial and industrial developments, and streetlights; and
Whereas, the City of Portland is currently in the process of developing a dark skies ordinance; and Whereas, Bird Alliance of Oregon sponsors an annual Lights Out Portland public outreach event during peak fall and spring bird migration season and engages both residents and building owners and managers in actions to reduce unnecessary overnight light to prevent birds from being attracted to urban areas; and
Whereas, Lights Out programs are key outreach strategies identified in the Dark Skies report and that other cities across North America have taken to help reduce unnecessary light pollution; and
Whereas, the City of Portland has been a USFWS-designated Urban Bird Treaty City since 2003; and
Whereas, several City of Portland buildings and facilities participate in the seasonal Lights Out program including City Hall, the Portland Building, and several Portland Parks and Recreation Community Centers.
Now, therefore, I, Keith Wilson, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses”, do hereby proclaim April 17-May 19, 2025 to be Lights Out Portland Month in Portland and encourage Portlanders to turn off their unnecessary interior and exterior lights from 11:00 pm until dawn during migration periods, and further encourage Portlanders to take the pledge to extinguish unnecessary exterior lighting every night of the year