City Faces Decision on Keeping Trees Lighted

To light up Ventura with a zap of holiday cheer, city leaders agreed last fall to spend $38,700 to wrap recently planted palm trees on Main and California streets in tiny white lights.

Now, the City Council must decide whether to keep the spiraled strands of sparkling bulbs until the end of June, which would cost an additional $5,600 for electricity and maintenance.

The council will take up the issue Monday.

Palm tree lights are part of the city’s efforts to boost tourism and create a pleasant ambience in the refurbished downtown. So far, city officials have used money generated from the city’s parking garage near the Ventura Pier to pay for the lights.

When the council takes up the city’s budget in a few months, members must decide whether to spend another $30,400 to keep the lights on for the next two years.

Maintenance on the palm tree lights is expected to cost $14,000 a year, and the electricity bill is expected to be $1,200 a year.