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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 1999-19555 RESOLUTION NO. 19555 AGENCY RESOLUTION NO. 1641 JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE NEW MILLENNIUM LIGHTING PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING $45,780 FROM THE AVAILABLE BALANCE IN THE FINE ARTS FUND AND $39,780 FROM THE AVAILABLE BALANCE IN THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION TAX FUND TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Chula Vista and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista desire to provide a community program to celebrate the new millennium; and WHEREAS, Downtown Chula Vista is the historic center-point of the community and the adopted Downtown Vision Statement establishes the Downtown as the social center-point of the community and the Downtown Holiday Lighting Program; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Business Association Holiday activities have established a community focal point for community celebration; and WHEREAS, decorative lighting and lighted community messages on three freeway overpasses will serve to promote community spirit and to celebrate the new millennium; and WHEREAS, the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency have considered the New Millennium Lighting Program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council and Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista do hereby: 1. Approve the New Millennium Lighting Program in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A; 2. Appropriate $45,780 from the available balance in the Fine Arts Fund and $39,780 from the available balance in the Residential Construction Tax Fund to fund the New Millennium Lighting Program; and 3. Direct staff to take all appropriate measures to implement the New Millennium Lighting Program. Presented by Approved as to form by Chris Salomone ~ ~ieh~Tr~Yn ~Cou Community Development Director d Age nsel Resolution 19555 Page 2 EXHIBIT A,. NEW MILLENNIUM LIGHTING PROGRAM The New Millennium Program is planned to be a year long celebration combining a salute to the coming of the new century with the Downtown Holiday Lights and activities. The program as planned will commence with a 1999 holiday season greeting to welcome the Year 2000 during the month of December and wile end during the year 2000 holiday season The proposed New Millennium Program consists of the following elements: Installation and decoration of a holiday tree in Memorial Park o Implementation of activities in Memorial Park including a tree lighting ceremony and "Holiday Music in the Park" Installation of lights in the street trees along Third Avenue between "E" and "G" Streets [] Installation of decorative lights on the "H" and "J" Street and Orange Avenue, 1-805 freeway overpasses Holiday Tree in Memorial Park The New Millennium Program proposal includes planting a commemorative official "holiday tree" in Memorial Park that can be decorated and lighted by the City and local groups to encourage community participation annually during the holiday season. It is proposed that the tree be planted close to the fountain area in Memorial Park where a concentration of holiday lighting displays and holiday activities are focused. The City's arborlet recommends that a Douglas Fir Tree be installed. The recommended species does well in the Southern California climate and it maintains a desirable shape. The cost of the tree and installation, lights, electrical service, and staff time is estimated to be ~5,040. Memorial Park Activities The New Millennium Program is proposed to begin with a holiday tree lighting ceremony in Memorial Park on December 4, preceding the Downtown Starlight Yule Parade. It is also proposed that the annual tree lighting ceremony be relocated to this site permanently and incorporated more closely with the Starlight Yule Parade held annually in the Downtown. (The City's annual tree lighting ceremony traditionally has been held in the plaza in front of City Hall on the evening of the Downtown parade. The Memorial Park location will bring the event closer to the festivities associated with the parade.) The City's Recreation Division has developed a program of activities (including lawn games, photos with Santa, and a musical presentation) that will be held in Memorial Park prior to the start of the parade that will lead to the highlight of the event, which will be the Mayor lighting the Holiday Tree. The Recreation Division also proposes "Holiday Music in the Park", a holiday version of the popular "Music in the Park" concerts held each summer at the Memorial Bowl. Two free Resolution 19555 Page 3 afternoon concerts are planned to be held either on Saturday, December 11 and 18, or on Sunday, December 12 and 19. Staff from the Office of Cultural Arts is exploring several concert possibilities, including a mass choir by local churches, a presentation by the Sweetwater Union High School District, and a dance program celebrating the creation of movement to the sounds of holiday music. Liqhted Street Trees To symbolically light the way to the Year 2000, it is proposed that lights be installed in the street trees along Third Avenue. These lights will coordinate with the public decorative holiday lights and displays and the merchants' holiday displays and activities to further create a festive environment within the Downtown area. The Downtown Business Association plans to increase the number of storefront lighted decorations this holiday season and is evaluating a 1999 New Year's Eve street festival for the community which would be incorporated into the New Millennium Program. The New Millennium Program includes the installation of lights in approximately eighty-five street trees located along Third Avenue between "E" and "G" Streets. It is anticipated that at least 300 feet of lights will be required to adequately light each tree. Currently, there is no electrical service to the tree wells; and, there is limited electrical power located along the Third Avenue public right-of-way. City crews could construct a guide-wire adjacent to and along the Third Avenue curb line to connect to the ornamental lamps and trees at about 8 feet high. A temporary electric line could be supported by the guide wire to provide electric service to the street trees. The electricity would be obtained from the public trellis areas, where available; however, there is limited electrical power from that source. To provide additional electricity, temporary electric lines could be installed between Third Avenue buildings and trees. The Downtown Business Association has indicated that they will actively encourage business owners along Third Avenue to participate in the street lighting program by providing electrical service to the trees. This option has liability issues associated with it due to the proximity of exposed electric wiring and the public right of way. If the wires are maintained at the 8 ft. level, vandalism and potential liability issues could be limited. Inclusive of commercial grade lights, guide-wiring, electrical wire, staff time etc. the cost is estimated to be 940,740. Freeway Overpasses In addition, it is proposed that three freeway overpasses located within Chula Vista along Interstate-805 be decorated with holiday lights. Overpasses at H and J Streets and Orange Avenue (map, attached), with the cooperation of Caltrans, can be decorated with holiday lights for the December season. These decorative lights will provide a community message to all the vehicles traveling into and through Chula Vista on 1-805. A number of Caltrans' overpasses are lighted during the holiday season. Apparently, the San Diego District is the only Caltrans district that has allowed decorative lighting to be installed on Caltrans' facilities. Resolution 19555 Page 4 During the past 10 years, the City of San Diego has sponsored decorative lighting on at least seven overpasses as neighborhood community projects. The City hired an electrical engineer to design and process plans to provide electrical service and then bid a contract to install the service. According to San Diego City staff, all the neighborhoods involved were eligible for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which were used for the projects. The communities supplied and installed the lights. Caltrans requires a permit and engineering design drawings for each overpass and they are tightening the requirements for all new permit applications. Safer and more aesthetic standards will be applied in the future and electrical service points will be the responsibility of the applicant. Caltrans no longer will approve use of their electrical meters. Staff recommends that an electrical engineer be hired to design electrical systems for the three overpasses and a contractor be hired to install the recommended facilities. Also, it is recommended that professionally designed lighting be installed such as a "Seasons Greeting"(3" x 45') or "Happy Holiday" (3' x 42') lighted message with accent lights. The cost estimate for design, installation, commercial grade lighting and staff time or labor is ~39,780. Resolution 19555 Page 5 PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, California, this 27th day of July, 1999, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Davis, Moot, Padilia, Salas and Horton NAYS: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ABSTAIN: Councilmembers: None ATTEST: Susan Bigelow, City Cl~rk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) I, Susan Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 19555 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 27th day of July, 1999. Executed this 27th day of July, 1999, Susan Bigelow, City Cler