Sechelt council has voted to spend some of the money saved because they haven’t been travelling as much in the face of COVID to make downtown a little brighter for Christmas.
A report to the Oct. 21 council meeting said the council travel budget has an unspent 2020 balance of $45,275 and Julie Rogers, district communications manager, and parks manager James Anderson proposed some of that money be spent on holiday displays.
The joint report recommended $3,700 be used for “the purchase and installation of white Christmas lights,” $4,500 be used for “the creation and installation of a lit Santa on the roof of municipal hall” and $10,000 be used to install electrical outlets in Acacia Park to allow for the safer use of lights in the trees and a larger display.
The report points out that there may not be a light-up event at Rockwood Lodge this year, although it will have lights, and no light parade downtown, and Sechelt’s municipal hall has never had a light display.
“With Christmas activities on the Coast cancelled this year, Christmas lights seem more important than ever,” the report said. “Staff are working with the Sechelt Downtown Business Association to ensure the Christmas light displays provide an uplifting spectacle for our citizens to enjoy.”
The report recommended white lights for municipal hall so they can be left in place and lit up all year.
The Santa, meanwhile, would be made so it can be “stored on the roof out of sight through the rest of the year.”
Coun. Alton Toth said his experience as a volunteer putting up lights confirmed for him that the “power situation in Acacia Park is quite horrible.”
“I’m happy to see something moving forward on that,” Toth said. “It does also give us the opportunity to do more in the park beyond just Christmas lights.”
Coun. Tom Lamb was the only one to vote against the proposal – noting the cost and joking that he would have to be “a grumpy Santa” on the request.
