HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 08 09 Regular 500
COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM 500
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL
PUBLIC HEARING
REGULAR X
August 9, 2004
Meeting
MGR ;1~- /DEPT I~
Authorization
REQUEST: Commission requested information on the history and future progression of the
City's Holiday Decoration Program.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Board item is to inform and advise the Commission of the status of
the City's Holiday Decoration Program including funding, current inventory and to
discuss the future vision of the Commission.
CONSIDERA nONS:
The Decorating of the City during the Holiday Season began with the Holiday Parade and
was originally created by the Winter Springs Civic Association approximately 20 years ago. The
Civic Association began purchasing pole decorations 5 years later adding additional pole
decorations each year until 1998 ending with a final inventory of 44 pole decorations. The
Beautification Board began a parallel decorating program in 1996 beginning with a Holiday Tree
lighting ceremony at Central Winds Park with a tree made entirely through donated materials and
labor. In FY 98/99 staff and the BOWS Board were given direction and approval by the City
Commission to begin the purchase of additional decorations beyond the inventory given to the
City by the Civic Association. Thus began the progression of the Holiday Decoration Program by
the City and the BOWS Board. The city's 144 decoration inventory consists of building
decorations, ground decorations, pole decorations and the original focal tree.
Currently pole decorations stretch from Belle Avenue to Tuskawilla Road on the south
side of State Road 434, with the exception of 10 poles between Winding Hollow Boulevard to
August 9, 2004
Regular Agenda Item 500
Page 2
SR419. The 10 poles left to complete are planned to be powered by Progress Energy for City
placement of receptacles by September 30, 2004 at a cost of $6829.00 plus City supplied
receptacles and wiring at $2000.00. The Public Works Department facilitates the placement of
all the City's decorations. Placement of holiday decorations begins one week prior to the
Holiday Parade. As of this date and current inventory, decorations are placed on SR434 (pole),
intersections of Tuskawilla and Trotwood (pole), Tuskawilla and Winter Springs (pole), SR434
and Vistawilla (pole), City Hall (building and grounds), Police Department (building, grounds
and pole), Public Works (pole), Fire Station 24 (pole), and FDOT pond at Post Office (floating
tree and grounds). The decorations are currently stored off site at a cost of$3130.00 annually.
Public Works staff checks and maintains the decorations and poles prior to hanging with
associated costs averaging $1800.00 annually. Progress Energy charges for power used per
decoration at an average cost of$500.00. With the growth of the program consideration may
be given to out sourcing the storage, maintenance and placement and removal at an estimated
cost of $1 0, 112.00. Dependent on direction of program for FY04/05 the estimated available
funds for additional decorations should be approximately $9,000.00.
FUNDING:
The funding of the Holiday decorating program began in FY 98/99 with $3915.75 from
the General Fund - Public Works Grounds line code (4410-54682). A separate line code
(4410-55262) was established in FY 99/00 exclusively for Holiday Decorating in General Fund
- Public Works budget with $15,000 budgeted. Funds have been budgeted each consecutive
year since at $10,000 with $16,000 budgeted for FY 03/04. Additional funds of$1604.81
were provided in FY 03/04 out of the Beautification Advisory Board budget -
(1110-55230).
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Commission inform the BOWS Board and Public Works
Department of their vision for the progression of the Holiday Decorating Program.
ATTACHMENTS:
COMMISSION ACTION: