Thanks to a decision by the Saratoga City Council, though, the wait may soon be over.

For the past two months, business owners along Big Basin Way have witnessed the slow yet positive effects of having decorative lights plugged in on all 98 trees from sunset to 11 p.m. during the entire week, as opposed to the regular three days. In an effort to further promote the downtown area and increase the visibility of other shops that are not on the main strip, council members voted to expand lighting services to the street trees along Saratoga­Los Gatos Road and on Third and Fourth Streets.

"The more lights there are, the better downtown Saratoga would be," said Donna Collins, owner of Henrietta Hens. "Lights draw people near, just like how they attract bugs."

According to Collin's observations, more residents have been strolling the downtown area at night because they feel safer with the lights on. She said this is especially important to her business, because it encourages people to window-shop and come back the following day during regular business hours.

This is good news for Kristy Kent, owner of a store that sells collectable vintage items on Fourth Street. For Kent, it's not only an issue of bringing customers into her shop; it's also about keeping her merchandise and customers safe.

Kent said her shop has experienced random robberies and break-ins in the past. Of the more recent cases, she said a suspect stole a $300 gnome from the garden area and someone came back a couple months later to steal an accessory structure.

"Additional lighting in the area would definitely help prevent future incidences," she said. "Potential robbers would be less prone to go to an area that is well lit. If they do, there's more of a chance of them being spotted."

Martin Westley, a photographer with Arthur Mintz Photography on Saratoga­Los Gatos Road, said he is skeptical that the lights would have any effect on the flow of business because it is already on a main road where people can see it without stopping or looking hard. Although he said that having lights on every night would take away from the spirit of the Christmas season, he feels that the city should do whatever is necessary to boost business.

"If the merchants think putting up lights will help, it's worth giving it a shot," he said. "If it works in a town like Los Gatos, maybe it will work in Saratoga."

According to a staff report prepared by Economic Development Coordinator Danielle Surdin, the cost to maintain tree lighting on Third and Fourth streets is approximately $11,830, whereas it cost more than $16,000 to run the lights on Saratoga­Los Gatos Road up to Oak Street.

In addition, the city agreed to install additional streetlights on Third and Fourth streets to improve pedestrian safety. While the light on Third Street will be synchronized with other streetlights in the city, the one on Fourth Street will not be curtailed or discontinued in a stage two or three energy alert, as the tree lights would be.

At the meeting, Surdin included Blaney Plaza in the village-lighting project and suggested adding lights on two main treetop canopies during the holiday season. However, because the plaza is not included in Zone 7 of the Landscape and Lighting District Fund, the council decided to hold off on all plans for Blaney Plaza.