The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Council says no to a brighter downtown

Majority turns down plan to hire lighting consultant

By Natasha Collins

The city staff's suggestions to increase awareness of downtown Sunnyvale with lighting diplays were turned down by the City Council Aug. 5. Council members Stan Kawzynski and Robin Parker voted for the proposal.

The staff and the Economic Development Committee members asked the council to approve the hiring of a consultant to suggest thematic lighting scenes, to create highlighting of specific city features and ways to light the parks.

"Holiday lights would attract attention to the downtown," city planner David Boesch said. "A storybook or holiday scene where people could walk or drive through could become a national attraction."

Other cities, such as San Jose, have successfully used lighting during the holidays to bring people from throughout the county to their downtown, Boesch said.

The lighting would have a positive effect on the community, said Suzi Blackman, director of the Chamber of Commerce.

"It would pull people to the city and give Sunnyvale an identity," she said.

While the council agreed that something needs to be done to increase foot traffic in Sunnyvale, most of the members could not justify spending more than $15,000 to hire the consultant.

"We need to keep in mind our current budget situation with the general fund," Councilman Landon Noll said. "We have asked the voters to increase their utility taxes to maintain the general fund, and I cannot feel comfortable going back to them and telling them we are taking money out of the general fund for this consultant."

Estimated cost for such lighting is between $5,000 and $500,000 depending on what theme is chosen. The costs for the lighting can be recouped by charging admission to the scenes, Boesch said.

"It could be like San Jose's Christmas in the Park that would attract 10,000 people that would pay," Boesch said.

Even if the city did charge for admission, Councilwoman Pat Vorreiter could not support the proposal.

"It would not be prudent for us to encourage something that would increase spending and electricity use, especially with the recent ballot measures to increase utility taxes," she said.

Kawzynski, who sits on the city's Economic Development Team and encouraged the lighting proposal, said the council should at least hire the lighting consultant so as to exercise its options.

"It would be some way of letting people know where downtown is. Lighting is a way to let people know that we are alive and help the economic development of the city," he added.

City staff will work in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce to explore the possibility of a tree-lighting ceremony at the Town and Country Center downtown, as well as other lighting options.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, August 13, 1997.
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