The lights strung up on street lamp posts across Laurel Street in San Carlos during the holidays could become a year-round fixture.
Every year since 2010, LED C-9 warm white lights have been installed along Laurel Street between San Carlos Avenue and Olive Street prior to Thanksgiving and are lit at the annual Night of Holiday Lights event. The lights, along with holiday wreaths, are then taken down around the new year.
On Monday, San Carlos City Council directed city staff to explore the feasability of keeping the decorative lights up year-round, as well as the feasability of expanding year-round decorative lighting to other areas of the city, including South Laurel, Industrial Avenue and San Carlos Avenue.
Parks & Recreation Director Amy Newbie said the city currently has a maintenance contract with a vendor that installs and removes the lights on Laurel Avenue every holiday season. City staff will explore the cost of a new year-round maintenance contract and also evaluate whether any retrofits or reinforcements will be needed to ensure the lights and poles can withstand tension from factors such as wind and weather events.
Newbie also suggested that Council should consider whether to add a new attraction to the annual Night of Holiday Lights event, as turning on the lights has been a main attraction.
In the meanttime, the city has not yet removed the lights on Laurel Ave., saying it will keep them up until City Council makes its decision.
Photo courtesy of the City of San Carlos
