Council approves 3‑year holiday lighting contract with 'Tis the Season, not to exceed $33,000

The Montgomery City Council approved a three‑year agreement Sept. 22 with contractor 'Tis the Season to provide professional installation and maintenance for the city’s holiday lighting program, capped at $33,000 over the contract period.

City staff presented options and visuals for decorations across several locations, including the community center, downtown poles, and Cedar Creek Park. The vendor, represented at the meeting by Angie (company trade name 'Tis the Season), described a lease model for commercial‑grade materials, offered refurbishment each year, and said the company’s teams respond to service calls typically within 24–48 hours.

Councilmember Olsen moved to approve the three‑year agreement and to include Cedar Creek Park in the scope; the motion was amended on the floor to set a not‑to‑exceed amount of $33,000 and to name 'Tis the Season as the contractor. The council approved the amended motion by voice vote.

During debate, council members and staff discussed flexibility in the package (the city can select or deselect locations and line items), the advantages of the three‑year lease price, the possibility of leaving certain trees lit year‑round, theft mitigation measures, and how the agreement would interact with existing public‑works decorations. Staff confirmed that the city’s procurement threshold for formal competitive bidding had been raised to $100,000, so the proposed agreement is not subject to a sealed‑bid requirement.

The contract includes options to adjust locations and decor year to year; staff said the final set of locations and line‑items would be coordinated with public works and reflected in the executed agreement.