San Fernando council approves $220,615 for mall lighting after heated debate over merchant funds

The San Fernando City Council on Tuesday authorized the city to purchase and install new year‑round lighting and holiday decorations along the San Fernando Mall and to host the annual tree‑lighting event at the mall, approving a not‑to‑exceed amount of $220,615.10 drawn from the Downtown Promotional (Area B) account.

The vote followed a lengthy public discussion, extensive testimony from mall merchants and the Downtown San Fernando Mall Association, and back‑and‑forth between council members and association leaders over the purpose and control of roughly $210,000 in district funds that have accumulated in a reserve. "Spending all of the merchants funds on Christmas decor for a single city run event would strip away the ability to sustain this progress," said Christina Bernal, president of the Downtown San Fernando Mall Association, urging the council to preserve the association's marketing reserves and to coordinate with the association on any spending.

Why this matters: the downtown district funds are assessments collected from businesses inside the mall area under an older city ordinance and historically have been spent through the association. Some merchants told council those funds were raised to pay for marketing, micro‑events and longer‑term infrastructure (public Wi‑Fi, shade, wayfinding) rather than one‑time rentals or decorations, while staff and other council members argued improved year‑round lighting would help safety and foot traffic.

Merchants and association leaders said the outdoor market that generated supplemental revenue was never intended as a permanent operating model and that net proceeds had been used to build a reserve for larger investments. "We did not spend any money, for those lights out of our money because it was 2020," Adriana Gomez, vice president of the Mall Association, told council, arguing the association had tried for years to update its MOU with the city and that council should work with the association rather than unilaterally spending the reserve.

Council members pressed staff on how the city would purchase and maintain lighting, whether electricity would be added at tree bases and whether decorations would be bought or rented. Public works staff described the plan as two parts: (1) a capital component to install year‑round lighting along the pedestrian mall (estimated majority of the request) and (2) a smaller portion for holiday decorations and musical/lighting effects that could be reused or rented if needed. "Approximately $140,000 of it is the tree lights that will remain on year round," said Public Works staff member Mr. Evans (public works), and the remainder would cover decorations and related performance/music elements.

Council debate focused on the balance between beautification and supporting merchants. Councilmember Victoria Garcia, who moved the measure, said she supported year‑round improvements and broader marketing through the city’s Discover San Fernando program; Councilmember Joel Fajardo and Mayor Mary Mendoza joined her in voting yes. Councilmember Patty Lopez and Vice Mayor Mary Salodio voted no. The motion to authorize the purchase and installation passed 3–2.

The council separately approved a staff recommendation that the formal tree‑lighting ceremony remain in the San Fernando Mall and that San Fernando Road be temporarily closed between Brandt Avenue and San Fernando Mission Boulevard for the holiday night market and tree lighting.

What’s next: staff will return with contract details and a redlined revision of the downtown MOU per council direction. Councilmembers asked staff to continue meeting with the Mall Association to update the association’s bylaws and MOU and to present a rendering of the proposed lighting in the mall so council and merchants can see how the design will look in San Fernando’s pedestrian environment.

Ending: The vote leaves in place both a city‑led beautification plan and a commitment from the city to continue dialogue with Downtown San Fernando Mall Association leaders and merchants about use of the downtown assessment funds and a possible update to the MOU that governs the association’s role.