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Joint streets/tourism session weighs buying commercial artificial Christmas tree, defers decision
Summary
Public works and urban forestry staff presented a roughly $19,977 quote for a commercial artificial holiday tree and recommended buying one to reduce safety risks and labor demands; the joint committee deferred final action to collect more cost comparisons and planting options.
City staff told a joint session of Streets & Sanitation and Tourism that the current process of procuring, transporting and erecting a live Christmas tree on Main Street presents safety risks and heavy labor demands, and they presented a vendor quote for a commercial artificial tree.
John Austin of Urban Forestry said he solicited four quotes; the lowest was from Wintergreen Corporation (Georgia) at $19,977.20 delivered. Staff proposed splitting the purchase 50/50 between Tourism and Public Works, with 50% due on ordering (estimated two to three weeks from the meeting) and the balance at delivery in the next fiscal year so the cost can be budgeted.
Urban Forestry and public works staff described multiple ``near-miss'' incidents during past installations, including workers being pinned under a tree while it was being lifted, frequent daily maintenance because stakes and straps loosen in freeze-thaw cycles, and a previous full tree collapse that required cutting the tree up to remove decorations. Staff said their crews lack specialized tree-service training, that the city's crane availability is limited, and that contracted tree-service expertise is currently not available through MES (a contractor previously used for crane services).
Staff described the artificial tree as a welded-frame, quarter-section, engineered structure with a prewired harness and screw-in bulbs; they estimated it could last 25 to 30 years and be repairable. Installation would place the tree on the fountain base with concrete anchors and cabling, and staff said the first assembly would take a full day but subsequent installations about four hours. Storage would be at the transfer station.
Committee members raised alternatives: planting a permanent live tree (staff said a planted specimen would likely start at about 12 feet and take years to approach the desired height), contracting a professional tree service to fell and set a live tree, or buying less realistic/cheaper panel-style trees. Some downtown stakeholders objected to a fake tree for symbolic reasons; staff suggested pairing an artificial centerpiece with an annual ceremonial live tree planting to acknowledge local nurseries and sustainability concerns.
Members agreed to defer formal action so staff could gather nursery pricing for a planted tree and costs for contracting a professional service to fell and install a live tree. Staff said the vendor's ordering deadline to receive delivery this year is late September and that March is the last viable purchase month under the vendor timeline; the committee agreed to revisit the item at the next meeting.
