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Alpharetta council directs staff to seek budgeted funding for permanent AlphaLoop lighting, no immediate appropriation
Summary
At a Dec. 8 work session the Alpharetta City Council discussed converting temporary power used for the AlphaLoop 'Lights on the Loop' program to permanent electrical infrastructure. Staff recommended budgeting the work in the parks/AlphaLoop bond; council asked staff to bring a formal budget request next year rather than funding the project immediately.
Alpharetta officials on Dec. 8 discussed whether to convert temporary electrical hookups used for the AlphaLoop "Lights on the Loop" displays to permanent power, and directed staff to present a budget request in the normal capital process rather than approve an immediate city payment.
City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom told the council that temporary power installations for the event can approach about 80% of the cost of a permanent installation and that, if the lights become an annual program, installing permanent power would likely save money in subsequent years. He said staff had considered either paying a vendor directly for permanent work or adding the project to the city's capital projects list so the city could manage procurement and installation through its on-call vendors.
Karen Richard of the AlphaLoop Foundation said the foundation had paid for some lighting work and is asking the city to support future permanent electrical installation, noting the foundation spent funds to get a section of the display operating this year. "What we're asking for is money to go towards future permanent power installation," Richard said, identifying the stretch north of the tunnel up to Chelsea Walk as the primary area of concern.
Council members debated funding sources and process. Several members said the parks bond includes funds earmarked for AlphaLoop projects and that permanent power could be funded from that source rather than the general fund. Councilmembers also emphasized careful prioritization and the need to avoid mid‑year surprises for taxpayers. The mayor and other council members repeatedly urged adherence to the normal budget and capital-planning process before any appropriation.
By the end of the work-session discussion, council direction was to include the permanent-power proposal in next year’s budget cycle (or a midyear adjustment) and to consider using the Parks/AlphaLoop bond for the work; no vote to appropriate funds occurred at the meeting.
