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DDA okays $10,000 for pole-mounted holiday decorations; larger walk-through pieces deferred
Summary
The DDA authorized up to $10,000 for pole-mounted holiday fixtures and asked administration to return with design options for an additional $15,000 allocation to pursue larger walk-through decorations later; the city indicated it will match $10,000 from defense/ARPA funds next fiscal year.
The Clawson DDA on April 16 authorized up to $10,000 to purchase pole-mounted holiday fixtures and asked staff to return with design and selection options for larger “walk-through” decorative pieces.
City administration described two funding elements: a city offer to match $10,000 (sourced from defense/ARPA funds scheduled for the next fiscal year) for standard pole fixtures and a separate $15,000 item to cover three in-house or fabricated walk-through pieces. Administration said in-house fabrication could cost roughly $15,000 for a few pieces while vendor-purchased walk-through installations were far more expensive. Staff emphasized the pole fixtures need earlier lead time to be available for the 2026 season.
The board voted on a motion to authorize up to $10,000 of DDA funds for pole-mounted fixtures; members asked staff to bring back options for the additional $15,000 and suggested leveraging in-house DPW metalworking and electrical capacity to lower costs.
Why it matters: the vote commits local funds toward seasonal downtown enhancements and directs staff to explore cost-effective, multi-season uses for new pieces so the decorations can provide value beyond the holiday period.
Next steps: administration will return with selection options and a not-to-exceed $10,000 proposal for pole-mounted fixtures; the DDA also requested plans showing multi-season flexibility for any additional purchases.
