City looking to hire company for San Jacinto lights display

The new and hopefully improved San Jacinto Plaza will have a new Christmas lights display this December.

ABC-7 has new information on the plan to hire someone to install and maintain the lights.

In the past, City employees installed those thousands of lights at the Plaza. But the City says it cost $120,000 a year, so they hope to beat that price and get a better display.

“There is an opportunity there to try and really go a level up from what we did in the past,” said Tracy Novak is director of Parks and Rec.

He says big changes are in store for this year’s Celebration of Lights, returning to San Jacinto Plaza after a two-year absence.

“It’ll be a total turnkey operation, so it won’t be city owned lights,” Novak said. “It’ll be lights that the vendor provides to the City, maintains them and then takes them down and then probably stores them offsite for the next year.”

Novak said the request for proposals is seeking a themed approach, possibly victorian style, with all white lights.

“We look at this as an opportunity right now to be able to go in another direction, that perhaps can save the city some money, as well as a better design overall,” he said.

“I think its great,” El Pasoan Melissa Webb said. “I think if we can get a new vantage point, a new perspective, and maybe some new ideas … Why not?”

While some like the idea, others are concerned about the cost and tradition.

“On one hand, you might say it might be a better show,” El Pasoan Susan Macias said. “But again, with the way the budget is and the increased taxes that they’re talking about and the financial situation the City is in, you might think it would be best served to use our own people to do it.”

“Being Christmas, usually its better to have many colors,” said El Pasoan Armando Martinez. “That’s what’s usually associated with Christmas, not just white lights.”

“It’s nice that they’re willing to try something new,” said El Pasoan Russell Super. “But with something like that you always have to be careful and maybe people won’t like it. El Paso kind of likes tradition.”

“It’s a really good change,” said El Pasoan Mayra Burciaga. “I think its going to be a very bright idea for everybody in El Paso. I’m excited!”

Novak said they are considering incorporating some of the old light displays into the new one.