01/13/2020 - MinutesCity of Port Orchard
216 Prospect Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366
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Festival of Chimes and Lights
Committee Minutes
Monday, January 13, 2020; 3:30 p.m. at City Hall
Members present: Chair Lucarelli and City staff Bill Thiele, Tony Lang and Jenine Floyd. Guests: Bobbie
Stewart, POBSA; and Jordan Bair, Woodside Animal Hospital.
2019 Event Review
Chair Lucarelli said she attended a meeting with the police regarding the event where topics included
more safety coverage during the event, different parking options, and charges to partner with other
organizations.
Staff Lang and Thiele discussed the runners [Jingle Bell Run] starting 15 minutes early and the potential
safety issues, volunteers, and traffic control.
Chair Lucarelli noted there will not be a Jingle Bell Run race this year, but other organizations have
indicated interest in a race. She briefly discussed the Jingle Bell Run organization and the Port Orchard
connection. Also, we will no longer have hayrides as the route did not work very well and made it
difficult for tractors and people. She asked the committee to come up with other options.
Ms. Bair asked if the pet parade route could be changed due to confusion and asked if the route could
go behind the building instead of just on Bay Street. She believes there were about 60 contestants
entered in the parade. She thanked the City for helping to get the information out to the public.
The committee discussed different pet parade routes; options in place of the hayrides; location of
Santa; Port of Bremerton light displays; needing more lights in front of City Hall; testing of string lights
and budgeting for more; extension cords; timelines of tree decorating contest; tree decorations;
positive feedback regarding the tree contest and lights; last year’s People’s Choice winner [Port
Orchard Bay Street Association’s contest]; tree judging; finding other locations in the City to place
lights or decorations like the Tremont corridor and roundabouts; road closures and traffic issues;
possibility of changing transit routes in the parking lot; handing out parking passes for people who
need to park near event due to business or volunteering; pricing tents; volunteers; Christmas tree
lighting and chimes countdown; and needing a volunteer for the firepits.
Christmas Tree Disposal
Staff Thiele has been bringing the trees to Allen Shearer Trucking & Landscape Supply, and so far, the
charge has been $40 to dispose. He briefly mentioned how they estimate disposal prices. Chair
Lucarelli asked if anyone could take the trees for mulching. She said the cost of the disposal will need
to be figured into the cost of the trees.
Festival of Chimes and Lights Committee Minutes
January 13, 2020
Page 2 of 2
2020 Tree Decorating Contest
Chair Lucarelli said anytime staff is ready we can start accepting reservations and asked the committee
to possibly think of other tree judging categories.
Ms. Stewart said someone mentioned maybe having a ribbon to display on the trees showing who the
winners are.
Committee discussed asking people to decorate from the bottom up with their string lights; pricing the
trees; updating application; and when to start collecting money.
Miscellaneous
Chair Lucarelli noted there are several changes pending for downtown. She will be presenting to
Council during the Council retreat that we need additional funding for electrical. It is her understanding
there are no plans for taking the marquee down in the next few years.
There being no further business, Chair Lucarelli adjourned the meeting at 4:32 p.m. Audio-only
recording was successful.
Future Meeting:
February 24, 2020, 3:30pm
c: Council/Mayor/Department Directors/City Attorney
POBSA, Fathoms O’ Fun, Port Orchard Library, Jingle Bell Run Coordinator
Chamber of Commerce, Sidney Museum and Arts Association, and Port of Bremerton