City gives nod to tradition but LEDs stay

The River Walk's controversial LED holiday lights, much maligned after they replaced incandescent bulbs in 2011, will remain this season, despite public nostalgia for the lights that once dangled from treetops along the waterway.

The city is attempting to make amends with grumbling traditionalists by purchasing $92,596 worth of new lights — 150,000 LEDs, not incandescent bulbs — and cascade them from the river's tree canopy, as they did for years before a switch last season to energy-efficient bulbs that swirl tightly around tree trunks.

Only council members Reed Williams and Carlton Soules voted against the new purchase because they said the energy and cost savings promised with LEDs was not enough to warrant their support.

“What we were told a year ago — that we had saved a lot of energy and saved a lot of labor — just isn't true,” Williams said.

METRO Tourists pass by as Mayor Julian Castro and city manager Sheryl Sculley ride a barge and take a peek at the new LED holiday lights on the riverwalk on November 17, 2011. Tom Reel/Staff METRO Tourists pass by as Mayor Julian Castro and city manager Sheryl Sculley ride a barge and take a peek at the new LED holiday lights on the riverwalk on November 17, 2011. Tom Reel/Staff Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Photo: TOM REEL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close City gives nod to tradition but LEDs stay 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

Traditionally, the Paseo del Rio Association covered the cost of hanging the incandescent bulbs (about 85,000) at about $75,000, and the city installed them.

In 2011, the city assumed decorating duties and allocated $580,000 for the purchase of 1.7 million LEDs and installation costs.

The city ended up saving about $2,000, or 21,967 kilowatt-hours of energy, when comparing the electric bills for the holiday display from 2010 to 2011, according to the city's downtown operations department.

“We're saving $2,000, and that's a 300-year payout,” Williams said. “It's not saving all that much.

“And I am not sure we have really determined that adding additional lights will give the effect that people want with the incandescent lights.”

Jim Mery, director of downtown operations, said the purchase was worthwhile because the number of lights grew from 85,000 to 1.7 million in 2011, and the city did conserve energy.

But Williams asserts that the savings in energy and cost was trivial compared to what the city actually spent.

“Don't sell it to me that it's a green initiative,” Williams said. “Tell me you want to spend extra money on a big light system, but don't try to wrap it in the green blanket.”

Soules said the important thing is that the city decorates the River Walk during the holidays in a way that keeps people coming back.

“The River Walk is one of the top draws in Texas, so you're going to spend money to make that draw attractive,” said Soules, who prefers the draped incandescents over LED bulbs. “What's going to be the most attractive for those that want to come and visit us?”

This is not the last expenditure the City Council will consider regarding this year's River Walk holiday light display.

In August, the council is expected to view contracts for the installation of the new lights, the permanent installation of lighting on all downtown bridges, and the replacement cost of LEDs damaged by squirrels chewing on wires.

About that: The city spent $10,000 in 2011 to replace lights damaged from chewing, according to downtown operations. Over all, the project was $45,000 over budget.

But at the end of the day the squirrels win, Mery said.

“There is no solution to the squirrels,” Mery said. “We are in their element, and we'll live together. There is nothing to do. Squirrels chew; that's what they do.”

The LED display debuted the night of Nov. 25 last year, to mixed reviews.

District 1 Councilman Diego Bernal acknowledged at Thursday's meeting that the display may not have been ideal, but said the new lights purchase would create the reflection off the water absent when the lights were just around the tree trunks.

The ordinance that approved the purchase of new lights was, in a sense, an admission of a mistake by the city.

“Public feedback on the project demonstrated a desire for draped lighting to be incorporated into the lighting display,” the ordinance reads.

bolivo@express-news.net

Correction: A project to replace damaged lighting along the River Walk's holiday light display in 2011 cost the city $45,000 more than budgeted. Of that, $10,000 was spent on bulb replacement. A story on Saturday's page A1 of the Express-News and on mySA.com incorrectly reported the cost of replacing the bulbs.