Schertz staff explain repeated city hall holiday-light outages, propose permanent LED upgrade

City staff told the Schertz City Council that repeated outages of decorative lights on the City Hall building result from moisture entering fixtures and power-supply limitations, and they recommended pursuing a permanent LED lighting upgrade with improved electrical capacity.

Staff explained that the existing lights tend to collect water, which can trip ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection required by the National Electrical Code for outdoor power supplies. The building’s current wiring and power availability were described as at or over capacity for the intended lighting, and one staff speaker said the set of building lights has been in service for about four years.

Why it matters: repeated outages have led to public compliments when lights are on and complaints when they are not. Staff said a permanent LED channel-lighting upgrade would both reduce maintenance and allow an electrical upgrade for sustained power to the roofline; the project would also address weatherproofing the fixtures.

Staff noted the city had previously sought grant funding (pre‑COVID, around 2019) for pole and street decorations and suggested the council could include an updated estimate for permanent lighting in this year’s budget. Council members expressed support for a hybrid approach that retains some seasonal decorations while investing in more durable permanent lighting where feasible.

No formal motion or vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt. Council members asked staff to return with cost estimates and to consider electrical upgrades that could eliminate recurring GFCI problems depending on the chosen solution.