Council discusses Festival of Lights funding, potential special accounts and downtown use of space

Councilors asked staff to create a clearer accounting structure for recurring event funding and to consider dedicated line items for the Festival of Lights and other donations. Staff said a GL line could be created to improve transparency, and council discussed returning some festival-related responsibilities to the Downtown Management District.

"It would just be an Excel column that's an actual separate bank account or just an extra Excel?" one council member asked about the mechanics; staff said it would be a separate GL line item rather than a new bank account. Council members also floated moving the lights or using city parking to generate revenue and suggested asking private partners to contribute to event funding.

Staff agreed to prepare line-item proposals and to provide cost estimates for a minimal downtown display; council asked for options that balance transparency with bookkeeping complexity.