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MEMORANDUM <br /> October 30, 1992 <br /> TO: Chris Andersen, Executive Director, Public Works <br /> FROM: Bob Hammitt, Public Works Maintenance Director <br /> SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY TREE INSTALLATION <br /> The Downtown Crew and the Tree Crew have committed resources to installing <br /> the downtown Christmas tree for several years. In addition, the Wastewater <br /> crane has been used to erect and take down the tree. A summary of tasks that <br /> City staff has been involved is as follows: <br /> 1. The Mall Crew checks out the light strings, repairs any wiring, and re- <br /> places any bulbs that are not operating correctly. Downtown Eugene, Inc. <br /> owns 29 strings of lights which are currently being stored by the City. <br /> There is probably no reason why they cannot store these lights themselves and <br /> go through the check out and bulb replacement procedure prior to stringing. <br /> It takes one person approximately eight hours just to get the strings into <br /> operating condition each year. <br /> 2. When the lights are actually being installed on the tree, Downtown Eugene <br /> Inc. has typically arranged for an electrician with an aerial truck to do <br /> much of the work. It takes approximately eight hours to string all the <br /> lights in which a mall maintenance worker assists the electrician. <br /> 3. The Mall Crew also installs a fence around the tree every year. The <br /> fence is City owned. Prior to removal of the tree the fence is also removed <br /> by City staff. <br /> 4. A Mall staff person again assists with the removal and preparation for <br /> storage of all of the lights. This is an approximately an eight hour <br /> project. <br /> 5. The City's Tree Crew goes out to a site in the south part of town where <br /> Downtown Eugene, Inc. has arranged for removal of a tree that is normally <br /> 15 -20 inches in diameter. The Crew is responsible for falling the tree and <br /> helping load it on to a lowboy that is normally arranged for through Downtown <br /> Eugene, Inc. The tree is then hauled to the downtown area where the Tree <br /> Crew, using their aerial lift truck, and the Wastewater's crane uprights the <br /> tree and cables it off in a secure manner. The Tree Crew is responsible for <br /> the removal of the tree after the holiday season. Normally it is chopped up <br /> into small pieces with the brush being chipped and the remainder of the wood <br /> being hauled off. <br />