The Orange City Hall lawn is set to get a new, expanded Nativity scene, but Jesus, Mary and Joseph won’t be alone. Santa and his sleigh will be there, along with a family of Victorian carolers, a toy soldier, a snowman and a Jewish Menorah to provide more light.
The Orange City Council on Tuesday is set to review a city staff plan to spend an allocated $20,000 on the holiday decorations.
The council earlier this year voted to spend the money in the current budget to allow a nativity scene. Last year, the city removed its Nativity after the Orange County Atheists requested to display a banner greeting for anyone celebrating “Saturnalia, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Winter Solstice or any other holiday.”
At the time, the city said legal decisions showed the city would have to put up the Atheists’ banner with the Nativity or take down the Christian display.
During a summer budget workshop, City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre said the city could legally put out a Nativity if other decorations were out. He said the Nativity that was moved was old and suggested buying a new one to go with other new figures.
The Nativity will take up about 200 square feet, or 44 percent of the total display, according to calculations by Public Works Director Jim Wolf. Wolf is presenting a schematic design for the decorations.
Wolf has a plan to spend $7,999 on the Nativity figures and the stable will cost $629. Santa with his sleigh will be $4,599 and the caroler set is $1,399. The toy soldier is $2,199, the snowman is $799 and the Menorah is $1,597.
Wolf said the sub-total is $19,221 and the city will get a $1,000 discount. Shipping will cost $2,415, making the final costs $20,636. The amount is $636 more than was budgeted.
Wolf pointed out the regional government cooperative does not offer sources for Christmas decorations and the state Buy Board has only two-dimensional LED lighting. The city will display three-dimensional, full-size figures.
The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council auditorium next to the Orange Public Library.
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