The Havasu Leadership Development Class’ project known as Lights and Music on Main Street is expected to move one step closer to reality Tuesday.

The City Council is set to discuss and give direction on the project, which would install lights on 76 palm trees and a new sound system uptown on McCulloch Boulevard. The HLDC previously gave a presentation to the council on the project and “has indicated that once the systems are installed, the HLDC intends to donate them to the city,” according to a council communication.

Before installation however, ownership and maintenance issues remain, Interim City Manager Charlie Cassens said in the communication.

“Staff recognizes and appreciates the group’s public contribution,” he said. “Staff feels the city may accept ownership and liability for the speakers and lighting systems that are contained within the public right-of-way … however staff recommends that all amplifiers, microphones, cabinets, wiring and other ancillary systems installed outside the public right-of-way be the responsibility of others …”

Those driving near McCulloch Boulevard and Mulberry Avenue may have noticed several changes over the last few months and Tuesday night, the City Council is scheduled to give direction on further changes.

In response to a personal injury accident, city staff recently began work on improving sidewalk safety at McCulloch Boulevard and Mulberry Avenue late in 2009. The council previously approved expanding the size of the curbs at the intersection, but now could approve a wheelchair ramp at 6 p.m. Tuesday during its regular council meeting “both as a part of this effort and all future installations along this corridor,” according to a council communication.

The initial bump-outs were made after several citizens requested the improvements at city meetings. The citizens spoke of Tom Kirchner, 62, who nearly died in December 2007, when he was struck by a Chevrolet Blazer while crossing McCulloch Boulevard near Mulberry Avenue.

“I surely hope they do something, if not medians than something else,” Kirchner said in 2008. “They need to do something.”

Interim Public Works Director Mark Clark said the work would require “the restriping of the parking spaces from Mulberry Avenue on the north side of McCulloch Boulevard in both directions to the next break point.”

“Staff estimates that by reducing the existing space width from nearly 10 feet to the minimum 9 feet width, not only can the five feet access alley be recovered, but that an additional space or two also recovered along the roadway,” Clark said in the communication.

Council is also expected to discuss the upcoming installation of a mid-block crosswalk at Pima Wash, which was previously approved as a part of the multi-use pathway work in the uptown area. A conceptual plan from the Main Street Association “shows that implementation as diagramed would eliminate 11 parking spaces,” Clark said in the communication, adding that staff has revised the plan to only eliminate four to six spaces, but still requires council direction.

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com