By Jim Shilander
The San Clemente City Council voted to plant a new Christmas tree at the San Clemente Community Center Tuesday to replace the old tree, which failed and needed to be removed last month. Beaches, Parks and Recreation director Sharon Heider said her department had been investigating the possibility of replacing the tree before its failure last month.
The council seemed to express a preference for a traditional pine at the site, after being given the option of two pines, Norfolk Island and Canary Island, that would hold up to conditions in the city. The city will also examine the possibility of placing an artificial tree at the end of the San Clemente Pier. Councilman Tim Brown noted that he thought a tree at the end of the pier would be something unique for San Clemente. There was some discussion about using the artificial tree or the use of decorations elsewhere in town and going without a single official tree, but city council members seemed to prefer a single tree, either at the community center or elsewhere.
