The annual Christmas tree lighting is one of the City of Ripon’s kick-off to the holidays.

Planned for Monday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Ripon Veterans Museum, the Chamber of Commerce has arranged for voices of the Ripon Christian High choir coupled with a season’s blessing from Pastor Glen Shirk of the Ripon Grace Brethren Church for the family-fun event.

At tonight’s Ripon City Council meeting, Chamber Executive Director Tamra Spade will seek permission from elected leaders for use of the Veterans Museum tree at the corner of First Street and Locust Avenue.

Since the Public Works Department is not equipped to hang the lights on a tree that size, Spade is scheduled at the 7 p.m. open session inside the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave., to discuss the plans for hanging of the tree lights.

She’s also requesting a donation of $1,000 to go towards the purchase of new tree lights.

Other agenda items include:

•Vice Mayor Chuck Winn leading in the discussion of AB 109, a California “realignment” program aimed at reducing the overcrowding in prisons, in accordance with federal court orders. Included would be the release of newly convicted offenders otherwise deemed to be nonthreatening and parolees who meet similar criteria.  About 40,000 felons are estimated to be affected by this “realignment” program.

•Council reviewing a first-reading of a ‘Central Traffic District’ ordinance, calling for removing a section “Parking between two a.m. to four a.m. restricted.”

•The Ripon Police Department submiting a $40,000 grant application to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Public Benefit Grant Program of the purchase of two alternative fuel 2013 Zero motorcycles.

•A proclamation recognizing November as “National Runaway Prevention Month,” with Kathleen Serna of the Women’s Center scheduled to be on hand.