City Council
MEETING DATE: 8/9/2017
TITLE:
Title
City of Cathedral City Safe and Sane Fireworks Program
End
FROM:
Paul S. Wilson, Fire Chief
George Crum, Chief of Police
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In 2013, the City of Cathedral City Council passed an ordinance permitting the annual sale and discharge of “Safe and Sane” fireworks in Cathedral City, during the July 4th holiday period.
The ordinance was implemented to accomplish two objectives:
First, it provided funding to cover the costs of public education and police enforcement related to fireworks; and
Second, it offered non-profits an opportunity to recover youth-oriented funding that was eliminated during the City budget reductions in 2013.
The “Safe and Sane” fireworks program is open to six non-profit groups, three of which are named in the ordinance to receive preference (The Cathedral City Boxing Club [no longer active], The Calvary Christian School and St. Louis Catholic Church).
DISCUSSION:
Currently “Safe and Sane” firework sales are permitted from noon on June 28 until 10:00 p.m. on July 4th.
The use of “Safe and Sane” fireworks can commence at noon on June 28 but must cease by midnight on July 4th.
Aerial and exploding fireworks are currently prohibited by state law and local ordinance.
2017 Fire and Police Response Summary:
Between July 1 and July 4, 2017 a total of ninety-six 9-1-1 calls were received by Dispatch related to fireworks. Below is a summary and description of activities:
The Cathedral City Fire Dept. was dispatched to the following emergency incidents from 8:00 a.m. on July 1 through 8:00 a.m. July 5, 2017;
July 1st - 20 incidents, none related to fireworks.
July 2nd - 24 incidents, none related to fireworks
July 3rd - 20 incidents, none related to fireworks
July 4th - 28 incidents, 6 fireworks related (see summary below)
July 5th - 22 incidents, none related to fireworks
No delays were experienced by the fire department units responding to reported emergency incidents.
1. 7/4 8:54PM at 67735 Medano, Vegetation Fire: Palm tree on fire, ignited by fireworks. Extinguished by Engine Company, damage only to the top of a palm tree.
2. 7/4 8:55PM at 67755 Medano, Brush Fire: PD extinguished while FD units were extinguishing the above tree fire, two houses west. No loss.
3. 7/4 9:53PM at 69175 Converse, Rubbish Fire: FD units arrived to find an extinguished fire outside a trash enclosure of discarded fireworks, fire was extinguished by bystanders. No damage or loss.
4. 7/4 10:00PM at 28160 Landau, Vegetation Fire: FD units arrived to find a small brush fire being extinguished by homeowner. No loss.
5. 7/4 10:26PM at 35352 Corregidor, Rubbish Fire: FD units responded to an elementary school parking lot to extinguish a fire. No loss.
6. 7/4 11:50PM at 68400 Ramon, Dumpster Fire: FD units arrived to a well-involved dumpster fire, extinguished the fire. No structural damage or loss.
Between June 30, 2017 and July 5, 2017, the Police Department Communications Center received 854 emergency calls via 911 and 2040 non-emergency calls for service during the 120 hour deployment period.
A total of 96 fireworks related calls for service were initiated by dispatch and the police department responded to all 96 calls for service. Evaluating the 96 calls for service that were created in dispatch, 68 of the 96 calls for service were reported by community members and 28 were called in by officers as on-view activity. A total of six citations were issued for illegal fireworks on July 4, 2017 between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 11:35 p.m.
Citations were issued at the following locations:
Hombria Dr. & Ontina Rd.
Desert Vista Rd. & 33rd Ave.
67000 Block of Medano Rd.
Avenida El Pueblo & Baristo Rd.
Ortega Rd. & Wishing Well Trail
33000 Block of Navajo Trail
During 2017, the Fire Department handled more calls for service regarding fires than in the previous two years. Staff has developed three options for City Council consideration and direction to staff as it relates to fireworks in Cathedral City.
Option #1
The Council could eliminate the “Safe and Sane” fireworks program.
If staff is directed to eliminate the “Safe and Sane” fireworks program an amended Ordinance would be prepared for Council action on August 23, 2017.
This would allow the six non-profits who currently sell “Safe and Sane” fireworks for youth-oriented activities to prepare for alternate fundraising, prior to the Summer of 2018.
Option #2
Continue the “Safe and Sane” fireworks program and direct staff to prepare an amended Ordinance for Council action on August 23, 2017 to eliminate the firework permit preference given to The Cathedral City Boxing Club [no longer active], The Calvary Christian School and St. Louis Catholic Church.
The outcome would allow “Safe and Sane” fireworks applicants, if more than six apply, to be drawn from a lottery. This would provide a more equal opportunity for the non-profits to participate in the ““Safe and Sane” fireworks program.
Option #3
Continue the “Safe and Sane” Fireworks program with no changes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The $3,191. “Safe and Sane” fireworks program fees, received from each qualified non-profit, represents the actual costs for administrative tasks, public education advertising, inspections and additional police officers for enforcement of fireworks.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance #723, Adopted May 22, 2013
2015 Police and Fire fireworks recap
2016 Police and Fire fireworks recap