For City Council Meeting [July 14,2020]
TO: Honorable City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Manager
FROM: Brian Park, Interim Fire Chief
Title
Request City Council to Consider the Establishment of an Ad Hoc Firework Committee for the Purpose of Making Recommendations Related to Fireworks in the City of Rialto.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
At the City Council Meeting on June 23, 2020, the Council directed staff to bring forward an agenda item to establish an Ad Hoc Firework Committee aimed at reducing the impacts of fireworks in Rialto. The City of Rialto has an expressed interest in stopping significant negative impact of all fireworks to our community.
In 2019, a Community Fireworks Task Force to address this problem was formed with the goals of producing a comprehensive community-based fireworks risk reduction plan. Despite the outreach efforts, we observed and received increased complaints about a significant number and scope of fireworks this past 4th of July (even with increased enforcement efforts that will be detailed during the staff presentation of this item).
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Due to the significant impact of fireworks in Rialto, the City intends to develop a long-range plan to stop significant adverse effects of all fireworks to our community, which includes our pets. A summary of the firework related incidents for 2020 are attached. (Attachment 1)
The City Council should discuss and advise staff regarding the preferred membership structure of the Ad Hoc Committee. This includes the number of at-large members, their qualifications if any, and the role, if any, of the City Council. The Ad Hoc Firework Committee will receive primary support from the Police Chief and Fire Chief.
Therefore, staff requests that the City Council consider the establishment of an Ad Hoc Firework Committee for the purpose of making recommendations related to fireworks in the City of Rialto. Recommendations for the Ad Hoc Fireworks Committee Guidelines are attache...
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