Council declines to ban helium Mylar balloons; proposed ordinance fails on split vote

The Torrance City Council voted against adopting a locally enforced ban on the sale and distribution of Mylar (foil) balloons inflated with helium or other gases lighter than air.

Community Development Director Michelle Ramirez presented an ordinance that would have prohibited the sale, distribution or offering of electrically conductive Mylar balloons filled with a gas lighter than air within Torrance city limits, while allowing exceptions for Mylar balloons filled with air and securely attached at point of sale. Ramirez said the proposed ordinance included a 30-day adoption-to-effect period and that staff planned an outreach and education effort; businesses would have until January 2026 to comply if the ordinance passed.

Local retailers and an event-industry representative addressed the council during public comment, urging caution. “We urge the city council to reconsider the proposed ordinance banning the sale of Mylar or foil balloons,” said Susie Huddleston, identifying herself as a local business representative. Michael’s Torrance district director Tracy Dreske said the retailer “fully support[s] the city's commitment to environmental safety,” but cautioned that the state’s AB 847 will phase in safety requirements and that a local sales ban would duplicate state efforts and harm small businesses.

Opponents and some council members argued education and enforcement of existing state rules (including prohibitions on outdoor releases and forthcoming IEEE technical standards) would be more effective than a city sales ban. Supporters of the ban pointed to litter, wildlife hazards and utility outages caused by conductive foil balloons. Councilmember Metucci said the state timeline for a full phase-out (after IEEE standards are adopted) was too far in the future and that Torrance should act sooner.

The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 3958 failed; the city clerk recorded that it “fails with council members Metucci and Sheikh voting yes,” indicating a 2–5 result in a seven-member council. With the ordinance defeated, no local sales ban will be imposed; staff had said the state’s AB 847 would still require new safety standards and that compliance deadlines tied to those standards are expected to be phased in beginning in 2027 with later full implementation years after that.

City staff said they would proceed with education and outreach about existing state rules and remind permit and facility users that the city restricts Mylar balloons at city facilities when rented. The council did not direct staff to return the item for further revision at this meeting.