Sequim council pauses decision on July 4 fireworks after crowded public comment and staff briefing

Hundreds of residents and several subject-matter speakers urged Sequim City Council to either keep or stop the city-sponsored Independence Day fireworks display while the council requested additional technical information before making a final decision.

Public-comment speakers included residents, wildlife advocates and veterans who gave divergent views on the practice. Justin Greider, fire chief for Clallam County Fire District 3 and Sequim resident, told council the fire district "is a proponent of a public display" and said organized displays reduce unsafe private use and let emergency crews stand by on scene. Environmental speakers raised concerns about wildlife and contaminants; Susan Griffin said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service letter in the staff packet emphasizes buffering wildlife from human activities as well as launch site protections.

The debate focused on three practical questions: whether Cary Blake Park is the only feasible launch site inside the city; the relative cost and feasibility of drone shows versus professional fireworks; and whether the city is complying with federal and state wildlife guidance regarding the nearby bald-eagle nest. City staff told council the contracted fireworks vendor would cost $19,000 for 2025, while a comparable drone event would be about $60,000. The city has paid a nonrefundable deposit of $4,750 toward the fireworks show and would forfeit portions of that deposit if the show were canceled late.

Hannah Merrill, Public Works parks and events manager, summarized the current policy posture: the municipal code bans sales of consumer fireworks beginning 2025 but still permits professional displays at city events; commercial, third-party aerial shows could still be permitted under current code even if the city opted not to present the event itself. Merrill said Cary Blake Park and the water reuse demonstration site have been selected for logistical reasons and that staff are not wildlife experts; an environmental assessment would require subject-matter expertise beyond what her office provides.

Public Works staff told council they can determine the straight-line distance from the launch site to the nearest eagle nest using the city’s GIS mapping. Paul (Public Works Director) said staff can gather that distance and perform targeted research of existing scientific studies on fireworks and birds; he warned that a formal environmental assessment could cost ‘‘anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000’’ depending on scope. Attorney Christina Nelson Gross reminded council that the word "guidance" used by agencies is often intentional and that some agency recommendations are nonbinding.

After discussion, council members signaled a consensus direction: staff should return with clarified, objective information (the measured distance from Cary Blake Park to the known eagle nest, an estimate of the cost for more detailed environmental work, and options that fall between "no study" and a full environmental assessment) so council can make a decision on whether to proceed with the 2025 fireworks or cancel before further deposit penalties apply. Several council members said they were inclined to hold the city show for 2025 if technical review does not identify a clear regulatory prohibition.

Why it matters: Sequim’s July 4 event draws regional visitors and generates lodging-tax–funded supports, but it also places the city at the center of a national debate about wildlife disturbance, human safety and air/soil contamination from fireworks. Council’s next steps will determine whether Sequim keeps its traditional daytime/evening activity mix, shifts to nonpyrotechnic options such as drones, or takes other steps to limit impacts on wildlife and neighborhood safety.

Council direction/next steps: staff were asked to (1) confirm the distance from the fireworks launch site at Cary Blake Park to the nearest active bald-eagle nest using GIS and available WDFW/FWS information; (2) provide a menu of options and prices for additional technical review (ranging from targeted literature review to a consultant-led study) and any associated timeline; (3) list refund/cancellation penalties and the payment schedule for the contracted fireworks vendor; and (4) return to council at the second April council meeting (or the next practical meeting) with that information for a final decision on the 2025 event.

Community voices: speakers included residents representing Protect the Peninsula’s Future, Sierra Club North Olympic Group, the Audubon chapter, the VFW and other citizen groups. Those in favor emphasized tradition, public safety advantages of a single public display, and tourism benefits. Those opposed cited wildlife disturbance, stress to domestic animals and veterans with PTSD, and chemical contaminants in firework particulate.

The council did not take a formal binding vote to cancel or affirm the 2025 display at the meeting; instead it requested the technical follow-up described above. If staff confirm that cancellations prior to a specified date would avoid further forfeiture of deposits, council could act at a later meeting on a formal motion to proceed or cancel.