Residents press Pasco council to act on fireworks and noise; council discusses enforcement but takes no vote

Multiple residents told the Pasco City Council on July 21 that loud fireworks and weekend construction are harming quality of life, triggering health and safety concerns for veterans, people with post-traumatic stress disorder and neighbors. The council heard a string of public comments but took no formal action.

The meeting’s first public commenter on the topic, Laurie Thompson, a West Pasco resident, said she had witnessed “a dangerous, uncivil, unhealthy, and illegal free for all” of fireworks that starts in late June and runs into mid-July. Thompson said she reviewed city ordinances and believes enforcement tools exist but asked for direction on how police should act when officers are not personally witnessing offenses.

The issue mattered to the council because multiple speakers described direct harm. Amber Wade, who identified herself as a long-term mobile-home park resident, said fireworks contributed to a health crisis for her: “I was admitted into not 1 ER, but 2 because I apparently had a post traumatic stress disorder breakdown,” she told the council. Kirby Turley, a lifelong Pasco resident, described persistent weekend and evening construction noise that, he said, prevents his family from using their backyard and sometimes continues into early morning hours.

Why it matters: callers said the problem affects public safety, mental health and pets; veterans and residents with PTSD were explicitly cited. Council members said the topic raises both operational and policy questions — how officers enforce existing ordinances in real time, whether noise ordinances are adequate, and whether restoring a fireworks ban would reduce harm or simply shift enforcement burdens.

Council discussion and limits. Mayor Serrano framed enforcement as constrained by current practice and evidence requirements; he said he is “adamantly opposed to reinstituting a ban” absent data showing it would improve life or safety. Councilmember Perales and others said they want better interdepartmental coordination between code enforcement, the police and fire departments and noted resource limits. Councilmember Ross asked that Perales recuse himself from leading future fireworks discussions because Perales said publicly in previous meetings that he volunteers with a group that sells fireworks; Perales clarified he volunteers but does not own a fireworks business.

No vote or direction. The council did not place a new ordinance, moratorium or formal study on the agenda at this meeting. Mayor Serrano and several council members urged staff to gather information and said the issue could be revisited with the incoming city manager.

Context and next steps. Multiple speakers were told they could continue to use the AskPasco app and to contact police when violations occur in real time; several council members requested staff bring options for ordinance changes or enforcement coordination later, particularly after the new city manager begins. No timeline or staff assignment was recorded at the meeting.

Ending: Residents seeking immediate relief were told to continue reporting live violations to the Pasco Police Department; the council acknowledged the problem but did not adopt new rules or direct staff to draft an ordinance at the July 21 session.