Committee clears two Impact Ministries fireworks-stand permits after site changes, traffic controls

The Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee on June 2 agreed to place two fireworks-stand permits for Impact Ministries on the consent agenda after the fire department confirmed the applications met municipal code requirements and proposed additional traffic and pedestrian controls for a new gravel-lot location.

Fire Chief Bailey told the committee the two permits "meet all the requirements of the SMC in regards to the licensing, the bonding, the permit fees, and the application with the state's, state patrol regarding their fireworks permit." He said the stands—run by TNT on behalf of the nonprofit—have been inspected daily in prior years and have complied with the city’s rules.

The new location, described in the application as Lot 213 (a gravel parking lot between Dark Horse Coffee and a residence on Railroad Avenue), initially failed the SMC setback requirements. Chief Bailey said the applicant reduced the footprint of that stand to roughly half the size to meet the 50-foot setback from structures and vegetation and the 25-foot setback from parked cars. Bailey said staff will make a targeted visit when the stand is set up and "I won't allow them to open unless they're in the right spot and they have the signs up." He also said the lot will be coned off so there will be no public parking in that gravel area while the stand is in place.

Councilor Cotton asked whether the organizations receive any fee waivers and raised two blanks she had seen on the application: a missing tax-exempt ID number and an empty field for an after-hours first-aid/security plan. Chief Bailey said the fire-department permit process is the controlling requirement under the SMC and that some of the missing items relate to the state's vendor application; he said the city requires the $25 fee but does not necessarily require the separate special-event permit that other events use because fireworks stands are handled under the municipal code.

Bailey corrected an earlier statement about removal timing: "They are able to sell until noon on July 5. They're required to clean out their stands and clean out all the garbage by 5PM on July 5, but they're actually not required to take the stands out themselves until July 7 at noon." Committee members confirmed that parallel street parking adjacent to the curb will remain allowed and that staff will monitor compliance on setup day.

Because staff reported the applications meet the SMC conditions and recommended controls were added for the new Lot 213 site, committee members agreed to place both permits on the consent agenda.

Details noted in the meeting: the primary Safeway location has been used for several years; Lot 213 required footprint reduction to meet setbacks; signage will encourage pedestrians to use the King Street crosswalk; and the applicant must remove fireworks and garbage by 5 p.m. July 5 with stands removable by July 7 at noon.

The committee took no separate roll-call vote on the permits during the discussion; staff recommended handling both items on the consent agenda and committee members signaled agreement.