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Commissioners, students urge city council to consider limits on private fireworks; drone show suggested as alternative
Summary
A commissioner said middle‑school students and community members urged the City Council to address private fireworks because of fire risk, animal welfare and air pollution; the commission discussed options for submitting a formal comment or attending the council meeting.
Commissioners heard a public comment about private fireworks and a proposal from middle‑school students to ban or limit personal fireworks and pursue alternative celebrations such as a drone show.
A commissioner told the Public Safety Commission that middle‑school students had asked the council to “stop the fireworks,” citing public‑safety risks, impacts on pets and people with disabilities, and air‑quality effects. The commissioner noted the emotional and sensory harm fireworks can cause and referenced the possibility of using drone shows as a quieter, less polluting alternative.
Staff and commissioners discussed process options. The commission’s chair and staff noted the council will consider a staff report on a proposed drone show at its next meeting; commissioners may attend the council meeting to offer comments as individual residents. If the commission wishes to speak officially as a body before the council meeting, staff said it would require a noticed special meeting to allow public comment at the commission level.
Several commissioners said they planned to attend the council meeting to hear the staff report and public testimony before deciding whether to take formal commission action. No commission‑level resolution was adopted at this meeting.
