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Council debates Fourth of July fireworks sites and alternatives; staff flags safety, vendor availability and insurance hurdles
Summary
Council and staff reviewed four potential sites and public-safety constraints for an aerial fireworks show; staff said pyrotechnic vendors had limited availability and that police and fire had major safety concerns. Several councilmembers suggested exploring a drone "sky" show or using Safe & Sane proceeds to seed a community program.
City staff and public-safety officials told the City Council that multiple safety, logistical and vendor‑availability hurdles complicate staging an aerial Fourth of July fireworks show in Lompoc this year.
Parks staff presented seven possible sites and narrowed the list to four feasible locations: River Park, Lompoc High School ballfield, the Lompoc airport, and River Bend Park. Parks staff said the pyrotechnic contractor they normally use had only July 3 operators available and that a July 4 aerial show might not be possible without another vendor. Police and fire repeatedly flagged concerns at each site: proximate vegetation and riverbed fuels at River Park and River Bend Park, single ingress/egress lanes that could create traffic and emergency‑egress problems, required on‑site fire and law enforcement staffing, and insurance and indemnity requirements the school district would require for use of the high‑school property.
Fire Chief Fallon and police leadership urged caution, citing wildfire risk, prevailing weather variables and the recent high-profile Palisades incident in Southern California. The chief told council that the department would require a staffed engine company at any permitted aerial show and that the city’s master fee schedule sets corresponding staffing rates. Parks staff estimated the aerial portion of a show at roughly $25,000 plus about $10,000–$20,000 more for lights, staffing, security and on‑site fire presence; staff said the city had about $38,000 in a reserved fireworks fund. The Parks director said ticketing could help recover some costs but that some sites would be difficult to fence and ticket.
Councilmembers suggested alternatives: several members proposed a “sky event” using drones — potentially combined with a staffed, ticketed event — as a long‑term alternative that could reduce illegal private fireworks and provide an educational community program. Councilmember Bridal proposed exploring whether the city could partner with schools to develop a drone program with recurring funding from Safe & Sane proceeds. The city attorney said ordinance language allows use of Safe & Sane proceeds for a Fourth of July event (which could include alternatives that are not pyrotechnic), though staff cautioned that shifting the program would still require legal and procurement steps.
Council did not approve an aerial show location at the meeting. Council asked staff to continue evaluating alternatives, to pursue any available pyrotechnic vendor responses for July 4, and to return with cost estimates and options. Several council members also asked staff to study whether the existing Reserved Fireworks fund could seed a longer-term community drone program or a different centralized celebration that could reduce illegal discharges.
Ending: Staff said they will return with a narrower set of recommended options — vendor availability, firm cost estimates for each site, insurance/indemnity implications and potential use of Safe & Sane funds — and will report back before the Council commits to a site or date.
