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Glendale staff seeks council consensus to align city fireworks rules with recent state changes
Summary
Staff proposed updating Glendale’s municipal code on permissible fireworks to match recent state legislative changes that add Cinco de Mayo and parts of Diwali and shift New Year’s allowable dates; council gave consensus to direct staff to prepare an ordinance amendment and return with a revised contract/memo.
Rick St. John, the city’s deputy city manager, told council the city’s code on permissible fireworks is out of step with changes enacted by the state and requested direction to amend the code to conform with state law.
St. John said “state law under 30 six-sixteen oh 6 does give cities the right to create an ordinance” and described the state changes that must be reflected locally. He said Senate Bill 1348 (2019) added Cinco de Mayo and Diwali days “so May 4th to May 6th, the 2nd 3rd days of that celebration” and that Senate Bill 1188 (2023) altered the New Year’s window: “it was the 24th through January 3rd. It is now the 26th through January 4th.”
Under the city’s current code staff said permissible fireworks use is written to allow June 24–July 6 and Dec. 24–Jan. 3; St. John recommended the city add May 4–6 and the Diwali days and change the New Year’s dates to match state law, which would bring Glendale “into compliance with state law.” He noted the city’s sales and use dates for permissible fireworks sales need no change because sales are already referenced to state law.
Council members asked clarifying questions about why the city had missed earlier state changes and about hours allowed on high‑holiday nights. St. John explained the city “just missed it” when earlier bills changed dates and clarified that the special late‑night allowances are part of state law: for example, “July 4th to July 5th, you're allowed to use permissible fireworks until 1 AM” and generally “12:30” a.m. is the allowable end time unless state law specifies otherwise.
Council Member Turner described fireworks complaints from constituents and asked whether the code should simply reference state law to avoid future mismatches. St. John said spelling out dates in the municipal code is easier for residents, even though it requires staff to amend the code when the legislature changes state law.
At the close of discussion, the council signaled consensus for staff to proceed with an amendment to align the municipal code with recent state law changes and to return with a memo and modified contract showing the removed/added scope of work. No formal ordinance vote was held at the workshop.
Staff said it will bring a draft amendment back to the council for formal action at a future meeting.
