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Guadalupe public safety reports large fireworks enforcement effort, receives emergency supplies and proposes beautification funding
Summary
Guadalupe’s public safety director reported 17 citations for illegal fireworks after July 4 and said the city is calculating recoverable response costs that could total roughly $32,000–$50,000; he also announced delivery of emergency-preparedness supplies and proposed using recovered funds for beautification.
Guadalupe’s director of public safety, Chief Cash, told the City Council on July 8 that the department issued 17 citations for illegal fireworks following the July 4 period and is calculating recoverable response costs that could raise total charges to roughly $32,000–$50,000.
Chief Cash described the enforcement work and showed drone footage the department captured that documented fireworks activity across the city. He said the 17 citations initially carry a base fine but that the city’s master fee schedule allows full cost recovery for fire and police responses; the department is calculating personnel time (minimum two hours per responder) and other costs to apply against citations. “So, currently, we're doing the numbers. We're looking at maybe a total between 32 to almost $50,000, in fines for these 17,” Chief Cash said.
Chief Cash also said the department is evaluating potential criminal charges in some cases, including possible felony child-endangerment charges, where evidence suggests serious risk to children. He said one incident involved fireworks fired toward neighbors' property and trash that was subsequently burned.
In other public-safety updates, Chief Cash reported the city will receive emergency-preparedness supplies following a competitive county grant process: 34 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) backpacks, high-visibility vests, additional hard hats, flashlights, clipboards and CERT field guides. He said the supplies arrived even though the city did not win the grant competition. The supplies are intended to strengthen local preparedness as the area faces wildfire risk, heat waves and other hazards.
Chief Cash proposed combining code-compliance and emergency-preparedness functions into a single job description to make better use of staff with FEMA/NIMS training already on city payroll. He noted an existing staffer attended a FEMA week-long incident-command course and that consolidating duties might improve the city’s capacity without hiring additional specialized personnel.
On city beautification, Chief Cash raised the idea of dedicating recovered enforcement revenues to a beautification line item to fund maintenance after volunteer clean-ups. He said the city’s beautification committee is seeking paint donations and planning pressure-wash and painting projects for entry corridors and other public sites.
Council members asked for clarifications about which fireworks cited were illegal; Chief Cash said the cited fireworks did not meet California’s “safe and sane” definitions and that anything leaving the ground above six feet or otherwise uncontrolled is illegal. He also described the department’s intent to pursue full cost recovery and to refer cases for further legal review where appropriate.
No formal council action was required on the report; council members expressed support for using recovered funds for beautification and asked staff to return with more detailed cost calculations and any proposed ordinance or policy actions.
