Dickinson council fails to pass amended fireworks ordinance after hours debate

The Dickinson City Council on Tuesday debated and then voted down a proposed amendment to the city's fireworks ordinance that would have allowed possession year-round and permitted discharge during time windows tied to state law, with daily bans from midnight to 8 a.m. (and a 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. exception for New Year's). The vote on the motion as amended failed 3-4.

The failure came after lengthy discussion among council members about the length of permitted discharge windows, public safety concerns, and whether the city should move quickly via a special or emergency ordinance to set rules for the upcoming July Fourth holiday.

Council members and members of the public debated several elements: whether to strike possession and sale prohibitions and instead regulate only discharge; whether discharge windows should mirror the state's sales windows (June 24'July 4 and Dec. 20'Jan. 1); and whether daily prohibitions should be midnight'8 a.m. or narrower. City Attorney training material and earlier council remarks guided the panel's consideration of ordinance procedure and the requirement that ordinances normally receive two readings.

Multiple council members said they wanted clarity and time to craft language that voters could understand if the issue goes before the electorate. The city attorney reminded the council that ordinances normally require two readings to adopt, and that a special meeting could be called for a second reading if council wanted a change in effect for this July Fourth period. A motion to amend the proposed ordinance (to allow possession year-round, allow use during the state sale windows, and prohibit discharge midnight'8 a.m. except Jan. 1 when the ban would be 1 a.m.'9 a.m.) passed on the floor but the amended main motion later failed on the final vote.

Public comment during the meeting raised concerns on both sides: some residents urged clearer rules and "guardrails" so buyers know when discharge is allowed; others pressed for limiting the days and hours allowed. Council members expressed concern about confusing ballot language if the council later places a related ordinance before voters.

Because the amended motion failed, the existing ordinance remains in effect as written. Council members discussed the option of phasing a temporary rule for the holiday (via a special meeting and additional reading) to avoid a legal gap but took no final emergency ordinance action at the meeting.

The meeting record shows the council opened public comment and heard at least one resident recommend that the city produce printed guidance with purchases so buyers know allowed discharge times. The city attorney and several council members urged careful drafting and recommended a second reading or special meeting if the council wanted a change to be in place before July Fourth.

Mayor Travis Magliolo presided. The city attorney provided procedural guidance; multiple council members participated in the discussion and the recorded procedural motions and votes. No change to the ordinance took effect as a result of the vote.

Looking ahead, council members discussed calling a special meeting for a second reading if they choose to adopt temporary rules before the July Fourth holiday; no such special meeting was scheduled by the end of the session.

Ending note: The city's fireworks regulation remains unchanged after Tuesday's vote; council members left open options including return to the issue with clarified ordinance language or put the matter before voters in a future election.