Marysville council returns fireworks ordinance to committee after public debate

The Marysville City Council on May 12 took no action on Ordinance 19-47, a proposed change to the city's fireworks sales and discharge rules, and directed the item back to a standing committee for further study.

Supporters of keeping the current rules and residents who said the proposed change would worsen noise and fire risk urged the council to delay or reject the change. Several council members said they wanted more time to gather constituent feedback and to explore compromises, such as extending sales but keeping or shortening discharge days.

The ordinance as drafted would double the number of days residents could discharge fireworks in Marysville from nine days to 18 days. Opponents told the council the extension would increase fire risk during a period the state forecasted as drought and would disrupt residents, including older adults and people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"I hope you will vote no on extending fireworks," said Vicky Gross, who identified herself as a Ward 3 resident at 301 Carolina Street. Gross also told the council she had tried to reach members by phone ahead of the meeting and said she did not receive a promised callback.

Several other residents spoke. Karen Hughes, who said she lives in Ward 2, told the council "Noise pollution is physically painful to many humans and animals," and asked what recourse the city would offer residents harmed by extended discharge. Mary Soddy, also of Ward 2, said she favored a more limited schedule, suggesting three to five days centered on July 4.

One speaker, William D. Swinburne Jr., said he supports extending sales and described local vendors' lost sales when neighboring jurisdictions allow longer sale periods.

Councilman Beitman, who was not present, left a written statement read into the record by the meeting president: "After consideration on extending the sales of fireworks and amount of time for shooting fireworks, I'm overall in favor of it. I'm only against the time. I would like it if we shorten the time, but overall, my vote would have been yes if you were here." The council president and other members repeatedly cautioned that the state's change in law does not take effect until July 1 and that any council action now would not change the current year's practice.

Police Chief (unnamed) described the department's enforcement approach and recent call history. "In 2024, we had 3 calls, revolving around fireworks," the chief told the council, and summarized earlier years' call totals and the department's practice of addressing incidents when located. The chief said enforcement is most effective when residents report a specific location to dispatch.

Several council members floated compromise options in the discussion: permitting longer sale windows while keeping discharge limited in the city, limiting shooting to weekends or daylight hours, or pooling community funds to produce a single public display. But none of those options was adopted on the floor.

After debate, the council voted to take no action on Ordinance 19-47 at this meeting and to send the item back to committee for further discussion and public input; council members said the committee could meet and return a recommendation at the first June meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes, May 12, 2025: approved (motion moved and seconded; voice vote). - Hedrick Street closure (Hedrick Street between Carolina and Calhoun), June 14 for an auction: approved (motion moved and seconded; voice vote). - Alley closure (west 50 feet behind 301 Laramie Street), June 14 for an auction: approved (motion moved and seconded; voice vote). - Policy A-107 (pool admission and punch-card prices, recommendation from Parks & Rec and the Youth Advisory Council): approved (motion moved and seconded; voice vote). - Consent agenda: approved (motion moved and seconded; voice vote). - Appropriation Ordinance 38-48 in the amount of $373,007.64: approved (motion moved and seconded; roll call). - Ordinance 19-47 (fireworks sales and discharge): no action taken; item returned to committee.

Context and next steps

City Administrator Josh told the council the state law changes do not go into effect until July 1, so the council's choice that night would not alter the current season. Multiple council members urged additional constituent outreach and said they had received mixed input: some neighborhoods reported mostly opposition, while calls and messages from other residents favored change or were split. Several council members recommended posting or restoring contact phone numbers on the city website so constituents can reach them directly.

The council directed staff and a standing committee on police and fire/finance to meet and return a recommendation at the council's next regular meeting in June. No ordinance language was adopted on May 12.