Roseville council introduces ordinance to clarify fireworks enforcement, staff cites large fines and plea deals from 2024

Travis Cochran, senior deputy city attorney, and Aaron Dunley, public affairs and communications manager, presented proposed amendments to Roseville Municipal Code section 16.16.014 and asked the City Council on March 19 to introduce the ordinance for a first reading.

“We are recommending the council introduce, first reading an ordinance amending section 16.16.014 of the Roseville Municipal Code regarding regulations for fireworks,” Cochran said.

Staff said the city’s ordinance permits “safe and sane” fireworks during a limited period around July 4 but forbids aerial and other illegal fireworks year-round. Following new enforcement in 2024, staff reported 31 total citations were issued; because many citations included multiple counts the department recorded 237 individual counts and an initial total of nearly $230,000 in assessed fines. After plea deals and appeals, staff reported a remaining assessed amount of about $108,000, of which roughly $16,000 has been collected to date. Staff said about $92,000 remains outstanding, with approximately $79,500 attributable to two large citations arising from confiscations; staff has not received a response from those responsible parties and said the city may pursue standard collection methods including the state tax intercept program.

Cochran and staff told councilmembers they learned enforcement raised questions about ambiguities in the ordinance and proposed three clarifying changes: 1) explicitly define actual, constructive and joint possession; 2) expand host liability to include the street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to a host property and any property where a host exercises apparent control; and 3) clarify that each illegal firework constitutes a separate violation of the municipal code.

Cochran said the city used plea arrangements in several cases to reduce counts in exchange for a probationary compliance period and that some citations were dismissed by the Board of Appeals where evidence or process issues were identified. “Issuing citations with that large of a fine ... makes collection difficult and it also puts the board of appeals in a somewhat precarious position,” Cochran said.

The council voted to introduce the ordinance for first reading. The motion carried on a roll call vote of Vice Mayor Albert, Councilmember Haute Schell, Councilmember Madonza, Councilmember Ricucci and Mayor Bernasconi voting yes.

Why it matters: The amendments are intended to remove ambiguities staff encountered during 2024 enforcement and to improve consistency and enforceability of penalties for illegal fireworks. The changes would clarify the city’s ability to cite persons who possess or discharge illegal fireworks and to hold hosts liable when gatherings extend onto adjacent public ways or other properties under apparent host control.