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Council asks city manager to draft ordinance allowing one alternate fireworks date after rain
Summary
After discussion about rainouts and public preference, the council directed staff to prepare an ordinance amendment that would let the city manager select a single alternate date for permitted consumer fireworks no later than July 15.
The Broken Arrow City Council discussed possible changes to the city’s fireworks ordinance after members raised concerns about rainouts for July 3–4 events and directed staff to prepare an ordinance amendment that would allow the city manager (or designee) to select a single alternate fireworks date within a short window.
City Manager Michael Spurgeon introduced the matter and described the problem that occurred the prior year, when weather canceled scheduled events. Council members debated whether to allow one or two alternate days and whether the alternate should be the next day or a weekend date. A council member suggested limiting the alternate to “up to the eleventh” in one proposal; others argued the replacement day should be determined by the city manager to allow for communication and operational coordination.
After discussion the council provided direction that the administration draft an amendment giving the city manager authority to pick one alternate fireworks day, with the suggested limitation that it occur no later than July 15. The council requested that city staff return with an ordinance for formal consideration at a future meeting.
Speakers emphasized balancing residents’ desire to hold celebrations with noise, public-safety considerations and impacts on neighbors and animals; the council did not change the substantive rights to purchase or discharge fireworks other than creating a potential single alternate date window.
