Council authorizes 2025 Fourth of July fireworks, directs staff to seek sponsors and cover shortfall from reserves

Paso Robles — The City Council on Feb. 4 authorized staff to proceed with the city’s July 4 fireworks celebration at Barney Schwartz Park and directed staff to pursue additional sponsorships to reduce the anticipated general fund contribution.

Public Works Director Frida Berman presented a revised budget and program for the event after council direction to reduce costs. The 2024 event cost about $161,500; staff projected the same order of magnitude for 2025 and proposed measures to reduce expenses including starting the event later (4 p.m. instead of 2 p.m.), reducing from two bands to one, shrinking the activity field and sponsor footprint, and relying more on in‑kind support and volunteers. Pyrotechnics cost is locked in at roughly $43,000; staff also recommended keeping private security for safety.

With current sponsorship commitments (Travel Paso committed $35,000) and the city’s budgeted share ($65,000), staff estimated a remaining gap of roughly $60,000. The revised total budget presented was $160,000 (including a 10 percent contingency for day‑of costs). Council members discussed charging for parking or admission, volunteer availability, and sponsorship visibility; staff said charging for parking could increase staffing costs and would require landowner agreement for lots donated in kind.

Council member Steve Gregory moved, and Council member Strong seconded, a motion authorizing the event with the contingency that the city cover any amount exceeding available revenue (estimated at roughly $60,000) and directed staff to file a CEQA notice of exemption and aggressively seek additional corporate sponsors. The motion passed unanimously.