Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buena Park council orders resident survey, explores drones and fees after deadly July 4 incident
Summary
After staff presentations and a lengthy public comment period that included passionate appeals for and against safe‑and‑sane fireworks, the council directed staff to hire a professional scientific poll, explore expanded enforcement (including drones), and return with ordinance options (including a fee under AB 1403) for possible future action.
Buena Park’s City Council on Sept. 9 directed staff to commission a professional survey of likely voters and explore enforcement and policy options for fireworks after a study session that followed a fatal illegal‑fireworks incident this July.
Assistant City Manager Eddie Fenton reviewed the city’s long history of permitting state‑regulated ‘safe and sane’ fireworks through nonprofit booths and summarized prior Measure D ballot history. Police and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) officials presented operational data: the city recorded about 167 fireworks‑related calls for service in the 2025 July 1–5 period and issued 38 citations in 2025; a drone pilot program on July 4 produced five drone‑related citations, and the county reported a five‑year average of about 50 fireworks‑related injuries with a 2024 peak of 66.
Fenton outlined policy options including continuing the status quo, pursuing a city‑hosted fireworks or drone show (staff cited comparable city show costs between about $27,500 and $39,500 and estimated a 250‑drone 10‑minute show at roughly $30,000), directing a letter to the governor seeking interstate action, or adopting enforcement‑funding fees under the provisions of AB 1403 to pay for inspections, enforcement and public education.
Public comment was long and split. Several nonprofit leaders and booster representatives said safe‑and‑sane sales are their primary fundraiser — one speaker said their booth generates $35,000–$50,000 a year for a high school program — and warned that a ban would cripple youth sports and school programs. Others, including a witness who described calling police during the July 4 illegal fireworks that later preceded a fatality, urged the council to ban all fireworks to protect veterans, pets, seniors and neighbors; one resident told the council, “It should not have taken 6 hours and a dead girl to put an end to this madness on Cornflower Circle.”
Council debate focused on process and enforcement options. Vice Mayor Trout and other members cited the risk and cost of a special election (staff estimated roughly $1 million for a standalone election and $100,000–$125,000 to consolidate with a regularly scheduled election) and expressed support for a scientifically conducted poll to gauge community sentiment before asking voters to decide. Cost estimates for a professional poll were given at roughly $30,000; several council members also supported expanding drone enforcement and exploring an ordinance to apply a fee (up to 7% as described in AB 1403) to fireworks sales to fund enforcement.
Staff said they would solicit a research firm and bring back results and draft ordinance options; the council also directed staff to study expansion of drone enforcement (including implications for officer staffing) and to return with analysis at the next council meeting. The council did not ban fireworks at this meeting and left existing regulations in place while directing staff to return with survey results and ordinance drafts for further action.
