Redmond council won’t ban legal fireworks; vows tougher enforcement of illegal use

An unnamed council member announced the City of Redmond will not ban legal fireworks for 2025 but will pursue “better enforcement tools” targeting illegal fireworks and will revisit the issue in January.

That announcement framed a 90‑minute public-comment period in which veterans, pet owners and youth‑sports volunteers pressed the council from opposing perspectives. Pastor Jack Dennis, who identified himself as a veteran and pastor, said he supported allowing fireworks and offered a personal donation, saying, “I will donate from my pocket $5,000.” Dina Singleton said the noise harms people with PTSD and animals and urged limiting non‑holiday usage: “Fireworks are horrible on animals.”

Youth athletes and coaches said fireworks sales fund teams and facilities. Corbin Kirk Bostic, who identified himself as a Raven baseball player, said, “Fireworks mean so much to me,” and Roman Hanson and Hudson Holmes described proceeds that underwrite travel and clubhouses. Several other residents urged limiting fireworks to the July 4 period to reduce stress on pets and working families.

Council members stressed they were balancing competing community priorities. The council position, as announced at the meeting, was to allow legal fireworks on traditional July dates (the council referenced the third, fourth and fifth) while developing enforcement and other measures to reduce illegal, off‑date use that many residents said causes harm. No formal ordinance or ban was adopted at this meeting; council members said they will continue the discussion and consider enforcement options in a January session.

The meeting record shows no formal vote on a fireworks ban; the council instead moved to the next agenda items after public comment. The council also suggested exploring non‑police mechanisms to discourage illegal fireworks so enforcement does not solely rest on patrol officers.