Adelanto council and residents clash over who should run Fourth of July fireworks booths

Adelanto — The City Council on May 28 extended a lengthy public hearing about which local nonprofits should be allowed to operate the city’s limited, temporary Fourth of July fireworks stands, with officials and residents sharply divided over accountability and who benefits from the proceeds.

Council discussion followed a staff report identifying 11 applicants that met the minimal eligibility criteria under Adelanto Municipal Code Chapter 9 §65. Staff noted that Ordinance 649, adopted March 13, 2024, removed prior obligations requiring booth operators to participate in Adopt-a-Street and community cleanup days, a change several councilmembers said reduced the city’s ability to hold groups accountable.

Why it matters: Fireworks-week booth receipts are a major fundraiser for many local nonprofits and youth sports teams. Critics at the meeting said past recipients sometimes failed to spend proceeds in Adelanto or to demonstrate ongoing local operations, while supporters said booths fund long-running community programs.

What happened: The council heard about a range of community work from applicants at the meeting: Dare You to Be Different described gas giveaways and Thanksgiving feedings; World Faith Vision Church listed voter drives and a gospel festival; the American Legion Post 229 and its auxiliary described veterans’ services and school programs. But several public speakers and councilmembers pressed for clearer proof that organizations operate and spend locally.

“I appreciate what groups have done, but we have to stop rewarding groups that don’t have their house in order,” Mayor Gabriel Reyes said, arguing the city should require stronger documentation of a nonprofit’s local presence and impact.

Councilwoman Marissa Evans, who repeatedly questioned applicants’ records, said she wants stricter standards: “If your nonprofit is not physically based in Adelanto and cannot demonstrate regular services here, you should not qualify,” she said.

Public reactions: Several longtime Adelanto volunteers and community leaders pressed the council both ways. Magda Turellis, a local senior advocate, told the council she is tired of persistent neighborhood safety problems and asked the city to prioritize local-serving groups. Representatives of Post 229 and its auxiliary described recent financial and organizational challenges and urged the council to consider the post’s veteran services before denying future booths.

Council response and next steps: Councilmembers agreed to raise the bar for applicants and asked staff to return with tighter eligibility requirements and verification steps. The mayor asked for a workshop before July to settle policy and avoid last-minute controversy.

Budget and decisions at the meeting: The council took a separate but related vote on whether the city should sponsor a stadium Fourth of July event and work the event’s alcohol stations as a benefit-corp fundraiser. A substitute motion to approve a $5,000 city contribution with a proposed 50/50 split of bar proceeds if the city staffs beer/wine stations carried on roll call (Councilor Mesa and Mayor Pro Tem Ramos voting yes; Mayor Reyes voting no). The council instructed staff to return with clear contracts and operational details before finalizing any partnership.

The council directed staff to prepare a fireworks-stand workshop to define application requirements, documentation the city will require (active nonprofit filings, local address, insurance, proof of local activity) and enforcement/reporting back when booths are run.

Ending: Councilmembers said they want a policy that preserves local fundraising for legitimate community groups while preventing outsiders or inactive organizations from receiving a private benefit from city-controlled booth allocations.