Chino amends fireworks rules, lowers vendor surcharge and grants one‑year extension to nonprofit booth

The Chino City Council on Jan. 20 adopted an amendment to Chapter 8.12 of the municipal code that reduces the vendor surcharge applied to temporary fireworks booths, strengthens eligibility requirements for nonprofit operators, and tightens enforcement language on how the surcharge may be described to customers.

What changed: The Community Services Parks and Recreation Commission recommended lowering the vendor surcharge (a vendor recovery fee previously described in meetings as "up to 10%") to a fixed 4.25% rate based on a historical cost analysis. The ordinance also reduces the number of temporary retail permits over time (from 25 down toward a permanent cap of 20 by attrition), requires wholesalers to carry a business license, and clarifies that the surcharge is a regulatory fee for cost recovery and not a city tax; the ordinance prohibits advertising the surcharge as a tax.

Public comment and nonprofit exemption: Several nonprofit operators and residents addressed the council. Troy Stevens (speaker 25) told the council his Gavin R. Stevens Foundation has operated a Chino fireworks booth for 13 years to raise funds for gene‑therapy research and requested either grandfathering under the original agreement or a postponement of enforcement. Other commenters—including Stubby Barr—supported honoring longstanding arrangements or offering transition time.

Council action: After discussion, the council adopted the ordinance as recommended by staff and the commission and added a one‑year extension for the Gavin R. Stevens Foundation’s current permit to give that nonprofit time to transition if needed. The ordinance passed with a 3–1 vote (mayor absent); the combined motion approved the ordinance changes and a limited extension for the specific operator pending more formal criteria for any exemptions.

Why it matters: City staff said the surcharge covers actual city costs for public safety, cleanup and public education tied to fireworks sales; the ordinance aims to make vendor obligations transparent and to keep fireworks‑related cost recovery aligned with actual expenses. Council members debated whether, given a recent 1¢ sales tax increase that boosts city revenues, any vendor fee remains necessary and whether existing operators should be grandfathered.

What’s next: Staff will finalize ordinance implementation details, clarify criteria for any exemptions or grandfathering consistent with state law, and return to council if additional amendments are needed. The one‑year extension allows the named nonprofit to plan alternatives or comply with new eligibility rules.