Council approves drone show on July 4; uses leftover funds for June 27 250th celebration

The San Fernando City Council agreed to a two-part plan for upcoming Independence Day programming: the council authorized a drone-only show at Recreation Park on the evening of July 4 and to mark the nation’s 250th birthday with decorations and a stage at the city’s Foodzilla event on Saturday, June 27.

Recreation Director Julio So presented cost options: a July 4 show with 250–300 drones plus on-site attractions was estimated at roughly $57,500–$65,000 once live entertainment and kids’ activities are included. A June 27 date — a non-peak day for drone vendors — would reduce drone-show pricing substantially, with a 200-drone option cited near $23,000, allowing more funds for programming or decorations.

Vice Mayor Victoria Garcia proposed a compromise to run only the drone show on July 4 (minimizing staff needs) and to use about $9,500 in remaining budget to program a 250th celebration on June 27 tied to Foodzilla, focusing on local artists and decorative bunting for civic buildings. Council accepted the motion; staff will prepare the necessary budget amendment and implementation timeline, recognizing that the two dates fall in different fiscal years and will require separate budget actions.

Site options discussed included Recreation Park (preferred for the launch), City Hall frontage with a nearby launch pad, or Lopez Adobe parking lot; staff will finalize launch areas and FAA approvals as part of implementation. The council’s motion specified no street closure for the July 4 drone show and reserved a June 27 in-person public program in front of City Hall.