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Council weighs limits on fireworks sales and retail permits; nonprofits raise concerns
Summary
Staff reported seven permits (five commercial, two nonprofit) and proposed capping retail-sale sites and shortening sales dates; council members cautioned that limits could concentrate sales or harm nonprofit fundraisers and debated enforcement and market effects.
West Richland — City staff told the council that seven retail permits for fireworks had been issued so far this year and proposed limiting the number of retail-sale sites as part of a rewrite of the fireworks ordinance.
Mayor Fred Brink said staff’s packet included a draft ordinance, the city’s current regulations and a history of previous changes. "So far this year, seven permits have been issued. Five of those are commercial entities wishing to sell fireworks in West Richland. Two of those are faith-based or nonprofit organizations," he said.
Council members split over whether to cap the number of stands. Council Member John Smart called limits "punitive" toward nonprofits and said market access should be preserved. "I think this is best left to the market," Smart said.
Council Member Kate Moran and others argued limits could reduce availability, lower neighborhood concentrations of sales and help align sales windows with discharge windows; Moran also suggested limiting sales dates to reduce cross-jurisdiction purchases and neighborhood impacts.
Nonprofit fundraising was a recurring concern. Council Member David Fedto said his family’s former stand netted a percentage back to nonprofits after expenses and warned that reducing permit numbers could shrink that revenue stream.
Staff also proposed reducing the sales window to better match the permitted discharge period; the proposal discussed was to allow sales from July 2 through July 4. Opponents said narrowing the sales window could increase congestion at remaining stands and would not necessarily reduce total fireworks in circulation.
What’s next: The mayor said he did not see much support for limiting retail sale points at this workshop and tasked staff to research options and return with additional information at the June 2 council meeting. No caps or changes were adopted at the workshop.
