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Council approves $50,000 fireworks contract, asks community to fundraise and limits city exposure
Summary
Council voted to approve a $50,000 fireworks contract option from RES Pyro (transcript uses variant spellings) for 2026 and agreed the city will sign the contract while volunteers will lead fundraising; councilors stressed coordination with nearby Excelsior and asked staff about deposit and logistics.
The Deephaven City Council voted to approve the larger fireworks option presented to the council and directed staff to sign a contract with the fireworks vendor while community members pursue fundraising.
Staff presented two quotes from RES Pyro (the transcript also references variants such as ResPro/Respiro) and said the higher-priced option ($50,000) includes an extended finale. Staff explained the barges would be provided by Nickham Docks (staff referenced Chris/Chris Hagen and the Nickham family operations). Councilors raised logistics and crowd-management concerns if nearby Excelsior also held a show; several members suggested coordinating schedules to avoid simultaneous shows and the resulting traffic and parking strain.
Community volunteers told the council they would lead fundraising and the city would act as contract signatory and manager of traffic and no-parking signage. One councilor said he was prepared to be a financial backstop this year if necessary; another councilor said the city should limit its direct financial exposure and requested conditions on the city’s liability. The motion (moved by the councilor identified in the transcript as speaker 2) approved the $50,000 option from the vendor proposal dated 09/04/2025, with the council taking the contract and pursuing donations to cover costs. The vote carried (three ayes, one nay).
Staff will identify deposit requirements and report back on contractual terms and coordination with Excelsior. The city’s action secures vendor availability and reserves barges while volunteers organize fundraising; the council emphasized this is intended as a one-time, semiquincentennial-year effort rather than a permanent ongoing city-funded program.
