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Council considers shifting Fundays fireworks to community-run model amid volunteer, insurance concerns
Summary
Council discussed ending the multi-year fireworks contract and instead sponsoring the Fundays committee to run fireworks and events; concerns included insurance, permits and the committee's volunteer capacity. No contract change was voted at the meeting.
Council members spent time on Aug. 12 weighing whether the city should stop directly managing fireworks for Fundays and instead become a financial sponsor while the Fundays committee handles operations.
The mayor said the city could become a sponsor — for example, by cutting a check (the number $15,000 was suggested as an illustrative figure) — and allow the Fundays committee to arrange and insure displays and events. “It is in the city's best interest to become a sponsor of Fundays and to just cut a check to Fundays and let the Fundays committee run everything,” a council speaker said.
Council members raised two concerns: volunteer capacity and insurance. Several speakers said the Fundays committee struggles to recruit volunteers and that if the city cedes operational control, the committee might reduce or drop some programming if volunteers are not available. Others asked whether donating funds would meaningfully remove the city from liability — the city would still need to ensure permits and public-safety measures are in place for events held on or adjacent to city property.
The council agreed to consult the Fundays committee (invite committee representatives to a future discussion) before deciding whether to alter the fireworks contract. No change to the current fireworks vendor contract was approved at the meeting; the existing contract expires next year and the council said it expects to solicit bids at that time.
