Council adopts unchanged rules for 2025 fireworks permit lottery

The Dixon City Council adopted administrative regulations to govern the 2025 lottery for 'safe and sane' fireworks sales permits, keeping the current process largely unchanged and retaining a six‑booth limit.

Fire Chief Keith explained staff recommends continuing the same selection categories and quantities used over the past decade and expects the drawing to be held in mid‑January. “Basically, to implement the same process weve used for the last roughly 10 years … were still looking at issuing permits for 6 booths throughout the city,” the chief said.

Several councilmembers and public speakers discussed fairness in the random draw — one councilmember proposed giving additional entries to applicants who repeatedly fail to be selected to improve long‑term equity; staff cautioned that some organizations accept permits and later withdraw because of staffing demands. The council approved the regulations by roll call.

Next steps: staff will schedule the lottery in mid‑January and continue to accept applications under the adopted rules.