Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hanford moves to continue drone‑assisted 'It's Not Worth It' fireworks enforcement after July results
Summary
Fire Chief Perkins reported dozens of citations, drone evidence of hundreds of illegal fireworks on July 4, and staff recommended continuing the campaign with an $11,000 near‑term appropriation and an estimated annual budget of about $49,000; council approved continuation.
The Hanford Fire Department asked council to continue its "It's Not Worth It" illegal fireworks enforcement and outreach after staff presented early results from July enforcement operations.
Fire Chief Perkins told the council that the July enforcement effort coincided with a modest increase in 9‑1‑1 calls over the holiday weekend and an uptick in fireworks‑related calls. Staff reported that drone operations documented several hundred illegal fireworks on July 4 (staff provided counts in the transcript of about 346–347 observed by drone during the enforcement window) and that 34 citations were issued and later mailed to property owners. Chief Perkins said some fines were being paid and others were in appeal; staff estimated that if all citations were collected the total monetary amount would be in the low six‑figure range, but that collection rates and appeals remain pending.
Captain Matt Martinez, the department’s drone lead, and staff analyst Valeria described operational lessons: battery‑charging capacity limited continuous flights until faster chargers and extra batteries were procured; visible drone beacons and signage were part of the public outreach strategy; and staff emphasized outreach to landlords because Hanford’s municipal code assigns strict liability to property owners in some enforcement scenarios. Chief Perkins said the department came in under its initial $60,000 appropriation and asked the council to appropriate $11,000 for continued outreach this fiscal year and to budget an estimated $49,000 annually for ongoing program operations. Council voted to continue the program and approve the appropriation.
