MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: CITY COUNCIL STEPHEN C. LIEBERMAN, FIRE CHIEF STEVEN N. ANNIBALI, POLICE CHIEF STATUS REPORT REGARDING THE SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS DATE: AUGUST 25, 2015 RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended the City Council receive the status report regarding the sale and use of fireworks and provide direction to staff. BACKGROUND: As a follow-up to City Council communications with the community related to the recent July 4th holiday, staff was requested to present statistical information related to the sale and use of "safe and sane" fireworks (approved by the California State Fire Marshall), along with information regarding requests for service related to the use of both legal and illegal fireworks. ANALYSIS OF ISSUES: Sale and use of "Safe and Sane" Fireworks in the City of Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 governs the sale and use of legal fireworks within the City. The program is managed by the Five Cities Fire Authority. A maximum number of six (6) non-profit organizations are permitted to sell fireworks annually. In 2014, six non-profit organizations generated a total profit of $62,701.82 with three of the groups netting $15,000.00 each. Through the application process, non-profit groups have been preidentified for 2016-2019 with a list of those organizations attached to this report. Within San Luis Obispo County, the following communities allowed the use of State Fire Marshall-approved fireworks in 2015: City of Arroyo Grande City of Grover Beach City of Morro Bay (limited to use on private property) Oceano Community Services District San Miguel Community Services District Templeton Community Services District Item 11.a. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS AUGUST 25, 2015 PAGE2 Use of illegal fireworks Illegal fireworks, commonly described as "any firework that flies into the air, darts across the ground or explodes," were discharged in Arroyo Grande, as well as Grover Beach and Oceano. These explosive devices continue to be a concern due to the associated risk of human injury and fire threat. The use of these devices in Hollister (San Benito County) during a neighborhood block party resulted in a malfunction that caused multiple injuries. Public Safety Impacts/Data Five Cities Fire There was additional staffing during the evening of July 3rd by the Fire Chief. Staffing was augmented on July 4th with an additional engine company, and all three chief level officers on patrol. Call volume was consistent with past years (summary document attached), and the only significant call classified as a "fire" was for a possible transient camp fire in the open space off of James Way. There were no reported medical calls related to the use of fireworks. Arroyo Grande Police Department During the holiday beginning the evening of July 3rd and continuing to the early hours of July 5th the Arroyo Grande Police Department responded to more than 189 calls for service. These included more than 11 fights I disturbances; an assault; 5 thefts; 2 burglaries; 8 suspicious persons/vehicles; 5 drunk driving arrests; 27 traffic stops; several drunks; two runaway juveniles; 2 traffic accidents; a death investigation and a host of other calls, including 27 calls for illegal fireworks. No citations were issued for the municipal code violation related to fireworks. With limited patrol resources, officers had to prioritize their responses based on potential severity. ALTERNATIVES: The following alternatives are provided for the Council's consideration: Receive and file report with no additional action; Provide direction to Staff related to the future sale of legal fireworks; Provide direction to Staff related to funding the additional resources required to adequately enforce the restriction prohibiting illegal fireworks. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: No environmental review is required for this item. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS: The agenda was mailed to community non-profit organizations included on the Five Cities Fire Authority Eligibility List. The Agenda was posted in front of City Hall on Thursday, August 20, 2015. The Agenda and report were posted on the City's website on Friday, August 21, 2015. Item 11.a. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS AUGUST 25, 2015 PAGE3 Attachments: 1. Five Cities Fire Authority Fireworks Eligibility List 2. Five Cities Fire Authority Calls for Service Summary 3. Fox News Report - Hollister Fireworks Injuries Item 11.a. - Page 3
ATTACHMENT 1 FIVE CITIES FIRE AUTHORITY Fireworks Eligibility List CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE 2016 PERMITS 1 Kiwanis Club of Arroyo Grande Valley 2 Arroyo Grande Valley Little League 3 BSA Troop 234 4 Camp Fire Council of the Central Coast 5 Coastal Christian School 6 Central Coast Celebration Chorus 2017 PERMITS 1 Central Coast Condors 2 American Legion Auxiliary Unit #136 3 Five Cities Girls Softball Association 4 AGHS Eagle Robotics Team 5 Five Cities Youth Football League, Inc. 6 Arroyo Grande High School Eagle Boosters 2018 PERMITS 1 Arroyo Grande Optimist Club 2 New Hope Foursquare Church 3 Gospel Lighthouse 4 Arroyo Grande High School Band Boosters 5 Arroyo Grande in Bloom 6 Knights of Columbus Council No. 1375 2019 PERMITS 1 American Legion Post 136 2 American Youth Soccer Organization 3 Exchange Club of the Central Coast 4 5 6 Rev. 07/15/2015 Item 11.a. - Page 4
ATTACHMENT 2 Five Cities Fire Authority July 4th Response Summary 2011-2015 2011 AG GB OCE Mutual Aid Fire 2 2 EMS 1 4 2 7 2 1 1 2 1 6 3 10 4 2012 AG GB OCE Mutual Aid Fire 1 2 3 EMS 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 3 6 2 2013 AG GB OCE Mutual Aid Fire EMS 5 5 1 2 2 4 7 2 9 1 Item 11.a. - Page 5
2014 AG GB OCE Mutual Aid Fire 1 1 EMS 3 4 7 3 1 1 3 3 0 3 9 12 3 2015 AG GB OCE Mutual Aid Fire 1 1 2 EMS 1 4 5 2 2 2 4 3 9 0 Item 11.a. - Page 6
Illegal fireworks injures 5 at California block party, suspected in some destructive fires/ F... Page 2of3 ATTACHMENT 3 Illegal fireworks injures 5 at California block party, suspected in some destructive fires Pubr1shed Juli' 05 2015 I Associated Prass LOS A"lGELES - Illegal fireworks were believed to have ignited fires that threatened homes and destroyed property In several locations, as well as caused an explosion at a block party that sent at least five people to the hospital, authonbes across California said Sunday as they assessed damages and injunes from the July Fourth celebration. In the city of Hollister, a man was arrested on suspicion of setting off a large mortar during a block party Saturday night Once ht, the device fell over and shot projectiles into a crowd, hitting several people, police said. A child was flown to a San Francisco Bay area hospital with severe lnjunes, several children suffered moderate to severe bums and one person had a possible broken leg. "This incident is a grim reminder of the dangers of fireworks. Some of these children will be scarred for life," Hollister's police chief, OaVld Westnck, said in a statement Shawn Gregory Bourdet, 35, told officers he was responsible for what happened and was arrested at the scene, the statement said Meanwhile, Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators suspect Illegal fireworks sparked a fire that caused minor injunes to four firefighters and caused up to $3 million In damage to three warehouses They said witnesses reported seeing a group of young men shoot fireworks at mattresses outside one of the warehouses in an industnal area of South Los Angeles. The lire spread to the Inside and several nearby buildings. Fireworks debris was found at the scene, authorities said. "They said It's a total loss," Daniela Avila, who works at a fumhure company owned by her boyfriend, told KABC-TV. "This Is our second home, if anything our first home. We spent more time here than at our fyonn home so this Is hard," Avila said. In Northern California, officials said fireworks may have started a wildfire that burned more than 320 acres and threatened homes In the city of Vacaville. The fire started near a park Saturday night and embers were quickly spread by winds that gusted to 40 mph, said Mark Mazzaferro, a spokesman for the city between San Francisco and Sacramento. "It's bone dry out there," Mazzaferro said. ''Talk about a recipe for a big lire. About 125 people left their homes in voluntary evacuations Several homes were threatened, but no structures were burned, he said. A crew of at least 130 firefighters worked throughout the night to battie the blaze. Witnesses reported seeing someone playing with fireworks In the park shortly before the fire began, Mazzaferro said. Further north In the Rio Linda area of Sacramento, a grass fire threatened several homes, damaged five outbuildings and 1 o cars and burned about SIX acres, the Sacramento Metro Fire District said One firefighter was hospitalized aner suffenng a muscular Injury while battling the blaze. KHTK-TV reports authonties confirmed Sunday that the lire was caused by fireworks. URL http://ww\\.foxnews.com/us/2015/07 /05/illegal-fireworks-injures-5-at-califomia-block-par... 8/13/2015 Item 11.a. - Page 7
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