Del Norte County supervisors will get their first look at an ordinance that seeks to discourage folks from bringing illegal fireworks into the community.
The proposed regulations are expected to come before the full Board on Tuesday about three months after a fireworks explosion created a mass casualty incident on South Beach during the Fourth of July.
They’re consistent with an ordinance Crescent City already has on the books, said District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey. The proposed regulations also coincide with an ordinance the Harbor District Board of Commissioners is considering, though Starkey noted that harbor commissioners are considering banning all fireworks.
“That was super important for us to have very consistent ordinances across the board,” she told Redwood Voice Community News on Monday. “At our last ad-hoc meeting we decided that we couldn’t really move forward with messaging and education until we have those ordinances in place.”
Since an explosion of fireworks on South Beach sent 14 people to the hospital with injuries, an ad-hoc committee consisting of city, county and harbor officials as well as law enforcement and emergency responders have been brainstorming ways to stem the flow of illegal fireworks into the community.
The county’s proposed ordinance would impose fines for anyone who possesses, uses, stores, sells and/or displays “dangerous fireworks.” Those fines, including a late charge, are $1,250 for a first offense; $2,500 for a second offense; and $4,000 for a third offense.
The State of California defines “dangerous fireworks” as firecrackers, sky rockets and rockets, Roman candles and sparklers more than 10-inches long and one-quarter of an inch in diameter.
Crescent City’s fines for violating its fireworks ordinance are identical with the county and Harbor District’s proposed ordinances.
Crescent City Harbor Commissioners, however, have discussed prohibiting all fireworks within the marina and at Whaler Island Groin while permitting those that carry the “Safe and Sane” seal on South Beach and, possibly, North Beach.
According to Crescent City Interim Harbormaster Mike Rademaker, the Board of Commissioners is expected to weigh in on designated areas for “Safe and Sane” fireworks before approving its ordinance.
The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Flynn Center, 981 H Street in Crescent City. The agenda and Board reports are available here and meetings are streamed live on YouTube.
