City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: May 5, 2025
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Fireworks Sales Permits 2025
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
• Approve the Fireworks Sale Permit Applications submitted by Shield Bearers and Spartan 300 Club; and • Waive Business License Permit Taxes for these two non-profit groups.
BACKGROUND
Every year, non-profit organizations engage in the sale of safe and sane fireworks as a means to generate revenue in support of their various programs, equipment, and facilities. These activities typically coincide with the celebration of 4th of July. Organizations are encouraged to submit their application renewal annually to be reviewed and approved by the City Council.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Attached to this report are the applications submitted by the Shield Bearers and the Spartan 300 Club seeking to obtain Fireworks Sales Permits to sell fireworks for the 4th of July (Attachment 1 & 2).
Fireworks Sales Permits include the following conditions and restrictions:
Conditions and Restrictions of Permit
1. Follow all provisions of the City Ordinance on Fireworks (attached).
2. File a Certificate of Insurance with the City of Gonzales.
AGENDA
ITEM
13 3. Location of the stand and storage along with conditions of operation must be approved by the Fire Marshal and Public Safety Director.
4. A sign must be posted per Section 9.16.30 of GMC, to read: No person shall light or cause or permit to be lighted any fireworks or other combustible articles within any such stand or within ten feet thereof.
5. A fire extinguisher of at least 2 ½ gallon capacity in good working order and condition and of a type approved by the Fire Marshall must be maintained in the stand.
6. No sale of fireworks to anyone under the age of 18 years.
7. No one under the age of 18 years may sell fireworks.
8. Stand or sales location may not encroach upon the public right-of-way.
9. Inspection of stand/booth erection and storage will be completed before commencing sales.
10. Except during the periods when fireworks are being sold, they shall always be maintained in a safety container that meets the approval of the Fire Marshal. The safety container shall be located either outside of the City or if within the City, at a location within the Industrial zoning district.
The address of the storage site shall be provided to the City and access for inspection shall be available upon request. No storage of fireworks shall be permitted at any other locations within the City of Gonzales. The applicant shall make changes to the container or location that may be requested for safety purposes by the Fire Marshal.
• Storage to be no less than 100 feet from inhabited buildings • Storage to be no more than 1000 pounds of fireworks
• Type of approved storage containers:
⸰ Type 1 Magazines shall be a permanent structure such as a building, igloo, tunnel, or dugout. It shall be bullet-resistant, fire-resistant, weather-resistant, theft-resistant, and ventilated.
⸰ Type 2 Magazine shall be a box, trailer, semitrailer, or other mobile facility. It shall be bullet-resistant, fire-resistant, weather-resistant, theft-resistant, and ventilated.
⸰ Type 3 Magazine shall be a “day box” or other portable magazine. It shall be theft-resistant, fire-resistant, and weather-resistant. ⸰ Type 4 Magazine shall be a permanent, portable, or mobile structure, such as a building, igloo, box, semitrailer, or other mobile container, which shall be fireresistant, theft-resistant, and weather-resistant.
11. Clear vegetation from the parking lot to the road base no less than 100 feet. Provide a water supply at on site.
If approved, the California Code of Regulations Title 19, Chapter 6, Article 3, Section 981.3 limits the sale of fireworks from noon, June 28th through noon, July 6th of the current year.
Additionally, staff asks the City Council to waive the Business License Taxes for these two non-profit groups, to further enhance the revenue that may be directed to their respective philanthropic interests.
Attachments:
1. Shield Bearers, Inc.
2. Spartan 300 Club