City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 21, 2024 FROM: FIRE DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT OF SECTION 1.18.040 OF THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CITY’S FIREWORKS LAWS TO $1,500 ISSUE:
Adopt an ordinance amending section 1.18.040 of the Riverside Municipal Code regarding Administrative Penalties for violation of the City’s Fireworks laws from $1,000 to $1,500 per administrative citation introduced on May 14, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt an ordinance amending section 1.18.040 of the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC) to increase the penalty for a violation of the City’s Fireworks laws from one thousand ($1,000) to one thousand five hundred ($1,500) per administrative citation effective 30 days from adoption.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Fireworks are illegal in the City of Riverside. The manufacturing, possession, storage, use, or handling of fireworks is prohibited under Riverside Municipal Code 16.32.375, Section 5601.1.3.
On December 6, 2016, the Riverside City Council adopted Ordinance 6359 which set the penalties for violation of Section 1.18.040 at $1,000.00.
BACKGROUND:
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2022, Emergency rooms treated over ten thousand (10,000) injuries related to Fireworks and eleven (11) deaths. To reduce illegal fireworks activity within the city, the Fire Department, Police Department, and Community Development/Code Enforcement Division are working collaboratively on a fireworks education and enforcement campaign. The campaign's goal is to ensure that residents understand that all fireworks are prohibited in Riverside and that violation may result in administrative citations as well as restitution costs for any damages that may result.
Every year the City and the Fire Department provide outreach efforts to inform Riverside residents that fireworks are illegal in the City of Riverside. Outreach efforts on social media, press releases and flyers are used to communicate to the residents that fireworks are illegal.
DISCUSSION:
On May 7, 2024, the Fire Department presented an update on the fireworks enforcement activities on July 4, 2023. Following discussion, the City Council directed staff to amend RMC section 1.18.040 to raise the citation for illegal fireworks from one thousand dollars ($1,000) to one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and bring back an ordinance for adoption to be in effect for the 4th of July holiday aiming to deter and enforce against the use of illegal fireworks.
To achieve this, on May 14, 2024, the City Council will consider the introduction of the ordinance amending section 1.18.040 of the Riverside Municipal Code regarding Administrative Penalties for violation of the City’s Fireworks laws from $1,000 to $1,500 per administrative citation to ensure the ordinance is approved and the necessary second reading completed to be implemented and in effect by July 4, 2024.
This amendment aims to strengthen the City’s enforcement measures and deter the use of illegal fireworks, promoting safety within the City of Riverside community.
The data from 2022, and 2023 identifies the response and citation totals for the enforcement efforts from the Riverside Police, Fire, and Code personnel.
Year
Total Radio Calls
Total On-View
Total 311 Calls
Total Citations Issued
Total Fireworks Seized
Total Collected from Citations
2023
279
132
82 29
340 pounds
$2,000
2022
209
92 23
37 207 pounds
$16,698
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Items contributing to Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Priorities:
No. 2 Community Well-Being
No. 2.6 Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.
Community Trust – Providing enforcement for fireworks keeps our community safe and ensures community trust between the City of Riverside and its residents.
Equity – The increased fee provides a deterrent to all Ward residents, which will keep all communities within the City of Riverside safe.
Fiscal Responsibility – The City of Riverside is attempting to reduce illegal fireworks to prevent injuries and fire loss to all residents within the community.
Innovation – The City of Riverside team uses all tools available, including Administrative Citations to keep the community safe.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The City of Riverside dedicates sufficient resources to enforce the Riverside Municipal Code to keep the community safe.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to amending this ordinance.
Prepared by: Steve McKinster, Deputy Fire Chief
Approved by: Michael D. Moore, Fire Chief
Attachment:
Ordinance Amendment Section 1.18.040
Fireworks Amendment ● Page 2