COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Mark van de Kamp, Public Information Manager
DATE: June 17, 2025
SUBJECT: Presentation – Fireworks Education, Enforcement, and Entertainment
Description:
The City Council will receive a presentation about this year’s fireworks education campaign and enforcement efforts, and the City’s family friendly Fourth of July event.
BACKGROUND:
The city has a three -fold approach to fireworks: education, enforcement, and entertainment with a community event on the Fourth of July. The only time Safe and Sane fireworks may be used within the City Limits is a 12-hour period on the Fourth of July from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The enforcement penalty is a $1,000 fine. Like many cities, Santa Maria experiences rampant use of illegal fireworks. Last year about 65 citations were issued. The intent is to encourage the community to responsibly celebrate the nation’s birthday.
DISCUSSION:
Education:
The City’s annual widespread and bilingual fireworks education campaign is underway.
The focus is safety, be mindful of your neighbors, veterans, and pets. Bilingual messages are placed on social media, local radio stations, City government access TV Comcast Channel 23, posters aboard bu ses and in City offices, the city website, and through the local news media. The Fire Chief speaks in English and Spanish in two public service announcements that also were distributed to KEYT/TELEMUNDO and KSBY. All City - permitted Safe and Sane fireworks booths are required to include one of the City’s fireworks fliers in each bag of pyrotechnics purchased; the city printed 15,000 of these bilingual fliers. Yard signs with wire stakes reading “Celebrate July 4th Neighborly, Noise Sensitive Resident Lives H ere, Be Courteous to Your Neighbors” are again freely available at City Hall for City residents. Staff coordinated messaging with County animal services to inform pet owners how to care for their animals. The fireworks hotline (805) 925-0951 extension 3473 (FIRE) is monitored by the Police Department.
Enforcement:
The Fireworks Enforcement Operation for 2025 has commenced. Police Officers are monitoring social media for fireworks sales and potentially will conduct search warrants for deterrence. Public safety personnel are patrolling for and responding to fireworks as resources allow. Police Officers may be deployed for fireworks enforcement from June 2 30th to July 4th. The City again will have an aircraft equipped with GPS and video to fly over the City on the Fourth of July to immediately and geographically locate any launches of illegal fireworks, enabling authorities to issue citations to the property owner(s). The City Rangers also will be issuing fireworks citations.
Entertainment:
Celebrate Independence Day on Friday, July 4 th at the Elks Baseball Field behind the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, 600 South McClelland Street. This “Red, White and Play!” free family event will take place from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be an outdoor concert from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., refreshments will be available for sale, the Paul Nelson Pool will be open, and there will be picnic games. The city is not doing a fireworks show, or a drone show due to the significant expense.
Fiscal Considerations:
About $4,000 was expended on the fireworks educational campaign.
Impact to the Community:
The City strives to balance the demands of people opposed to illegal fireworks, with available public safety resources and the demands of competing calls for service, and the City’s longstanding tradition of allowing sales of legal “Safe and Sane” fireworks. Staff recognizes the trauma suffered by noise-sensitive residents as well as panicked pets from fireworks. In 2015, Council approved staff’s recommendations to create third -party administrative citations, undertake a comprehensive education campaign, and increase fees for fireworks booths from $183 to $500 to cover costs for staff regulatory oversight and cleanup of fireworks, as well as increase penalties for using fireworks to $1,000.