TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Laura B. Maguire, City Clerk
DATE:September 15, 2026
SUBJECT: Grand Jury Report – Public Complaints About Fireworks RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the Mayor to provide written response to June 23, 2026, Ventura County Grand Jury report, “Countywide Response to Public Complaints About Fireworks,” and forward response to the Grand Jury.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Staff time to evaluate the Grand Jury report and prepare a response is included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
On June 23, 2026, the City received the 2025–2026 Ventura County Civil Grand Jury report, “Countywide Response to Public Complaints About Fireworks.” The Grand Jury examined the community, public safety, and operational impacts of legal and illegal fireworks, including fire risk, noise, impacts on pets and individuals, and demands on law enforcement and fire resources throughout Ventura County’s ten cities and unincorporated areas. The report recommends stronger coordination among agencies, consistent tracking and response to complaints, use of enforcement technology and state best practices, and adoption of fireworks host liability ordinances by the County of Ventura and cities such as Thousand Oaks that do not yet have such an ordinance in place.
Grand Jury Report – Public Complaints About Fireworks
September 15, 2026
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In the report (Attachment #1), the Grand Jury found that illegal fireworks remain a persistent countywide enforcement and public safety concern, driven in part by differing public views, nonspecific complaint information, inconsistent agency response practices, and limited effectiveness of education and citation efforts.
Although fireworks discharge is generally prohibited throughout Ventura County, the report notes that “safe and sane” fireworks legally purchased from Fillmore may be transported and used unlawfully in other jurisdictions. The report identifies enhanced enforcement tools, including drone technology, to improve response times and offender identification, and notes that local host liability ordinances may provide an additional mechanism to support accountability and enforcement.
The Grand Jury issued 12 findings, nine of which apply to the City, and five recommendations, two of which apply to the City. The findings are listed on page 15 of the report (Attachment #1). The two recommendations are listed below:
1. Develop a fireworks host liability ordinance.
2. Request that the Ventura County Fire Department regularly interface with the Ventura County Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee to provide updates on recommendations from CAL FIRE’s Fireworks Enforcement Task Force.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933.05, the recipient of the report is required to state whether it agrees or disagrees with each finding in the report and explain the basis for disagreeing with any finding thereof.
The City must also report how it proposes to address, or has addressed, the specific recommendations in the report. The responses to the report must include one of the following allowable actions for each recommendation:
1. The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary of the implemented actions;
2. The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a timeframe for implementation;
3. The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. The timeframe shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the Grand Jury Report; or
4. The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation provided.
Grand Jury Report – Public Complaints About Fireworks
September 15, 2026
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Per the Grand Jury Report, the City is to respond to Findings F-01, F-02, F-03, F- 04, F-05, F-06, F-07, F-08, and F-12, and recommendations R-02 and R-04. The City’s response has been prepared and can be found in the Response to 2025- 2026 Ventura County Grand Jury Report (Attachment #2).
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
D. Maintain strong commitment to public safety (including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management) to ensure City remains one of the safest Cities in the United States with a population over 100,000.
PREPARED BY: Sandra M. Delgado, Deputy City Clerk
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Ventura County Grand Jury Report
Attachment #2 – Response to Grand Jury Report
CCD:510-40\sd\H:\COMMON\Referrals \09152026 Grand Jury Fireworks Staff Report.docx