SAN CLEMENTE : City Will Sponsor 1994 Fireworks Show

While it’s too late for this year’s Independence Day fireworks show at the Municipal Pier, the City Council has set aside money to resume sponsorship of the patriotic tradition next year.

Following a lengthy budget meeting, the council voted unanimously Thursday to include at least $8,000 in the fiscal 1993-94 budget for next year’s show, guaranteeing the 40-year-old tradition will continue without having to rely on private community groups to pay for the event like the last two years.

With the new police services contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, it will be much cheaper in the future to sponsor the fireworks show, city officials say.

“If we do so much cutting back in San Clemente that life cannot be fun, we’re not doing what we need to be doing,” Councilman Scott Diehl said.

Until last year, the city had always paid for the fireworks show and absorbed the costs of providing police and fire protection. But when budget cuts left the city unable to pay for the show last year, local businessman Rick Anderson stepped in and raised $29,000 under the banner “The Show Must Go On.”

This year, the San Clemente Ocean Festival committee took over the task and has struggled to raise more than $20,000 to pay for the show.

While everything is set for the 9 p.m. fireworks display Sunday at the pier --which is free to the public--the committee is still a bit short on funds, said Doug Hughes, who’s heading the fund-raising drive.

But with donations still coming in, and a fund-raiser set for the evening of the show at Fisherman’s Restaurants, Hughes said, he’s optimistic the committee will break even. Donation cans decorated as firecrackers can still be found all over town, he added.