Garden Grove to Consider Putting Fireworks Ban on Ballot

The City Council of Garden Grove, one of five Orange County cities that allow the sales and use of fireworks, tonight will consider asking voters whether they want to ban them.

California began regulating fireworks in 1939, giving cities the option of allowing their sale. Today, about 270 cities allow them, and nearly all fireworks are sold by volunteers raising money for service groups, schools, youth sports and churches.

“Fireworks are a matter of tradition and patriotism here,” said Garden Grove Councilman Marc Leyes, who opposes the ban. “Whether you’re a family setting off fireworks at a neighborhood block party or attending a city function, it’s good, wholesome American fun, and it’s the major fundraising source for dozens of community organizations.”

Councilman Harry Krebs, who placed the item on the council’s agenda, said he began rethinking fireworks sales last year after riding with police on the Fourth of July. He said that because Garden Grove is one of the few cities that allows fireworks, people from all over the region came into the city to buy them and set them off.

His proposal would allow voters to decide the issue Nov. 7.

Costa Mesa, Buena Park, Santa Ana and Stanton also allow fireworks sales.

About 45 groups sell fireworks in Garden Grove from July 1-4, the dates allowed by law, according to City Manager Matt Fertal.

“Most every year we hear complaints from residents and we have discussions about it,” he said. “It seems to be evenly split throughout the community.”

The Pacifica High football boosters made about $8,000 last year from fireworks sales, about 30% of the club’s budget, helping to buy uniforms, helmets and other equipment.

“Selling fireworks is an institution,” said Tony Flores, president of Pacifica’s football booster club. “That’s how we celebrate.”

But Flores, who has run for mayor and a seat on the council, said he realized the sale of fireworks in Garden Grove was bound to fizzle out.

“I think the writing is on the wall,” he said. “So many other cities have banned them. It’s going to happen here too, eventually. We have already instituted other forms of fundraising to replace fireworks sales.”

Some other cities ended fireworks sales after major problems. Anaheim banned fireworks sales in 1987 after a bottle rocket started a fire that destroyed 94 apartments.

The Buena Park City Council enacted a ban in 2003, but it never went into effect because residents forced the issue onto the ballot and repealed the ban.

In Stanton, an advisory vote led the council to ban fireworks sales in 1988. Seven years later, however, the council allowed them once again.

Santa Ana Councilman Jose Solario said his city had reduced the number of days fireworks were sold.

Krebs’ proposal is not the first attempt to ban them in Garden Grove. In 1989, the council took no action on a proposal from the city’s Neighborhood Improvement and Conservation Commission to prohibit their sale.

Councilwoman Janet Nguyen said she was keeping an open mind about Krebs’ proposal, but she believed the city’s nonprofits would have a difficult time surviving without fireworks sales.

“We depend on a lot of these groups to sustain the city,” Nguyen said. “And I’m not sure if most of our nonprofits would be able to stay in business if fireworks were not available to sell.”