Petition targets July 4th tradition

Michael Miller

Nearly 200 Costa Mesa residents have signed a petition asking the

City Council to stop the sale and use of fireworks within city

limits, rekindling an ongoing debate in one of the few Orange County

cities that has not implemented a ban on Fourth of July pyrotechnics.

At the council’s meeting Tuesday, a small group of residents

delivered the petition, which charges that fireworks on city streets

pose a safety hazard for neighbors, threaten animals and lead to

trash and debris. The petitioners seek to ban all fireworks with the

exception of shows at the Orange County Fairgrounds and other

professional venues.

“I enjoy watching them from a distance,” said Helen Evers, one of

the leaders of the petition drive. “I just don’t enjoy listening to

them every night. Nothing patriotic about this nonsense.”

Costa Mesa is one of five cities in Orange County -- along with

Stanton, Garden Grove, Buena Park and Santa Ana -- that permit

residents to purchase and set off their own fireworks. According to

the city’s municipal code, residents may discharge fireworks only

between 4 and 10 p.m. on July 4. In addition, residents may purchase

only state-approved “safe and sane” fireworks that do not fly or

leave the ground.

However, both residents and city officials acknowledged that Costa

Mesa has had problems with residents using illegal fireworks and

setting them off during prohibited times.

“We do have some problems every year with enforcement,” said Carol

Proctor, the city’s management analyst. “We get a lot of complaint

calls from people who see or hear illegal fireworks being shot off,

and we have people who are concerned about their pets, because the

pets seem to be not very happy about the noise produced by that.”

Last year, in response to chronic code violations, the Costa Mesa

fire and police departments conducted a special enforcement program

on July 4, allotting nine units specifically to handle

fireworks-related incidents. Fire Marshal Tom McDuff said the program

succeeded particularly in keeping fireworks out of city parks, where

they are illegal.

The petitioners, however, would like to do away with private

fireworks shows altogether, claiming that both adults and children in

their neighborhoods violate city rules by illegally launching the

items.

“What we’d like to do is have all the fireworks in Costa Mesa in

one place, as some cities do,” said resident Jeanne Moody. “They

provide an arena, a stadium or whatever, and everyone goes there on

the Fourth of July evening and has a great time, safe and sound.”

In November 1990, the city of Costa Mesa put an item on its

general election ballot, asking whether residents wanted to ban

fireworks. Responses were divided almost evenly, and the city did not

pursue further measures on the issue.

Councilman Gary Monahan said he supported keeping fireworks in

Costa Mesa, noting that they were traditional and that his family

enjoyed them every year.

“There’s been a petition to ban fireworks every year since time

began,” Monahan said. “I don’t have any interest in banning them, and

if they were banned, I’d have to explain to my kids why.”

* MICHAEL MILLER covers education and may be reached at (714)

966-4617 or by e-mail at [email protected].