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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Fireworks Regulations Meeting Date: May 27, 2008 Agenda Item Number: C Department: Eugene Fire & EMS Staff Contact: Deputy Chief Joe Zaludek www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-7103 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council has requested information regarding the City’s ability to prohibit the sale and use of retail fireworks. Staff requests no action on this issue, as the purpose of this work session is to provide the City Council with the requested information. BACKGROUND The Eugene City Council has requested information on this issue in the past. The record holds correspondence from the City Attorney to Fire Marshal Dave Nuss dated June 5, 1992, a memorandum from Fire Marshal Mike Thrapp to Deputy Chief Matt Shuler in October 2000, a memorandum from the City Attorney to Fire Chief Randy Groves dated June 30, 2006, and a memorandum from Fire Chief Randy Groves to the City Council dated July 5, 2006. There has been no formal action taken by the council regarding any of these communications to date. For 2008, the retail sales period in Oregon is June 23 through July 7. The deadline for submitting retail sales permit applications to the State Fire Marshal’s Office was April 15. Permitted retailers are currently well into their purchases of fireworks inventory and other preparations for this season. In 2007, a total of 32 permits were issued within the City for retail fireworks sales. The Eugene 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials are scheduled for June 27 through July 6. There is a direct conflict due to the extraordinary staffing requirements for all area public safety agencies for the Olympic Trials. This means there are not enough Fire or Police resources available to sustain a concerted enforcement program for the 2008 Fourth of July fireworks season. Additionally, areas such as the River Road patchwork of jurisdictions will create an enforcement and political challenge with neighbors and neighborhoods being subject to conflicting regulations for the same activity. Also, there is no present interest in fireworks ordinance changes on the part of Springfield. RELATED CITY POLICIES This topic relates to the following City policies: ·City Code Section 2.019 (1) authorizes the City Manager or designee to adopt rules for implementation. This is generally a several month process. Z:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080527\S080527C.doc