Bell Gardens directs staff to draft ordinance allowing limited 'safe and sane' fireworks stands, asks enforcement plan

The Bell Gardens City Council on April 13 directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would allow the sale and use of state‑approved "safe and sane" fireworks under a limited vendor program.

Staff summarized outreach results — a resident survey (March 15–April 6) recorded 533 submissions and about 79% support among respondents who identified as Bell Gardens residents — and reviewed historical permit counts and enforcement data. Staff presented options for selecting sellers (council approval, ministerial approval, first‑come or lottery) and noted different eligibility rules used by area cities.

After discussion, council set the initial program as three vendor slots divided into pools: faith‑based organizations, school or youth sports/school organizations, and Bell Gardens nonprofits. Staff will administer a selection process (lotteries within pools unless administrative first‑come rules are selected) and prepare a draft ordinance for council consideration; Chief of Police reported current drone capability limits and described enforcement constraints, while a private fireworks vendor (Richard Legaspie of TNT) said organizers typically split receipts with community groups and estimated revenue potential per stand.

Council also directed the police chief and staff to return with a separate enforcement item that could be considered before the Fourth of July, identifying proven practices other cities have used (host ordinances, targeted camera/enforcement strategies and citation mailings) to reduce illegal fireworks use.

What’s next: Staff will draft a fireworks ordinance per council direction and return with details of the selection procedure and an enforcement update in the coming weeks. The council also asked staff to evaluate whether a fireworks show for the city would be cost‑effective versus the existing paid laser show contract.