Ontario council approves citywide fee updates, sets new escalating fireworks administrative fines

The Ontario City Council voted to adopt an updated citywide fee schedule and to set an administrative citation for illegal fireworks that the council amended to $1,000 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second and $3,000 for a third. The vote on the fee schedule passed unanimously, 5-0.

The city manager summarized the proposal as a comprehensive update to the city's charges-for-service: of about 773 existing fees, staff are proposing 67 new fees, 29 deletions and roughly 130 revisions and increases, producing approximately $3,700,000 in additional revenue for the coming fiscal year. "The charges for service make up a significant portion of revenue," City Manager Scott Ochoa said, adding that the changes primarily seek full-cost recovery for commercial and industrial development while keeping homeowner-related fees lower.

During the public hearing, commenter Chris Robles asked that the full 2025 fee study and special-event staffing rates be published and flagged apparent inconsistencies in effective dates listed in the packet. Robles said the public should have access to the full fee-study documentation before the council adopts large changes.

Council members questioned whether fireworks enforcement should be handled criminally or administratively. Chief Lopez and the city attorney explained there are two enforcement tracks: criminal prosecution under state law or local prosecution under the municipal code's administrative-citation process. The city attorney noted the municipal code permits administrative penalties and that the council may set citation amounts by resolution.

One council member moved to approve the fee schedule with an amendment setting the administrative-fireworks citation at $1,000/$2,000/$3,000 for successive offenses. A second supported the motion and staff confirmed the amended amounts would be incorporated into the fee resolution and returned in July with a municipal-code amendment.

The council approved the fee schedule, including the amended fireworks administrative-citation amounts, by a 5-0 vote. Staff said they will publish the supporting fee study and return with final ordinance/resolution language and clarified effective dates for the council's July meeting.

The council's action does not eliminate the option to pursue criminal charges under state law; staff said prosecutors may still pursue criminal remedies in alternation with administrative citations depending on the circumstances.