Residents question $120,000 fireworks bill as council details safety planning

Residents raised questions about the cost and safety of the recent Fourth of July fireworks during public participation on July 9. Kathy Prost asked about the final cost; city staff said the total came in at approximately $120,000–$121,000 and that the local radio station did not charge for coordination. Staff identified Justin Sandoval as the volunteer who coordinated the music and set up the fireworks sequence; the minutes state he did not receive payment.

Council and staff described the safety planning used for the event, noting monitoring of wind conditions, fuel moisture, relative humidity, fire-dispersion modeling and resource staging. Staff said the city now uses an electronic firing system that reduces the number of firefighters required to manually light shells, freeing six to eight personnel for deployment elsewhere around the event area. Staff also said the dispersion distance deployed during the event was double the distance recommended by the computer model used in planning.

Councilmember Payne and staff recounted a prior incident in which a tree caught fire during a fireworks display and said the city underwent a formal investigation that the minutes describe as involving the U.S. Attorney General; staff stated the investigation validated the city's safety plan and praised staff professionalism, while noting the case remained technically open. Mayor Don Dent said the city received positive community feedback but acknowledged that traffic management following the fireworks remains a continuing challenge.

The minutes record these explanations and public questions; no related formal action or supplemental funding request was taken at this meeting.