With wildfires expected to be at record levels this year what is the City of Rilato thinking?
Rialto to revisit fireworks rules
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
RIALTO - There might be more fireworks stands in the city as the the Fourth of July approaches.
The City Council tonight is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would increase the number of licenses to operate safe-and-sane fireworks stands in the city, from 18 to 33.
The Municipal Code allows the council to change the amount of licenses issued, with a maximum set at one per 3,000 residents.
Councilman Edward Palmer said Monday the change will help several nonprofit groups that have been on a waiting list to get fireworks booths in order to raise funds.
"We were limited," Palmer said. "We needed to provide an avenue for those civic organizations that wanted a booth."
Councilwoman Deborah Robertson cited safety concerns and said she will oppose the increase in permits. More sales means more use and a bigger burden on the city's fire and police departments, she said.
"In this day and age, do we literally need to be sending our money up in smoke?" she said.
Councilman Joe Baca doesn't think more fireworks sold necessarily translates into more safety problems for the city. And the city should help those charities for whom the holiday is the biggest fundraiser of the year, he said.
"We've got to see the bigger picture," Baca said.
Fire Chief Robert Espinosa could not be reached for comment.
The council also is expected to adopt an urgency ordinance that would give the city administrator authority to issue licenses, verify compliance, revoke licenses for noncompliance and extend the time to file an application for a license.
