Title
Consider and take action on an ordinance amending Section 46-153 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of League City to allow limited fireworks during the New Year's Holiday and Independence Day Holiday (Councilmembers Tressler, Crews and Saunders)
Background:
Approval of this ordinance will allow limited fireworks during the New Year's Holiday and Independence Day Holiday. If approved, staff will bring back a companion agenda item to update the fire marshal fee schedule to include a $15 fee for an annual firework permit.
Summary of Changes:
• Age Restriction: a person 18 years of age or older who has received a permit from the City to discharge fireworks during the New Year’s Holiday and the Independence Day Holiday.
• Discharge Time.
- For the New Year’s Holiday: between Sunset on December 31st to 1:00am on January 1st.
- For the Independence Day Holiday: between Sunset on July 4th to 1:00am on July 5th.
- “Sunset” shall mean the time of sunset as determined by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for League City.
- All annual permits will expire at 1:00am on January 1st of each year.
• Authorized Fireworks. Only Fireworks 1.4G will be allowed to be discharged with a permit. These types of fireworks are commonly called "consumer or personal use fireworks."
• Discharge Conditions. Each person discharging fireworks under a permit must comply with the following conditions:
- Regardless of permit, no person may discharge fireworks during drought conditions (when there is a burn ban in effect or when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) exceeds 600)
- There shall be no structure, vehicles, or person within a 25-foot diameter of the discharge location.
- Fireworks must be discharged on a non-combustible surface of sufficient size to contain the entire portion of the ground display.
- No more than 25 people can be at the location listed on the permit at the time the fireworks are discharged unless approved by the City of League City Fire Marshal's Office
- The person with the permit shall be responsible for cleaning and removing all firework debris.
- The person with the permit shall comply with all Texas Department of Insurance Requirements.
- The person with the permit shall not be under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
- The person with the permit shall have an extinguishment device (ex. minimum of 5-gallon bucket of water, minimum of 5lb ABC fire extinguisher, and/or an operational water hose) readily available at the site of firework discharge.
- Discharged fireworks shall be soaked in a bucket of water for several hours, prior to disposing of the debris in a trash can.
• Prohibited Locations for Fireworks Discharge. Even with a permit, fireworks shall not be discharged at the following locations:
- Multi-family residential complexes (ex. Apartment complexes).
- Within 600 feet of any church, hospital other than a veterinary hospital, an asylum, a licensed childcare center, or a public or private primary or secondary school or institution of higher education unless person received authorization in writing from that organization and such authorization shall be submitted at the time of permit application submission.
- Within 100 feet of a place where flammable liquids or flammable compressed gases are stored or dispensed.
- Within 100 feet of a place where fireworks are stored or sold.
• Confiscation of fireworks. Any violation of these conditions may result in fines, cancellation of the permit, and/or confiscation of fireworks.
Attachments:
1. Proposed Ordinance
2. Sample Permit Application
FUNDING
{ } Funds are available from Account #________
{ } Requires Budget Amendment to transfer from Account #______ to Account #______
{X} If approved, a general fund revenue account will be created for annual firework permitting fees
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{ } Addresses Strategic Planning Critical Success Factor # ______
{x} NOT APPLICABLE