Advertisement

Costa Mesa Councilwoman Leece fails at attempt to control fireworks

Share

Costa Mesa’s debate about fireworks reignited this week at City Hall, with youth sports and arts boosters rallying at the City Council meeting Tuesday to preserve the selling of fireworks for fundraising purposes.

Citing years of problems around the 4th of July — smoke, noise and their effect on pets — Councilwoman Wendy Leece offered suggestions to limit fireworks.

Leece recommended sales on July 3 and 4, and discharge on July 4 only.

Sales currently are allowed from June 30 through July 4, and the use of legal “safe and sane” fireworks is permitted on July 2, 3 and 4.

Advertisement

Leece also suggested forming a new police task force, distributing information about citations for using illegal fireworks and hosting a city-sponsored July 4 celebration that would feature a fireworks show and fundraising booths for booster clubs.

The recommendations were created by her own study group of concerned residents.

“It does seem that the problem has gotten worse over the years,” she said, adding that her suggestions would not outright ban fundraising through fireworks sales but make them more “reasonable.”

Leece said she realizes the need to raise funds and had worked fireworks booths for her children years ago.

Her four colleagues soundly rejected her proposal but signed off on an alternative.

They directed city CEO Tom Hatch to create a new study group to examine the problems surrounding illegal fireworks.

Leece dissented on the motion.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger, a longtime youth sports booster, said limiting fireworks sales would hurt the groups that heavily rely on them to fund youth activities. If people don’t want fireworks, he said, the city or concerned residents should find other ways to raise the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to fund youth activities.

“I’ll take those checks,” Mensinger said. “The kids will love them.”

Other booster representatives stressed to the council that fireworks sales are their best bet. More money is raised from the summertime stands than from bingo games, bake sales and other fundraisers, they said.

Councilwoman Sandy Genis, though voting against Leece’s suggestions, said she too is concerned about excessive discharge of fireworks beyond Independence Day itself.

“Then it’s just whenever,” she said. “I think it maybe even lessens the importance of the Fourth.”

Veteran Councilman Gary Monahan noted that fireworks — with their problems and benefits — have divided the community for years and questioned Leece’s timing on the issue, given that an election is pending.

Leece, who is prohibited by term limits from seeking to retain her seat on the council after serving two four-year terms, is running for the Orange County Water District.

“It’s been 18 years of people coming up, complaining about fireworks in town and trying to change things,” Monahan said. “What’s the rush? I don’t know why we’re here, quite frankly.”

Advertisement