Make property owners liable for illegal fireworks on their property

Police & Community SafetyGovernanceCommunity Development

In Plain English

Richmond currently struggles to catch people setting off illegal fireworks during holidays and events. This law makes property owners responsible for any fireworks used on their land, even if someone else lit them. Police and fire departments lack staff to enforce fireworks laws effectively.

Auto-generated summary. Source: official agenda documents.

Votes

Receive the first reading of said ordinance as recommended

Moved by: Councilmember BatesSeconded by: Mayor Butt
Failed

Direct staff to: (1) monitor for the next year the frequency of the illegal fireworks to see if it was a temporary situation due to the pandemic and also over the course of the year, see how other cities with similar ordinances actually made a difference or not; (2) in the meantime, review the policies that the City of Los Angeles had in effect such as going after social media platforms that promoted the illegal sales online; (3) consider a buy-back program for fireworks that the City of Los Angeles was doing; (4) educate the community through social media and other avenues that make it clear that fireworks were illegal and there were substantial state fines associated with them; and (5) set up incentives and rewards for callers to report illegal sales of the illegal products

Moved by: Councilmember McLaughlinSeconded by: Councilmember Jimenez
Passed

4 to 2

Thomas K. ButtNay
Nathaniel BatesNay
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezAye
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisAye
Demnlus Johnson IIIAbstain

Extend the meeting to complete the discussion for Item L-1

Moved by: Councilmember BatesSeconded by: Vice Mayor Johnson III
Passed

5 to 2

Thomas K. ButtAye
Nathaniel BatesAye
Claudia JimenezAye
Eduardo MartinezNay
Gayle McLaughlinAye
Melvin WillisNay
Demnlus Johnson IIIAye