Council exempts private fireworks sponsors from permit fees
Fireworks went on in 2010 despite a lawsuit. Photo: Brittany Comunale
The San Diego City Council today gave final approval to municipal code changes that exempt private sponsors of fireworks shows on city-owned property from having to apply for special permits.
The changes affect privately run shows where food and alcohol are not served, unless they take place at certain locations like Petco Park where food and alcohol sales already take place. City officials say they bring the municipal code in line with current practice.
In doing so, council members denied an appeal of its tentative decision last month by environmental attorney Marco Gonzalez, who sued the city and organizers of a July 4 fireworks display at La Jolla Cove, which is near a
marine sanctuary.
Environmentalists believe debris from fireworks that falls into water can be harmful to marine life.
Gonzalez told the council he offered Monday to settle the lawsuit and cut his fees in half, to an estimated $200,000. There was no announcement by the City Attorney’s Office on his offer, but Councilman Marti Emerald, who took his side last month, called his offer “an affront to this council and the taxpayers.”
The convoluted process caused by the appeal led to three council votes, two of which ended up 6-2 and the other 7-1. Councilmen David Alvarez and Todd Gloria were the dissenters this time, saying it wasn’t clear to them that the city was simply conforming to past practices.
The majority of council members said environmental concerns over fireworks were addressed by recently adopted regulations by the state Regional Water Quality Control Board, which requires organizers of shows to file for annual permits and prove they have cleaned up debris. However, those new state rules are not as stringent as what was originally proposed.
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