This might be the last year you can use fireworks in Gig Harbor. Here’s why
Fireworks can only be discharged on the Fourth of July this year in Gig Harbor, according to a new policy that took effect April 26.
Now council members are discussing banning fireworks completely starting in 2023.
“Staff was directed to draft an ordinance, which relates to the sale and discharge of fireworks within the city limits in Gig Harbor and amends ‘Chapter 8.20’ — effectively banning the sale and discharge of fireworks within the city limits and establishes an effective date which per state law would be 12 months after passage which passed at the second reading would make it effective for the July 4, 2023 holiday,” Paul Rice, the city’s building official and fire marshal, said at the June 13 City Council meeting.
This ordinance will return for a second reading at the June 27 City Council meeting. If the ordinance is passed, it would take effect for the 2023 holiday.
Meanwhile, the new policy that takes effect this year states that discharging fireworks within city limits is legally permitted only on July 4 from 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Rice clarified that toy caps and sparklers don’t count as fireworks under state law.
Opinions from members of the community:
Eight members of the community sent written comments that City Clerk Josh Stecker read at the City Council meeting. All were in favor of passing the ordinance.
They said, in part:
- “I want to protect my home and my family against wildfires.”
- “It is only a matter of when and how many people will be killed and homes burned.”
- “Fireworks pose an ever increasing threat to the people and property in Gig Harbor.”
- “Even if a fire is sparked on your own property and only your home and trees burn down, we are all adversely impacted by that one ‘personal’ act.”
Others spoke at the meeting.
Katrina Dohn spoke as someone who sold fireworks for 29 years. The fireworks sales helped her foster daughter have the opportunity to participate in gymnastics, which she said is a very expensive sport.
“None of us argue the dangers. Nobody likes the booms. I sold them for years and I don’t even like them,” Dohn said. “But we live in an area where we have tribal land selling fireworks regardless of a ban. I would encourage you to consider a modified ban. We all want the same thing but there’s a couple of paths to it. I would encourage you to consider a modified ban allowing ground-based fireworks.”
The council also heard from a Gig Harbor High School coach.
“It’s our major fundraiser that we do which allows a majority of the girls to play free of cost and gets them all their gear and everything that we need as well as being able to be out and involved in the community,” soccer coach Katie Bennett said.
Ethics concerns:
TNT Fireworks representative Randy Cearley recently worked with the city of Port Orchard, going back and fourth for five months before they decided to not go forward with an entire ban, he told the Gig Harbor council members.
“This is something that concerns me. Myself and the industry found out about this very meeting that’s on tonight at noon today,” Cearley said. “Two weeks is not enough time. Nobody reached out to TNT or any of the other businesses to even talk about the modifications. Katrina just talked about there being different levels of fireworks. Fountains, they can’t go any higher than 15 feet in the air and they’re all localized fireworks. But you don’t know about that because nobody reached out to anyone from TNT Fireworks.”
Council member Seth Storset also had concerns.
“This makes me think the council needs to look at how we conduct ourselves,” Storset said. “We need this to be well communicated across all parties. Randy from TNT mentioned he heard about it for the first time today, which tells me this wasn’t communicated to all parties and I would urge us to get more time to get more feedback.”
Storset also said he was concerned that council members representing the city were at a city booth at the farmers market with a petition to ban fireworks in the city and sent out a blast e-mail from their city account. Storset didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry from The Gateway asking him to elaborate about his concerns and which council members he was talking about.
Council member Le Rodenberg said at the meeting that it wasn’t proper behavior for council members to solicit no votes and letters to vote no. He said he supported the proposal made by Dohn to take a closer look at the differences between types of fireworks.
“We do not typically notify interested parties about agenda items for our meetings,” City Clerk, Josh Stecker told The Gateway Friday. “Residents can sign up for general alerts on the city’s website that will inform them when a meeting agenda is posted. Occasionally, state law or the Gig Harbor Municipal Code will require us to notify neighbors of specific land use actions adjacent to their property. I believe most cities operate similarly to Gig Harbor as far as notifying interested parties.”
