LAKEPORT ? Fundraising efforts for four community organizations were thwarted in the name of public safety Tuesday when their applications to the Lakeport City Council for permits to sell fireworks were denied.
Following Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells” recommendation that the city not allow safe and sane fireworks for the city”s Fourth of July celebration, the council voted 3-1 to deny the applications after more than an hour of discussion Tuesday night. Councilwoman Suzanne Lyons was in dissent, and Councilman Jim Irwin was absent.
The applicants who will have to find alternative fundraising methods are the Miss Lake County Scholarship Fund, Clear Lake High School Boosters Club, Lake County Channel Cats (LCCC) and Terrace School Parent-Teacher Organization.
Speaking for herself and not for the chamber, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Melissa Fulton urged the council to postpone the decision to allow more public input.
“The denial of the applications this evening is the same as saying you”re going to come back in a few weeks and ban the fireworks. I would not like that message to go out, just as an individual,” Fulton said.
The city banned the sale and use of “safe and sane” fireworks for the 2008 celebration at Wells” recommendation because of lacking rainfall and dry conditions. He renewed his argument Tuesday, saying fire danger still exists in the state”s third year of drought despite recent rainfall. He said his department was already stretched thin responding to Fourth of July fires, and didn”t have the resources to cover a worst-case scenario.
Representatives from the applicants and those who opposed the use of fireworks in the city both took the discussion to the emotional level. Captain Bob Holbrook of the Lakeport Fire Protection District read grim statistics about fire danger and public safety. He showed a short video about a family who had lost a young son to a fireworks accident.
“I was a little offended by the emotional plea,” LCCC parent Maile Field said. “There”s nothing worse than losing a child. But statistically, we”re saving more lives by teaching our kids to swim. We teach 80 kids to swim every year ? that”s 80 kids who are not drowning.”
LCCC swimmers James Crail, 13, Matteo Merodio, 15, Sarah Merodio, 12, Allison Hanson, 12, and Robin Adams, 5, each told the council why the organization should be allowed to sell fireworks.
“We”re tremendously lucky. We”ve been playing firecracker roulette ? safe and sane roulette. One of these days, a firing pin is going to come down on a firing cap and we”re going to pay the price. There has to be some way to fund all of these needs,” Councilman Robert Rumfelt said.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington suggested that the fire district could use savings from less enforcement activity during the holiday to provide grants to the organizations.
City attorney Steve Brooks said the council will vote later in the year on whether to extend the fireworks ban.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
