Dixon City Council Amends Fireworks Pilot Program

Anyone who went to to watch the fireworks show could see that many Dixonites were not following the rules set forth by the and under the Safe-and-Sane fireworks two-year-pilot program.

People were lighting the state approved fireworks at the park, as onlookers gathered around to watch, in contrast to the program’s rule of not allowing the fireworks at any of the city’s parks.

This year during the Fourth of July the rules have changed.

Last night the Dixon City Council approved (4-1) modifications to the pilot program including the use of fireworks at city-owned parks. Under the modification, the Dixon Fire Department would designate specific areas in the park in which residents could light the fireworks.

The modifications to the program also include the dates in which the fireworks can be possessed and used (through July 6); the dates in which the nonprofit agencies can open the stands (June 23); the option for the nonprofits to use two, double-sided-eight-by-eight signs of no more than 64 square feet per side; and better governance of stand locations to prevent conflicts.

Mayor Jack Batchelor said he had no problem with the modifications to the program, save for one.

“I can support all of the other amendments, but I can’t support these specific types of fireworks to be used at city parks,” Batchelor said.

Batchelor said that if the council approves the modification, it would be a civil liability for the city, should the fireworks injure someone or damage property. He also said that having a designated area at the parks where people could light the fireworks will not deter people from lighting them outside of the areas.

“You can have a wall and there is going to be somebody that says ‘I’m not going to go over there. I'm going to sit here next to my picnic basket, I'm going to be sitting in the middle of a bunch of people and I'm going to fire off these things.' I'm just very concerned about that."

Chief McAlister explained that there was not enough police and fire staff available to patrol the parks and by having the designated areas at the parks, it would be an attempt to curtail the usage of fireworks in non-sanctioned areas.

He also said that there are certain locations, such as apartment complexes, where lighting the fireworks would be problematic. Having a designated area at the parks would give those people somewhere to go to light them, he said.

McAlister said that this is the last year of the two-year pilot program and if having the designated areas at the parks does not have the desired affect, then they could re-modify it in 2013.

The council voted in favor of all of the amendments 4-1. In other city council action, the council named Human Resources Director Steve Johnson as the city’s lead negotiator. Johnson will have the assistance of another city staff member as he negotiates contracts, perhaps the yet-to-be-hired city manager or relevant staff member.