Fireworks spark lively discussion at La Palma council meeting

City of La Palma

By: E. Isaac Lee

The city council of La Palma met on Apr. 6 and amidst the discussion, the council decided to forgo plans to allow the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks in La Palma city limits. Additional discussion involved plans for reinstating public events as well as adapting home based business license policy for businesses dealing with Covid-19.

Previously the council discussed whether the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks should be legal within La Palma, as well as what businesses would be able to sell them. Safe and sane, in this case, describes fireworks that do not fly or explode.

“For the last three years I’ve had several nonprofit organizations like the Christian church and a few clubs from the high school contact me to see if they could sell fireworks in our city,” Mayor Pro Tem Michele Steggell said. “This is a great way for nonprofits to make approximately seven to ten thousand dollars during the week prior to July 4.”

A La Palma resident, Teddy Saile, also voiced his support of the ordinance.

“I’ve lived here all these years and I’ve never known a house burning down from fireworks or a kid getting hurt from fireworks,” he said. “I hope you go through and legalize. At least let the people who go to Kennedy High School and the other schools in the city raise money for their activities because it’s important to do that.”

Saile also stated he had a granddaughter who wrestles for Kennedy High, and that they need fundraising like the sale of fireworks for their tournaments.

However, the majority of the city council had changed their minds since the March meeting. No clear reasons were disclosed. A motion was passed under four yes votes and one abstention to not move forward with the fireworks ordinance. If a need exists, then it may be brought up again as a formal agenda item.

During the meeting, Planning Manager Scott Hunter and Business License Officer Marion Cubero gave a presentation on La Palma’s home-based business license policy. Both insisted that the current ordinance, established in 1982, was outdated and could not meet the needs of business owners who found themselves working at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ordinance does acknowledge “home occupation”, but it doesn’t specify or divide that category into subcategories like it does traditional businesses.

According to Hunter, La Palma has over 104 active home-based business licenses, thus ordinance should be updated to avoid complications for current and future business owners. The council did not voice opposition to the idea, and Hunter and Cubero have promised to specify plans and incorporate a “technological element” to the updated ordinance in a future agenda item.

Finally, the council discussed the possibility of holding public events in La Palma once more. A proposal for a “Central Park Cinema” is in the works. This event would be held in the park on every Friday of July. The proposal is going to be gauged against public opinion, but odds look good given rising vaccination rates in California. In time, the council hopes to see the community return to its state pre-Covid-19.