Putting out firework- related injuries

Lolita Harper

With July 4 fast approaching, City Council members will consider

tonight whether to change the rules regarding permits for the sale of

fireworks, which would include outlawing “spinners.”

Rookie Councilman Mike Scheafer, who was appointed in May 2003

after Karen Robinson resigned to be a Superior Court judge, will push

his earlier resolve to make the Fourth of July safer tonight by

asking his colleagues to consider changes to current firework

regulations.

A report that Scheafer is expected to share with the council this

evening outlines various tweaks to the city’s permit procedure,

including banning “hand-held devices,” requiring firework

distributors to hand out fliers in English and Spanish about fire

safety, creating new signs prohibiting fireworks in city parks and

phasingout fireworks stands.

No new organizations will be allowed to sell fireworks, as

outlined in Scheafer’s proposed ordinance, and those that do qualify

must have at least 80% of their members living in Costa Mesa.

Fireworks have been a contentious issue in Costa Mesa, as many

members of youth organizations, such as high school sports teams and

bands, use the profits from their sale to fund items that have long

been cut from education budgets.

Then there are those on the other side, who feel any fireworks,

regardless of being labeled “safe and sane,” are a danger to the

community. Period.

Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan said that although fireworks have

been a contentious issue, the proposal that Scheafer has outlined is

reasonable.

“I’m fine with what Mike’s done,” Monahan said. “ ... Unless you

don’t like fireworks and the fact that we won’t ban them completely.”

Monahan said he expected the majority of the council to agree.

Scheafer made his mark early in his tenure by challenging the

legitimacy of firework sales in Costa Mesa -- one of the last five

Orange County cities to allow the celebratory favors.

Before the July 4, 2003 holiday, Scheafer adamantly supported

selling fireworks. As a member of the Lions Club, he had helped sell

them for the past three years.

That summer, however, his neighbor, Adelaide Thiel, suffered

severe burns after a sparkler she lighted ignited her clothes, and he

changed his mind.

Since then, Scheafer has met with Fire Chief Jim Ellis, acting

City Atty. Tom Wood, Fire Marshal Tom MacDuff and City Manager Allan

Roeder to study the fireworks issue and explore other options.

The councilman urged city leaders to speed up a decision, so that

another Fourth of July does not go by without added safety

precautions. The City Council is expected to vote on the suggested

changes at 6:30 p.m. tonight in City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

For information, call (714) 754-5223.