Beach fireworks set to go off

Dave Brooks

In a surprise decision Monday, the City Council approved Fourth of

July Fireworks at the beach, against the wishes of the police and

fire chiefs.

“I can’t believe that we are going against the recommendation of

our own public safety officials on this,” said Councilman Dave

Sullivan, who voted against the proposal.

“This is what the community wants,” Councilwoman Debbie Cook

replied. Councilwomen Jill Hardy, Connie Boardman and Grace Winchell

supported the proposal.

The decision was made after Police Chief Ken Small and Fire Chief

Duane Olson told the council they were worried about their ability to

provide public safety at such an event, judging by the estimated

160,000 people who attended this year.

Traffic caused by the Fourth of July celebration was the main

concern, Small said. At the end of the display, city streets become

so gridlocked it would be impossible for emergency crews to respond

to an incident.

Cook seemed unpersuaded by the argument.

“Everything comes with risks,” she said. “If you are risk adverse,

then you will act appropriately according to your comfort level.”

On Tuesday, Small said he wasn’t bothered by the council’s

decision and would prepare the police force for such an event.

“Now that we have direction from council, we’ll have to sit down

and make a plan,” he said.

That plan will likely include every member of the Huntington Beach

Police force, who will be assigned to work that day and be paid with

money raised by the Fourth of July Board. If the Fourth of July

fireworks were to be held at Huntington Beach High School, as Small

had recommended, many officers would have been able to have the

holiday off. Since the fourth falls on a Monday this year, Small

expects there will be less attendance. Fourth of July board member

Connie Young said the group won’t change the way the event is

marketed.

“We’ll still advertise as much as we can because we need the

revenue.”

Fourth of July board member Barry Williams said there is a

possibility that the cost of this year’s fireworks display could be

picked up by a “major financial institution” that expressed interest

in coordinating the display with a similar one in Seattle.

Williams wouldn’t identify the sponsor.

The 2005 celebration will be the second year in a row that a

fireworks display will be held at the beach after being moved to the

high school more than 30 years ago because of fog. After much debate,

the council decided in January to allow fireworks for the 2004

celebration because it was the 100th anniversary of the Surf City

celebration. Council members Dave Sullivan and Connie Boardman were

opposed to the plan, and said they were worried about outbreaks of

violence.

Downtown Business Assn. President Steve Daniel said there were no

problems this year and that business was great.

“We were able to keep families Downtown until 8, 9, or 10 o’clock

at night,” he said. “Sales at my store were up 40% for that day.”

* DAVE BROOKS covers City Hall. He can be reached at (714)

966-4609 or by e-mail at dave.brooks@latimes.com.