23,319 / 57.3% Yes votes ...... 17,346 / 42.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Section 1 of the Ordinance contains findings which state, among other things, that the City has experienced a significant amount of fires and injuries to its citizens as a result of the use of fireworks and the City has determined that fireworks present a significant hazard to the environment and safety of its citizens and has determined that it is in the City's best interest to ban the use of "safe and sane" fireworks. Sections 3 and 4 and 6 through 9 of the Ordinance repeal existing sections of the Santa Rosa City Code (Code), which are identified, but their contents are not described in the Ordinance (see below). Section 9 of the Ordinance provides that, except for "public displays of fireworks" (defined in Section 5) as authorized under the provisions of Section 9, it is unlawful for any person to possess, offer for sale at retail, sell, give away, or to use, explode, or otherwise discharge any fireworks within the City.

If Measure F is not approved, the Code's existing sections relating to fireworks sales and use will remain in effect. These provisions prohibit the sale of fireworks without first having obtained a permit from the Fire Department. The Code prohibits, within the City, the sale, use, or possession of certain fireworks, identified as rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, and certain sparklers, among others. The Code permits the sale of state-approved ("safe and sane") fireworks by persons having a City permit for such sales, but only during a period starting at noon on June 28 and ending at 9 p.m. on July 4 of each year. The Code allows the issuance of fireworks sales permits only to certain non-profit organizations, as defined in the Code, which meet certain requirements. With certain exceptions, only 45 permits may be issued by the City. The Code allows persons within the City to possess, use, or discharge "safe and sane" fireworks only between noon on June 28 and 11:00 p.m. on July 4 of each year and permits their discharge not earlier than 8:00 a.m. or later than 10:00 p.m. on such days, except on July 4 when they may be used until 11:00 p.m. Under the Code, it is unlawful to possess, use, display or discharge "safe and sane" fireworks within the City on any other days. The existing Code prohibits the discharge of any kind of fireworks within very high fire hazard zones in the City, as established by the Fire Department.

A "Yes" vote on Measure F will bring Ordinance No. 3627 into effect. A "No" vote will leave the existing Code provisions in effect.

s/BRIEN J. FARRELL, City Attorney
By: Bruce Leavitt Assistant, City Attorney

The Press Democrat

• Do fireworks bans really work? - 2/19/04
• Volatile debate - 2/3/04

• Fireworks ban a hot issue - 2/27/04

"I knew everything was lost when I drove up and saw the flames engulfing my home. It was even worse to discover that the destruction was caused by state approved fireworks. The ban on fireworks will go a long way to ensuring no one else has to go through this ordeal," Santa Rosa Resident.

"The tragic fire that burned 42 acres, destroyed one Santa Rosa home, damaged another and injured eight firefighters was caused by state approved fireworks purchased in Santa Rosa. Only a total ban on fireworks can prevent this sort of tragedy from happening again," Santa Rosa Firefighters, Local 1401.

'We recommend the ban out of concern for the safety of our city and citizens. Even though enforcing the ban will initially place a larger burden on both police and fire personnel, your safety is worth it," Santa Rosa Police Officers' Association.

"As a leader of a non-profit, I'm well acquainted with the appeal that selling fireworks has for a number of non-profits in Santa Rosa. However, the devastating Santa Rosa fire highlights the terrible risks that even legal fireworks pose. That risk is not an acceptable trade-off, even for the most worthy of causes. That is why we are finding other ways to raise money. We strongly support the ban on the sale of fireworks," Fundraising Coordinator, (SWAG).

"Your City Council strongly believes that a ban on state-approved fireworks is necessary to protect the lives and property of Santa Rosa citizens. We all watched the devastating Southern California fires destroy over 3,000 homes. Officials have warned us that something similar could happen here. Despite the City's rigorous effort to regulate their use, fireworks of any sort are simply too dangerous to be permitted in our city," Mayor, Santa Rosa.

Vote Yes on Measure F.

s/ Jo-Anne G. Kennedy
Santa Rosa Resident

SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL
s/ Sharon Wright, Mayor

SANTA ROSA FIREFIGHTERS L.OCAL1401
s/ Vance Alkire, Executive Board Member

SANTA ROSA POLICE OFFICERS ASSN.
s/Barry Brodd, President

SOUTHWEST AREA CITIZENS GROUP
s/ Margot D. Piccinini, Fund Raising Coordinator

State-approved fireworks have been found to be safe and sane by the California State Fire Marshal. Outlawing the use of these legal, state-approved fireworks will not decrease the use of dangerous, illegal fireworks. In fact, statistics show that Santa Rosa may experience as much as a 300% increase in the problems Santa Rosa will have with illegal fireworks. Illegal fireworks, according to our retired police and fire chiefs, are the biggest problem in this community. State-approved fireworks account for only 3% of the problems each 4th of July.

Even Measure F supporters admit that things will get worse if Measure F passes; that the City of Santa Rosa wilI lose almost $65,000 in tax and fee income; and that 39 Santa Rosa non-profit organizations will lose over $400,000 that they use to fund critical senior, civil, veteran and youth programs with no way of replacing that lost revenue.

Save our community groups! Demand enforcement of current laws! Vote No on Measure F!

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
s/ Jerry M. Shimmel, Vice President

PURPLE HEART VETERANS
S/ Larry Maher, Commander

SANTA ROSA YOUTH FOOTBALL
s/ Donna M. Koop, Board President

ELSIE ALLEN PROJECT GRAD
s/ Barbara Suchon, Treasurer

Measure F Hurts Community Groups! Measure F eliminates over $400,000 in annual funding from local non-profit community groups. It hurts senior, civic, veteran and youth groups and schools.

It eliminates funding from youth sports programs, Boys and Girls Club, Project Graduation, Vietnam Veterans, Lions, and the Cesar Chavez Memorial Committee. Measure F Won't Make Santa Rosa Any Safer!

Current laws already provide police with the power and ability to crack down on users of illegal fireworks, such as firecrackers, M-80's and bottle rockets as well as those who misuse state-approved fireworks. Unfortunately, these laws are not currently being enforced and Measure F does not change that fact.

City Ordinances Already Prohibits All Fireworks in Skyhawk! Two years ago, at our urging, the City of Santa Rosa made certain high risk fire areas, such as the Skyhawk Subdivision, off-limits to the use of all fireworks. Despite this ordinance, in June 2003, a young man unlawfully and recklessly started a fire using state-approved fireworks.

We urged these changes to protect hillside neighborhoods while preserving a Santa Rosa tradition. The citywide ban proposed under Measure F unfairly punishes those neighborhoods that use state-approved fireworks responsibly.

We don't need new laws. We need the current laws against fireworks enforced.

Don't be fooled! Measure F does not protect Santa Rosa. The way to make Santa Rosa safe is to enforce existing laws. Join the 39 Santa Rosa non-profit organizations and their volunteers. Vote No on Measure F.

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
s/ Jerry M. Shimmel, Vice President

SANTA ROSA YOUTH FOOTBALL
s/ Donna M. Koop, Board President

PURPLE HEART VETERANS
s/Larry Maher, Commander

ELSIE ALLEN PROJECT GRAD
s/Barbara Suchon. Treasurer

NORTH BAY SOCCER
s/Craig Butcher. Director/President

"From the day the fire, started by fireworks, destroyed the home my children grew up in; the Santa Rosa community rallied behind me and my family with almost every imaginable form of support. Hundreds of people, from close friends to complete strangers, have provided us with blessings like a trust fund, new furniture, clothes, food, and cash donations - the list goes on and on. They've even collected photos to help replace our lost memories.

"Sadly, we didn't hear a word from the fireworks industry until I appeared at the second city council meeting dealing with fireworks, when their sole consolation to me was to try and lay the blame for our home burning down on our local firefighters, eight of whom were injured fighting to save our home." Santa Rosa Resident.

"No one is trying to harm the non-profit organizations. City officials are working hard to help raise the money that will be lost because of the fireworks ban. Local businesses are already pledging funds to help." Fundraising Coordinator, (SWACG).

This referendum is not about charily, or patriotism, It's about greed, pure and simple. The fireworks industry exploits foreign child labor so that they can import dangerous products that have proven to be destructive and life-threatening despite the best efforts of our police and fire departments," Mayor, Santa Rosa.

On March 2nd, please vote Yes on Measure F.

s/Jo-Anne G. Kennedy
Santa Rosa Resident

SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL
s/Sharon Wright, Mayor

SOUTHWEST AREA CITIZENS GROUP
s/Margot 0. Piccinini, Fund Raising Coordinator