Agenda Item Wording:
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City Department Fourth of July post report - Receive a report summarizing the 2026 activities related to community engagement and public safety.
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Prepared by: Fire Marshal Corbin Reed, corbin.reed@visalia.gov 559-731-4272; Fire Chief Dan Griswold, dan.griswold@visalia.gov 559-713-4220; Recreation Manager Laurissa Roggenkamp, laurissa.roggenkamp@visalia.gov 559-713-4336, John Lollis Assistant City Manager, john.lollis@visalia.gov 559-713-4323
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends Council receive the 2026 Fourth of July presentation related to community engagement and public safety. Presentation includes legal fireworks activities, illegal fireworks enforcement detail, and the third annual Independence Spectacular.
Summary:
Staff from the Fire and Parks and Recreation Departments will provide a review of legal firework stands and illegal fireworks enforcement efforts performed by the Visalia Fire and Police Departments. Additionally, staff from the Recreation Division will report on the 3rd Annual Independence Spectacular, and the Convention Center will highlight the special display in the courtyard that celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Background Discussion:
Fire Department:
Beginning on June 29th, non-profit organizations were allowed to start selling safe and sane fireworks from approved fireworks booths. The number of approved fireworks booths is controlled by ordinance and is population based. The City permits one firework booth per every 5,000 residents. A total of 27 booths were set up in Visalia. Once each booth has been inspected by Fire Prevention staff, they are provided with a permit to begin operating. The permit is valid until midnight on July 4th.
A call center was operational again this year from within the Visalia Emergency Communications Center (VECC) and was staffed with 10 city employees. The call center relieves the burden for dispatch by receiving calls for illegal fireworks that otherwise would be addressed by the dispatch center. This year, the call center operated on July 3rd and 4th. The call center allows community members to report illegal fireworks use to actual people, ensuring their concern is heard.
Calls specific to illegal fireworks use continue to decline. Calls for complaints in 2026 were lower than any previously tracked year, although there were pockets of the community that still had prevalent use of illegal fireworks. To date, calls for illegal fireworks use have dropped by 119 calls compared to 2025.
Patrols began on June 27th and continued on designated days through July 4th with the heaviest saturation of patrols on July 4th. Each detail unit was comprised of a Visalia Police Department officer along with a Visalia Fire Department staff member. A total of 67 citations are being processed. Citations were primarily issued on the 4th of July, however some citations were also issued prior to and after completion of the illegal fireworks detail.
Beyond the joint illegal fireworks detail, the third and fourth of July proved to be an active period for the Fire Department with 103 calls for service over the two days. Calls for service were primarily for medical aids, structure fires, grass fires, dumpster/trash can fires, and vehicle fires. The Fire Department had additional staffing in place to manage the increased demand.
Lastly, and per Council’s request, the Fire Department is currently performing a review of the City’s ordinance relating to illegal fireworks and will return with illegal fireworks fine options for council to consider.
Recreation Division:
On Friday, July 3rd, the City of Visalia’s Recreation Division proudly hosted the 3rd Annual Independence Spectacular at Riverway Sports Park, drawing an estimated 15,000 attendees-an increase of 5,000 from the previous year. Running from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the event brought the community together for an evening of celebration featuring live music curated and promoted by Momentum Broadcasting, festive stage enhancements provided by Bueno Beverage, and a free Kids Zone supported by the Visalia Unified School District, Amplify, and Recreation staff.
More than 40 food vendors offered a diverse array of options, while additional partners played essential roles in delivering a seamless guest experience: United Rentals supplied critical behind-the-scenes infrastructure, American Ambulance staffed on-site medical services, and the Visalia Community Enhancement Foundation operated the beer garden. Together, these sponsors and partners helped create a safe, welcoming, and memorable celebration that has quickly become one of Visalia’s premier community traditions, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display.
Convention Center:
In celebration of America’s Semi-quincentennial (250th) on July 4th, the Visalia Convention Center implemented decorative enhancements to the Plaza Courtyard and facility frontage to showcase and promote the community’s patriotic spirit. Special banners were purchased and installed on the Courtyard light poles These will remain in place for now and are planned to be replaced with holiday-themed banners throughout the year.
Additionally, programmable decorative tree lighting was installed.This feature provides an attractive and engaging experience for visitors and will remain operational through February 2027, allowing staff to adjust the lighting in support of upcoming holidays and major Convention Center events. The Convention Center may also purchase the lighting system using funds approved in this fiscal year’s CIP budget.
Exterior facility lighting was modified to display red, white, and blue to complement the tree lighting, creating a dynamic and cohesive patriotic presentation throughout the property. As an added benefit, these improvements were completed in advance of the American Legion’s 2026 Department of California Convention (June 25-28) and were extremely well received by both event organizers and attendees. Community members have also begun visiting the Convention Center to take photos with the enhanced décor as a backdrop.
Fiscal Impact: N/A
Prior Council Action: N/A
Other: N/A
Alternatives: N/A
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
No motion required; information only.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: N/A
Attachments: 2026 4th of July illegal fireworks enforcement detail, Independence spectacular and animal services recap PowerPoint
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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