Agenda Item Wording:
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Fourth of July Post Report - Receive a report summarizing the 2025 activities related to community engagement and public safety.
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Prepared by: Fire Marshal Corbin Reed, 559-731-4272, Police Captain Dan Ford, 559-713-4151, Recreation Manager Laurissa Roggenkamp, 559-713-4336, Animal Services Analyst Candace Herrington, 559-713-4682
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends Council receive the 2025 4th of July presentation related to community engagement and public safety including legal fireworks activities, illegal fireworks enforcement detail, Independence Spectacular and Animal Services.
Summary:
Staff from the Fire, Police, and Parks and Recreation Departments will a provide a review of legal firework stands and illegal fireworks enforcement efforts performed by the Visalia Fire and Police Departments. Staff from the Recreation Division will report on the 2nd Annual Independence Spectacular and staff from the Animal Services Division will highlight efforts taken to ensure the community’s pet needs were met during the 2025 Independence Day season.
Background Discussion:
Fire Department:
Beginning on June 29th, 28 non-profit groups from throughout the community 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 allots one firework booth per every 5,000 residents. A total of 28 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.
Again, this year, a call center operated from within the Visalia Communications Center (VECC) and was staffed with 10 city employees. This call center takes a large burden off dispatch by allowing calls for illegal fireworks that used to be handled by the call center rather than the 911 system. This year, the call center operated on July 4th and 5th, as it was anticipated July 5th would be busier than usual given it was on a Saturday this year. The call center allows community members to talk to actual people to report illegal fireworks use.
Calls specific to illegal fireworks use continue to decline. Calls for complaints in 2025 were lower than any previously tracked year. Although there were pockets of the community that still had prevalent use of illegal fireworks, patrol units in the field reported a noticeable decline in use throughout the community overall. To date, calls for illegal fireworks use have dropped by 24 calls compared to 2024. Notably, on the 4th of July, there were 100 less calls for complaints compared to July 4, 2024.
Patrols began on June 28th and continued on designated days through July 5th 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 73 citations have been issued. 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.
On June 29th, a citizen reported witnessing someone selling illegal fireworks within the City limits near the east side regional park area This report led to the arrest of an individual who was found in possession of several illegal fireworks. A search of the vehicle revealed additional illegal fireworks in the trunk. The reporting party has been issued a reward of $500, which is the first reward since the establishment of the program in 2021.
Police Department:
During the Fourth of July holiday period, the Police Department partnered with various Departments within the City to ensure a safe holiday experience. Police and Fire partnered up to conduct four illegal fireworks details. The total Police Department staff required for these details was 18 officers and the resources were deployed based on the estimated number of illegal fireworks events that would occur. Additionally, the Police Department deployed drones to assist with identification/location of illegal fireworks during these details. Three citations were issued from the drone activity and are included in the number above. In addition to the assistance with the Fire Department, the Police Department supported the Parks and Recreation staff for the Independence Day Spectacular, ensuring a safe, family-friendly event. During the event, there were several missing children reports which is not uncommon given the nature of the event. There was one arrest made during the event because of a family dispute; however, it had no impact on the event itself. The total staff for the event was 12 officers, six volunteers, and two chaplains.
Recreation Division:
On Thursday, July 3rd, the City of Visalia's Recreation Division proudly hosted the 2nd Annual Independence Spectacular at Riverway Sports Park. Running from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., the event brought the community together for an evening of celebration, entertainment, and family fun. The Independence Spectacular featured live music, generously sponsored by Momentum Broadcasting and Bueno Beverage, and a free Kids Zone enhanced by the Visalia Unified School District along with the Recreation division staff. More than 32 food vendors offered a variety of options for attendees to enjoy. With an estimated attendance of nearly 10,000 community members, double the turnout from the previous year, the event grew in popularity and prominence. The Independence Spectacular has quickly become a premier community event, known for its free admission and family-friendly atmosphere. The festivities culminated with two drone shows, each featuring 300 drones lighting up the night sky in a dazzling display of synchronized movement of community and patriotic imagery.
Animal Services:
July 4th has been known to be a scary time for community animals due to the numerous loud fireworks set off in celebration the days leading up to and following this national holiday. Each year, Visalia Animal Services prepares for the potential influx of stray animals that will come to the shelter. Though the front doors of the shelter are closed on July 4th, the shelter was open Tuesday-Thursday the days before and on Saturday, July 5. Each year, an Animal Control Officer is on call for twenty-four hours on the 4th to address any emergency calls that occurred, of which there was only one injured animal emergency call. Animal Services addressed 28 calls in total for the 4th-6th of July, 13 of these calls were for stray or confined stray animals and 8 animals were reclaimed the week after the 4th. All animals were posted on the City of Visalia Animal Services Facebook page to be shared so the community could find missing pets and again on the Visalia Animal Services lost and found page. The City of Visalia has three new microchip scanning stations that were brought online this year so community members could utilize them if they found a pet. The microchip scanning stations are located at The Anthony Community Center, Fire Station 55, and Fire Station 56. These stations provide guidance on how to tell if an animal has a microchip and what to do if no microchip is found. Additionally, several pet safety posts were shared with the community two weeks before the 4th to educate the public on how to prevent their pet from escaping and ways to ensure their pet can be reunited if found. Examples include microchipping and wearing a collar with a valid phone number. All of this was done in an effort to safely keep pet with their families and reunite lost pets with their owners while celebrating this national holiday.
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: 2025 4th of July illegal fireworks enforcement detail, Independence spectacular and animal services recap PowerPoint