Agenda Item Wording:
title
City Department Fourth of July post report - Receive a report summarizing the 2026 activities related to community engagement and public safety.
...body
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...
Click here for full text