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 c...
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