The Poulsbo City Council discussed Oct. 19 updating its ordinance to either change the days fireworks can be discharged within city limits or adopt a full ban.

The city’s ordinance states that fireworks can be discharged in certain timeframes between June 28 and July 5, along with Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, city documents say. A violation is a misdemeanor, which is up to 90 days in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, or both.

If the council chooses to update its law, it would limit fireworks to between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. July 4 and between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 1 a.m. Jan. 1. If the council decides to adopt a full ban, a licensed pyrotechnician could still apply to discharge fireworks.

Councilmember Gary McVey said he has spoken with staff from Bainbridge Island to see how things have gone since it implemented a full ban a few years ago.

“They felt in the first year it went quite well,” he said. “It made a real difference in their community. Their police department did enforce it on a selective basis. Obviously, they don’t have enough officers to enforce everything. They felt they did a really good job with education,” adding BI used posters and different kinds of communication to get the word out.

McVey mentioned how hearing certain fireworks can cause post-traumatic stress to some military members in the community, along with causing pets to panic.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought, and we’ve heard from quite a few citizens over the years on this issue,” he said. “Given what is going on in our environment, given the peace and tranquility our citizens are asking for, I am leaning toward an outright ban. I think from an enforcement standpoint it’s just simpler. I think it will be more effective.”

However, Councilmember Andrew Phillips does not want to ban fireworks and said his whole neighborhood shoots them off in a responsible way on the 4th of July. “You can see how many people shoot them off. People enjoy fireworks, I being one of them.”

Phillips did say he favors limiting fireworks to July 4 and New Years. He said even if the council decides on a ban, people will still light them off because the law is hard to enforce, along with the lack of patrol officers. “Fireworks are too easy to get,” he said. “The county is too close. Banning in this little square footage is just not going to work. I don’t see it working and I don’t want it to work because I love fireworks.”

Councilmember Ed Stern said he would lean toward a ban under one condition — offering a public fireworks display downtown July 4. He said the Chamber of Commerce, Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association or another organization could possibly make that happen, and that having it on the 4th instead of the 3rd would mean fewer people from across the region flocking to Poulsbo. When the fireworks show was held on July 3, Stern said it was overcrowded due to it being the only fireworks show locally that day.

“The public still deserves fireworks. We still deserve to celebrate the 4th of July, and it behooves us to offer a public celebration involving fireworks,” he said. “I think it should be on the 4th so there is an escape valve for the energy, excitement and desire to see fireworks. I think that would need to be coupled with a ban and the timing would need to coincide.”

Councilmember Britt Livdahl said she supports a ban, while Councilmembers Jeff McGinty and Connie Lord said they’re in favor of reducing the days they can be discharged.

“I actually enjoy fireworks. I don’t like mortars, and I don’t like the incredible sonic booms you hear,” Lord said, adding she’s OK with some of the smaller novelty fireworks. “I’m not in favor of a 100 percent ban because I don’t think it’s possible. Most people are very sensitive about this. It’s just the bad apples that we have to control. I think hefty fines would be the way to go.”

A few public commenters also were in favor of a full fireworks ban in Poulsbo. The topic will be brought back for further discussion at a future council meeting.

‘Streateries’ approved

The Poulsbo Summer Fair “Streatery” program was extended for one final year by a narrow 4-3 vote by the council.

The program was first introduced to provide pandemic relief to local businesses. The program was extended and was set to expire Dec. 31 this year. A survey was recently put out by the city to see if the public had interest in having them for another year.

Over a five-day period, 1,192 responses were collected. Of the respondents, 72% said they have used or continue to use the “streateries;” 66% would either “likely” or “very likely” continue to use the “streateries;” and 60% considered them to be an enhancement to downtown.

Although the “streateries” have been extended, some new requirements have been implemented, such as:

• Applicants must meet requirements of the provided application form for aesthetics, dimensions, indemnification, insurance and construction quality.
• Price to use one parking stall will increase from $25 to $150/stall/month.
• Price to privately use the sidewalk will increase from $10 to $60/month.
• A loading zone will be evaluated as an equivalent parking stall based on standard parking stall length.
• Existing “streateries” will have until Jan. 13, 2023 to submit their application or will be required to remove their structure by March 1, 2023.
• In order to have a “streatery” the business needs to be open at least five days a week.
• Any new “streateries” will be limited to two parking spaces.

Councilmembers who voted to extend the “streatery” program were McVey, Livdahl, Phillips and McGinty while Stern, Lord and David Musgrove voted against it.