Huntington Beach Council Outlaws So-Called Safe and Sane Fireworks
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The City Council has barred fireworks, making Huntington Beach the 12th city in Orange County to outlaw the so-called safe-and-sane devices.
On the final reading, the council voted 4 to 2 for the ban. Councilman Wes Bannister left the meeting early and did not vote.
The Tuesday night public hearing was the second on the fireworks ordinance, which was introduced and initially approved by the City Council on July 20.
Councilmen John Erskine and Tom Mays had voted against the ban in July, stating that they favored letting residents decide the issue in a June, 1988, election. They said 15,461 signatures, which community groups presented in support of safe-and-sane fireworks, would be plenty to qualify the issue for a ballot initiative.
On Tuesday night, Erskine, Mays and Mayor Jack Kelly supported a new motion to call an election on the issue. However, that motion ended in a 3-3 tie.
Then Kelly voted for the ban, along with Grace Winchell, Peter Green and Ruth Finley.
City officials are considering putting on a public fireworks display at the Huntington Beach Pier next July 4th.
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