To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Breyana Brant, Parks & Recreation Services Director
Prepared By: Katrina Gregory, Recreation & Public Art Manager
TITLE:
Title
Fourth of July Event Options
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Approve staff recommendation for the 2024 Fourth of July event to include the continuation of the Community Celebration at Oxbow Commons, Parade support for the Sunrise Rotary, and Patriotic Decor in Downtown Napa and determine that the actions authorized by this item are exempt from CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
Fourth of July fireworks have been a longstanding tradition for many communities around the country to celebrate Independence Day. Evolving circumstances and emerging considerations have forced communities to re-evaluate how they wish to celebrate this historic and symbolic day.
Similarly, Napa is faced with making the challenging decision of how to best celebrate the Fourth of July holiday to 1) create a patriotic community-wide celebration, 2) ensure community safety, 3) demonstrate environmental stewardship and leadership, and 4) implement fiscally responsible decision-making.
In 2023, the City of Napa provided the following celebratory activities on the Fourth of July for the community:
- Community Celebration at Oxbow Commons: The Parks & Recreation Department hosted a community concert with a salute to America, family-friendly activities, and food court at Oxbow Commons from 3-8pm. There were approximately 5,000-6,000 attendees. The community concert was in collaboration with the Oxbow Riverstage concert series.
- Parade Support to the Sunrise Rotary (Parade): Parks & Recreation, Public Works and Police Department staff assisted with the road closure and maintain parade route safety along Second Street & Third Street. The parade had approximately 10,000 attendees.
- Patriotic Décor in Downtown: The Parks & Recreation Department installed patriotic banners on light poles throughout downtown and Oxbow District as well as set up decorations at Veterans Park, First & Third Street Bridges and along the Riverfront promenade.
Fireworks Considerations
After reviewing trends from across the country and information regarding the adverse impacts of fireworks globally, below are several considerations which led to the discontinuation of the firework display in 2023.
Fire & Safety Risks
• Napa’s regional climate is evolving and becoming more arid and we have recently experienced prolonged periods of drought. The fire risks for our region have increased significantly and there have been numerous large wildfires in the last decade.
• While the firework displays are performed by professional vendors, permitted by the California State Fire Marshall and the track record thus far has been positive, there has been debris and evidence of fireworks discovered on nearby private properties adjacent to the Napa Expo. Since there are very limited locations within the city limits to launch fireworks (as well as watch the fireworks); there is not an option to relocate to a more optimal location.
• By hosting community fireworks displays, the number of illegal fireworks has not decreased. There are approximately 19,500 fires in the U.S. from fireworks each year (28% of these fires taking place on July 4th). In addition, each year serious injuries (9,100 hospital visits) and millions of dollars in property loss are due to fireworks. In California, the number of fires from fireworks has increased annually from 584 fires in 2012 to 916 fires in 2021 (California Office of the State Fire Marshall Report for 2012-2021).
Public Health & Air Quality Impacts
• Fireworks impact the air quality because of the smoke produced by the fireworks explosions. This smoke includes inhalable particles called PM2.5 that can trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases. To create bright colors, most fireworks contain toxic metals such as strontium, barium, lead, lithium, copper and sometimes mercury. The metals are not burned up when the firework explodes but are dispersed in the PM2.5 particles as atmospheric pollutants.
• When compared to other long-term or more substantial pollution impacting climate change or causing significant damages to the local air quality, a single 20-minute firework show causes concentrated, short-term variations in the air quality for community members. However, all actions to improve our environment whether small or large can add up and these actions help support the collective effort which demonstrate environmental leadership.
Other Environmental Impacts
• Noise caused by fireworks can cause anxiety and stress in humans especially those suffering from PTSD. Domestic pets are also often stressed and negatively impacted by fireworks. These loud noises have shown to cause pets to be frighten and run off or become lost.
• These loud noises from fireworks are considered unpredictable and infrequent; therefore, wildlife also struggle to acclimate to firework shows and can create disruptions to their environment including wildlife abandoning their habitats.
Other Alternatives
Due to factors outlined above, many communities are exploring or already implementing solutions that provide a safer, greener alternative to celebrating our holiday traditions without the adverse impacts. Some of the alternatives include drone shows, laser shows, light shows and projection artwork. Staff has completed preliminary research to understand the range of expenses and important considerations for each alternative. See Attachment 1 for a list of the options and budgetary considerations for both the existing activities and the potential alternatives.
Time is of the essence in planning for Fourth of July 2024. Many reputable fireworks and drone vendors are booking up quickly and would need to be secured in a timely fashion. While the City has a logistics plan in place for fireworks, based upon events hosted in 2022 and prior, there are additional logistical considerations necessary for a potential drone show. Drone displays are limited in that they are unable to fly over both people and water. If pursued, decisions regarding event logistics will need to be explored by City staff. Initial conversations with the Napa Expo, which is typically the launch location for fireworks, have occurred regarding logistics related to a drone show. Potential partnership opportunities and in-kind support have also been preliminarily discussed.
Another significant factor of the other alternatives presented are the associated costs of each option presented. Should the Council direct staff to replace the recommended options with an alternative or combination of alternative options, potential budgetary shortfalls will need to be addressed.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The total FY2024 budget for Fourth of July is $82,790, which includes $72,790 (in 10050303) for the community special event and $10,000 (in 10050301) for Special Event Permits to support the July 4th Parade. Similarly, there is a total budget in FY2025 of $83,020 ($73,020 in 10050303 and $10,000 in 10050301). The Fourth of July event expenses are incurred in two fiscal years. Approximately 50% of the expenses used for deposits, supplies, and marketing are spent in the months leading up to the event and in the previous fiscal year. The other 50% of the expenses are incurred when the event takes place on July 4th which is in the next fiscal year.
The staff recommendation can be implemented with the existing budget allocation in FY2024. Should the Council desire to substitute or add additional alternatives to the Fourth of July Event, additional budget considerations or appropriations will need to be considered.
CEQA:
City staff recommends that the City Council determine that the actions authorized by this item are exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15323, which exempts normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - July 4th Event Options
NOTIFICATION:
None