Submitted By: Community Development
Prepared By: Adam Atamian, Community Development Director
Ambrocia Dominas, Community Development Programs Analyst
Subject:
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REVIEW OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELFARE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND CONSIDERATION TO INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE ADDING CHAPTER 8.18 – FIREWORKS, TO TITLE 8 – HEALTH AND SAFETY, OF THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO ENHANCED FIREWORKS ENFORCEMENT AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
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Summary:
During public comment at the August 4, 2026 City Council meeting, members of the public raised concerns regarding public safety and disruptive activity associated with Fourth of July celebrations occurring in the City. In response to those concerns, the City Council directed further review of Fourth of July public safety operations and referred the matter to the Community Safety and Welfare Committee (CSWC) for review and recommendations.
Following its review of holiday safety concerns associated with the Fourth of July, the Community Safety and Welfare Committee recommended that fireworks enforcement measures be advanced separately in advance of New Year’s Eve. The remaining holiday safety measures are proposed to return through the Committee’s annual work-plan process.
Fireworks are already prohibited in San Clemente through the City’s adoption of the California Fire Code. The proposed ordinance, provided as Attachment 1, would place the existing prohibition more directly in the San Clemente Municipal Code (SCMC) and establish a local framework for administrative penalties, responsibility for violations, recovery of response costs, and coordinated enforcement. The City Council is being asked to consider introduction of the ordinance as recommended by the CSWC and staff.
Background:
On August 25, 2026, the CSWC began reviewing concerns related to public safety and disruptive activity associated with Fourth of July celebrations, as directed by t...
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