Could San Bruno ban fireworks?: Councilmembers will decide whether to agendize the topic at Tuesday’s meeting 

Alvarez said cost concerns to the city were primarily what prompted her to introduce the discussion. 

Total costs for police, fire and city service was roughly $52,000 in 2025, and the city technically should have made $16,000 back from the 16 firework-related citations that were given out on the holiday, however, cost recovery efforts can often take time. The total cost figure was down from $77,000 in 2024. 

“For me, it’s the revenue. I know times have changed. We have a lot of senior citizens, and kids are not there to participate and enjoy the fireworks, so it’s more of just expenses,” she said. 

The sale of safe-and-sane fireworks — differentiated from illegal fireworks, which often leave the ground or explode and don’t have a fire marshal seal — was approved by San Bruno voters in 2005 and have since become a city tradition on the holiday. It’s one of only two cities in San Mateo County to allow them. The other is Pacifica.

Traditionally, the sale of fireworks has been a fundraising opportunity for city nonprofits, however, the public safety cost to the city as well as a state law capping cost recovery efforts for firework enforcement at 7% of gross sales has posed questions about financial feasibility. 

Ultimately, councilmembers could decide to place it on the ballot and the decision would be up to residents, Alvarez said. 

“I’m looking forward to what my colleagues would say if this will go through the ballot or not,” she said. “I think the pressure is not as much as we are going to vote for it, but it will be up to the residents.” 

The San Bruno City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Recreation and Aquatic Center. The meeting can also be accessed online.