Future of fireworks in question for San Bruno

Previously, San Bruno has foisted Fourth of July costs for public safety, including police and fire, public works cleanup and education and enforcement onto those selling the fireworks as part of a cost recovery program. 

But costs from last years’ celebrations totaled $99,153, a steep increase from previous years that created concern among nonprofit groups, that made $710,956 in gross sales in 2023 and will now only be required to reimburse $49,767 of that money. 

In 2008, San Bruno voters approved the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks, which are not likely to explode or fly, but the city still struggles with the impact of illegal fireworks during the holiday — $49,239 was spent on police alone last July 4. 

“Given we would still have a large illegal fireworks problem if we didn’t sell the legal ones, having us share some of the costs on the face of it seems fair,” Councilmember Tom Hamilton said of the new policy. 

Councilmember Marty Medina and Vice Mayor Michael Salazar both echoed the sentiment that illegal fireworks, not legal ones sold by the nonprofit groups, deepen the city’s public safety issues on the Fourth of July. 

But no longer being able to charge the nonprofits with full cost recovery fees sparked further conversation over whether the program — beloved by some and despised by others in the city — is worth the long-term effort. 

“This is probably the thorniest issue we face as councilmembers. As soon as you bring up the issue of, ‘Should we sell legal fireworks in San Bruno?’ You automatically make enemies with half the people in the room,” Hamilton said. 

The city, which is presently strapped for cash, might need to have conversations about the financial practicality of bearing the increasing public safety cost burdens that come with the holiday, City Manager Alex McIntyre said. 

“It makes sense when it was cost recovery. I can hold my nose and say this makes sense. It is now getting much more complicated,” McIntyre said. “Money is not something that comes to our city easily and readily. Somewhere along the line we have to ask the big policy question — is this really worth it anymore?” 

The city will need to adjust its 2024-25 fiscal budget to account for the loss of recovery revenue, San Bruno Chief Financial Officer Nick Pegueros said. 

Future conversations around fireworks sales should include minimizing costs around the holiday, councilmembers affirmed. 

Police Chief Ryan Johansen pushed back on the hypothetical of police presence being reduced for financial reasons and said the department would be unfairly blamed for a more minimal response than past years. 

“Every year, the sentiment from much of our community was that it was the worst Fourth of July ever,” he said of residents’ experiences during the holiday. “It’s become an expectation the Police Department will be responsive to the problems they are experiencing on the Fourth of July.” 

But the decision to reduce fees left nonprofits happy — the fundraisers are integral for groups like the city’s Boy and Girl Scouts clubs, who make $6,000 to $8,000 from the sales, Committee Chair Bob Luttrell said. 

“It’s been a very important fundraiser for us,” he said.