Enforcement, zoning could be examined to control fireworks in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Asthmatic reaction, a severely burned 14-year-old and suicidal thoughts from a person with post-traumatic stress disorder were all attributed to fireworks in recent weeks, Cedar Rapids public safety officials said on Tuesday.

Six fire related calls, three building fires, seven injuries treated at UnityPoint-St. Luke's Hospital, and four people transported with serious injuries by ambulance were all also blamed on fireworks, according to city data.

'I think we all expected an uptick, but no one expected that,' said Cedar Rapids City Council member Pat Shey, who serves on the Public Safety and Youth Services Committee.

Cedar Rapids' first period of legal fireworks use was put under the microscope for the first time on Tuesday. The committee heard data that showed a large uptick in strain on public safety responders, and also a sampling of the public backlash that's been bubbling up since the City Council in May voted for the most lax rules allowed under a new state law.

The committee is eyeing ways to limit sales and strengthen enforcement plans as it works to draft 'significant changes' to fireworks rules, and present it to the full City Council on Aug. 22. The three committee members, Shey, Susie Weinacht and Scott Overland all said they favor major restrictions or an outright ban, but haven't decided which.

'I think the key for whatever we do is not to say we are going to ban them or severely restrict them and dust our hands off and say we are done,' Shey said. 'We have to work on an enforcement mechanism where people that use them illegally will feel some pain.'

Shey also suggested examining zoning changes to possibly limit where fireworks can be sold.

Cedar Rapids voted in May to follow guidelines in a new state law that legalized firework use and sales around July 4 and New Year, from June 1 to July 8 and Dec. 10 to Jan. 3. While municipalities had little control over sales, many exercised local control to restrict or ban fireworks.

Weinacht, who heads up the committee, said whatever the final draft looks like there will be 'substantial changes.' Weinacht, who wanted a ban from the start, said she was 'disappointed' with how things turned out, and pointed out neighbors have turned against each other.

Fire Chief Mark English reported 372 calls for service dispatched by officers and 576 by computer aided dispatch from June 1 to July 8, compared to 166 and 320, respectively during the same time frame in 2016.

Dispatchers answered more than 500 calls about fireworks concerns during hours of legal use, generally 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Authorities believe 33 calls dispatched for shots fired were likely fireworks, according to a city memo.

Police Chief Wayne Jerman said seven people were cited for fireworks offenses.

Jerman plans to recommend stiffer penalties.

'We would like to recommend, depending on what the final decision is, the enforcement piece be streamlined so that an officer could write something along the lines of a citation with a defer to appear,' Jerman said. 'We would also recommend that a very high or strict fine be implemented so the high amount of the fine could serve as deterrent.'

Strain on public safety agencies was up statewide, regardless of how the city addressed use, officials noted.

Overland urged residents to lobby state lawmakers for more local control. Limiting sales and addressing enforcement are two of the biggest levers to limiting fireworks use, he and others said.

'We really need the citizenry to contact the legislators and tell them we want more local control on the sales end of it, and that will make your job a lot easier because access will be lessened.'

Several people also spoke during a public hearing.

'If you banned the fireworks, it's breaking the law. There's repercussions,' said Wilma McGrane, of Cedar Rapids. 'Please, I appeal to you to reconsider and ban fireworks.'

Dawn Stephens, 48, of Cedar Rapids, spoke against the fireworks at the meeting and also at a City Council meeting earlier in the day, calling it 'far too lenient and far too dangerous for our city, especially with how close our houses are together.' She said it can't just be a policy, but it must be backed up with an enforcement plan.

'As a taxpayer, I don't want my tax dollars going to police to address these jerks who can't follow your ordinance,' she said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com