Board of Aldermen 5-26-2020 Page 20
Liaison that still leaves a mechanism for neighborhood concerns to be brought in. But at the same time, it
lets us get this done so that Bishop Guertin can have their graduation?
Attorney Bolton
| think neutral standards are probably the way to go. So if you wanted to limit the length, temporal length of
the display, 10 minutes, or 12 minutes, | think something like that would be appropriate. | think if you wanted
to say any entity could obtain permits for no more than one display per year, two displays per year. | think
those sorts of neutral restrictions would be appropriate. Requiring organizations to come before a political
body, one at a time, | think that’s problematic.
Alderman Lopez
OK then my last question is, there’s still the opportunity because we are the ones creating this Ordinance to
amend this later on to add those stipulations that you suggested, right?
Attorney Bolton
You could introduce another Ordinance at your next meeting to add restrictions, relax restrictions, provide
more standards, different standards, alter the insurance requirements, provide more guidance to the Fire
Marshall. Any of those things can be done this evening, at your next meeting or any future meeting.
Alderman Lopez
So Madam President, this is my last comment, | think my priority personally is to make sure that we don’t
interrupt a graduating class that has already had a pretty bad hand dealt to them. But! am also extremely
aware of how this could potentially impact the Tree Streets if say every nightclub or every casino or
whatever could launch fireworks. You have several places downtown that are safe but they are also kind of
a nuisance for neighbors. So | do share Alderman Jette’s concerns that this is being pushed through in a
way that is not timely but now | understand that it is because we are trying to avoid any preferential
treatment. So | would jus suggest to the Board that we continue forward with this Legislation and then
introduce additional amendments that we can vet very thoroughly in a Committee setting.
President Wilshire
All set Alderman Lopez?
Alderman Lopez
Yes, thank you.
President Wilshire
You're welcome; Alderman Caron?
Alderman Caron
Oh thank you very much. One of my concerns that | mentioned this morning when | saw this was the fact
that the residents live so close to that baseball field and as Alderman Lu said, she probably would have time
to knock on doors or try to find out, do we have any sense as to how the neighbors feel. My other concern is
the same with Alderman Jette, | mean | have been involved with fireworks for an awful long time. | know the
problems and situations that we have gone through and that’s why that Ordinance was put in, that fireworks
would be performed by the City. And as you know, 4" of July is going to be here before we know it, and
once this is passed, you are going to see a lot of people come out looking for permits for that time period.
And | am just not sure this is what we should be doing as a last resort.
