Board of Aldermen 5-26-2020 Page 24
Alderwoman Lu
Thank you very much Madam Chairman. Besides the safety, we have a lot of experts right here on the
Board that can speak to many years of experience on the safety that can be assured. But we have to
consider the nuisance of the noise to neighbors. This is a brand-new initiative. | could always be certain
that | would have fireworks in my backyard and there are people who are very sensitive to these kinds of no
noises; there are children and there are animals. So | understand what Chief Rhodes, his point is well
taken, actually it would be a very infrequent occurrence, that would be great. But if not, how would anyone
know whether the noise that they are hearing down the street is permitted firework or non-permitted firework
and how would an ordinary resident be able to protect themselves against the nuisance and noise when
they don’t know what permits have been issued and it just seems to get confusing. Thank you.
Alderman Klee
Thank you, Madam President. One of the questions if Chief Rhodes is still there perhaps, he could answer
These will always be this Class C — they will never be the big ones that we see at Holman Stadium, correct?
President Wilshire
Steve?
Chief Rhodes
| believe, even the fireworks we see at Holman Stadium are classified as Class C or Consumer Grade.
Alderman Klee
OK, | guess my concer is a little b it of the nuisance, I’m not quite sure how I'll vote, I'll know in a few
seconds. But | have to be very, very specific here that the calls that | get from my — for the illegal ones, |
know they are illegal, which are quite loud, | have had them set right off at the end of my driveway from
neighbors and so on, is what it does to our PTSD Veterans, what it does to just neighbors in general, what it
does to children, what it does to animals. | do respect the fact that Chief Rhodes said that it is probably not
going to be as widespread as we think it is going to be and | did feel much more comfortable with that. Now |
am kind of going towards the other way. But | do have to say that | am worried about what this will do to the
current Ordinance. We have a hard enough time telling people, “No you can’t do it, it’s illegal’. They don’t
believe you; no matter how much you show the Ordinance they are going to do it anyway. I’ve said enough,
thank you.
President Wilshire
Alderman Gathright.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Thank you, Madam President. | am going to vote for this and | am really excited and happy that the Chief
was able to get on the phone to give us some clarity as to the process and all that the fire person goes
through to ok something like this. | do believe that it does need to come back to Committee. | am willing to
vote for the school to have the fireworks on the 31%, | think it was the 31. But | would like to see It come
back if people wanted to do some more vetting about fireworks going forward.
President Wilshire
Alderman Gathright it is May 31* with a rain date of June 1°, just so you are aware. Alderwoman Kelly?
