LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lakeport’s police chief updated the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday evening on plans to deal with illegal fireworks in the weeks surrounding the Independence Day holiday this summer.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen presented the Illegal Fireworks Operation Plan for the 30-day period surrounding July 4 — June 17 through July 16 — to the council as he’s required to do under the Lakeport Municipal Code.
New Lakeport Fire Chief Jeffrey Thomas also was on hand during the Zoom meeting, with Rasmussen noting that he and Thomas had worked together on the plan.
Thomas, who arrived in April, was formally introduced to the council on Tuesday night, ahead of the plan’s presentation.
Rasmussen said the plan has to identify areas within the city where illegal fireworks were a problem the previous year; how fire and law enforcement personnel will be deployed to those areas as well as the rest of the city; what apparatus and personnel who will be on duty for the period of June 17 through July 16 and, specifically, July 1 through 5; and include recommendations for dedicated enforcement.
He said last year’s problem areas were the city’s parklands; Willopoint; major shopping centers such as Willow Tree Plaza, Shoreline Shopping Center, Vista Point and 16th and Hartley Street; the Lakeport Unified School District campuses; and the residential districts surrounding those areas.
Lakeport Fire will be operationally ready for a response and Lakeport Police will do routine patrols and extra patrols as staffing permits in any of the problem areas, Rasmussen said.
On July 4 itself, when there will be a larger city celebration taking place, Rasmussen said Lakeport Police’s entire police force will be deployed. As in past years, the department has requested mutual aid from allied law enforcement agencies across Lake County.
Rasmussen said one police officer and one Lakeport Fire firefighter acting as a fire prevention officer will work together, forming a specialized team dedicated to a focused patrol targeting illegal fireworks. His written report said they’ll use an unmarked police vehicle.
“Their only job for 12 hours during that afternoon and evening and into the early morning hours will be to attempt to catch those persons that are setting off the dangerous and illegal fireworks that are happening in our city,” Rasmussen said.
Illegal fireworks are a problem every year and expected to be so again this year, said Rasmussen, adding that they plan to do a media outreach campaign to inform the community.
Councilman Michael Green asked Rasmussen how police know which fireworks are legal and which ones aren’t, especially on private property at places like the Safeway parking lot.
Rasmussen said they have experience in knowing the difference between safe and sane, which typically stay on the ground, and illegal fireworks, which tend to be fired off into the air.
He said various locations put up signs that they don’t want fireworks discharged on their property but due to the amount of fireworks activity, especially on Independence Day, police have to focus their efforts on the illegal and dangerous ones.
Green followed up by asking what police do if they run across safe and sane fireworks that are being discharged in an unsafe manner.
“We’re not going to ignore that,” said Rasmussen, adding that police encourage people to call and report dangerous fireworks activity.
“We’re looking for violations that are dangerous to public safety,” said Rasmussen.
Mayor Kenny Parlet asked Rasmussen how many years he’s worked on the July 4 holiday. “I think this will be 32,” said Rasmussen.
Parlet asked about an idea that Green had suggested at a previous meeting regarding expanding areas where the city allows safe and fireworks to be used.
Rasmussen said yes, and that a plan that includes those expanded areas will be presented to the council at its June 1 meeting.
Councilwoman Mireya Turner said she was thankful to hear about police and fire personnel teaming up to target the areas where the city has had trouble with illegal fireworks. “That’s helpful. That’s reassuring.”
Rasmussen said he appreciates Thomas for allowing him to have a fire department staffer for 12 hours, noting Lakeport Fire, like the police department, is short-staffed.
In other business on Tuesday, the council approved a resolution to approve the future issuance of one or more series of pension obligation bonds in order to address the city’s $8.4 million in unfunded pension liabilities.
The resolution also approved the commencement of a judicial validation action related to the issuance of the bonds, a process expected to take several months. At that point, the council will have to take final action to go forward with issuing the bonds, staff and bond counsel told council members.
In a related action, the council voted to appoint Green and Parlet to the Unfunded Accrued Liability Policy and Restructuring Ad Hoc Committee, which will make policy recommendations and evaluate restructuring options.
The council also presented proclamations designating the week of May 22 through 28 as Safe Boating Week and the month of May as California Tourism Month, and received an update from the Lake County Tourism Improvement District Board.
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Police chief shares plans for dealing with Lakeport’s illegal fireworks
- Elizabeth Larson
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