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POLICY ITEM: G2 <br />3/12/03 <br />ITEM: Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 of the Falcon <br />Heights City Code Concerning the Indoor Display of Fireworks and <br />Use of Pyrotechnic Equipment and Materials <br />SUBMITTED BY: Heather Worthington, City Administrator <br />REVIEWED BY: Roger Knutson, City Attorney <br />EXPLANATION: <br />Summary: In light of recent events in Rhode Island, city staff asked the city attorney, <br />Roger Knutson, to draft an ordinance that would address the issue of pyrotechnic use in <br />un-sprinklered buildings. Current State fire codes require the issuance of a permit by the <br />Fire Chief of the city in these cases; however, this may not be adequate due to the burden <br />of proof being on the business owner, and not on the city. In order to ensure that the city <br />has adequate safeguards in place, it is prudent to have an ordinance that specifically <br />disallows the use of pyrotechnics or indoor fireworks in buildings that are not equipped <br />with an automatic fire suppression system. <br />The State Legislature is considering legislation that would ban the display of indoor <br />fireworks or other pyrotechnics. The status of this bill is unclear at the moment, and it <br />may be advisable for the city to act independently in order to ensure that this potential <br />problem is addressed now, rather than later in the year. <br />This ordinance would not address the use of outdoor fireworks, which are already <br />regulated by State law. <br />ATTACHMENT: <br />• Ordinance 03-03 <br />• Fireworks Fact Sheet, April 30, 2002, State Fire Marshal <br />• Article 78, Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Special Effects Material, 1997 Uniform Fire <br />Code <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />• Discussion <br />• Adoption of Ordinance 03-03 <br />• <br />~b <br />