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Item No. 07 <br />Type of Business: WK <br />WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; <br />CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayor, City Council and City Administrator <br />From: Nyle Zikmund, Fire Chief <br />Item Title/Subject: Fire Department Issues-Fireworks Regulations <br />Meeting Date: May 6, 2002 <br /> <br /> <br />Background: <br />The Minnesota Legislature passed a bill signed into law by Governor Ventura legalizing <br />a subset of 1.4g fireworks. This law took effect Tuesday April 30, 2002 and allows year <br />round sales and use of “ground based” 1.4g fireworks. These are best defined as <br />sparklers, fountains, cones, spinners and so on. Anything that shoots a projectile is still <br />illegal as well as anything that explodes. However, the ground based products can <br />have a “report.” Additionally, any kind of firecracker is still illegal. Fireworks have been <br />illegal in Minnesota since 1941. Opposition to the bill came from all fire service and <br />public safety groups as well as the League of Cities, medical community, and <br />environmental groups. <br /> <br />Issues: <br />The fire department has several issues we would like to present to council for feedback <br />and action if desirable. They include: <br /> 1. Sales of product in accordance with model state and national codes. <br /> 2. Storage of product in accordance with model state and national codes. <br /> 3. Illegal sales to minors. <br /> 4. Use of product by minors. <br /> 5. Enforcement of law. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />The State Fire Marshal has posted information on use, sales, and regulation on their <br />web site. Copies are included. A primary issue in the discussion is the quantity of <br />product allowed with no national model code yet adopted for retail outlets. Given this <br />we looked to other sections of the code as well as explosive regulations by ATF to guide <br />us. We hope to have further information by the workshop or council meeting. <br /> <br />The Fire Department is recommending and proposing the adoption of fire regulations to <br />address the issues outlined. The Minnesota Uniform Fire Code which is adopted by the <br />State and enforced at the local level provides for the promulgation of regulations more <br />restrictive than the fire code except when it impacts the building code. Examples of this