The Marysville City Council continues its Shakespearian tragedy with the divisive fireworks issue after months of research and debate.

It hasn’t led to a Montague and Capulet street brawl, but council president Jeff Vaughan said May 26 it’s the most “polarizing” issue he’s seen in his many years on the council.

He said many people participated in an online city survey and were very passionate in their comments. The vote was very close, but came out against a fireworks ban.

Karen Gower of Tacoma, who supplies legal fireworks, said 80 percent of fireworks are sold on Indian Reservations. To ban fireworks would only hurt community groups who sell the other 20 percent as fund-raisers. She said bans don’t work, citing Duvall, Edgewood and Othello, which have rescinded their bans. If there is a ban, she said people will just go to Boom City.

Gower said it would be better to let people celebrate freedom, enforce current city fireworks laws, and emphasize safety and legality through education.

“Illegal fireworks are easy to identify,” she said. “Nobody’s going to tell them there,” on the reservation.

Cheryl Bratcher of Marysville said she has written to the council for three-straight years on the issue. She is not against fireworks. She just wants them out of her neighboring park. Signs are put up in all of the city parks around July 4, reminding people it is illegal to shoot off fireworks there.

Laws hard to enforce

Marysville Sgt. Joby Johnson said it is hard to enforce the laws because they have to catch culprits in the act.

“Everybody’s got scanners on their phones,” he said.

Johnson added that most of the fireworks calls also involve alcohol, so backup is needed because violators are not cooperative.

“The call where we roll up, cite them and shake hands doesn’t happen,” he said, adding police can’t get to all calls because so many of officers are needed on each one.

Police Chief Rick Smith said his officers are giving out more citations every year, but they are only given to people shooting illegal fireworks or doing it in a dangerous manner. He added it’s difficult to enforce laws because echo sounds make it hard to locate the spot of the infraction.

Another problem is those who shoot and hide.

“A lot of these knuckleheads – they’re going to run,” he said.

Council Member Kamille Norton mentioned putting more officers on that night, but Smith said the city already is spending a lot on that.

Council Member Stephen Muller mentioned using volunteers to patrol parks, but Smith worried that might put them in an unsafe situation.

Parks director Jim Ballew said another problem is the amount of time and money spent on cleaning up after fireworks.

“People think it’s just OK to drink and litter,” he said.

Council Member Donna Wright mentioned adding a cleanup tax to those who sell fireworks.

Smith said no matter what the city decides, some people will do what they want.

“It’s a Catch-22 for us no matter what we do,” he said. “The ignorant will still go to the reservation.”

Other cities, same problem

A number of other cities in Western Washington are dealing with the same issues because they are located next to Indian Reservations.

Bellingham, located near the Lummi tribe, instituted a ban on personal fireworks last year. The city does put on a show for the entire community.

This July 4 will be the last for personal fireworks in Port Angeles, located near the Elwha tribe. The debate there was about as close as it could be. At a public hearing, 13 people spoke in favor of a ban, 13 against. The City Council also was split, 3-3, so the mayor cast the deciding vote. That city also puts on a show for the community, however.

Lynnwood passed a ban last year, so this will be the first one without personal fireworks. Some community members tried to overturn it but that vote failed.

Kent, near the Muckleshoot Tribe, bans personal fireworks, but does have a public display. Nearby Auburn allows fireworks but they are limited. “If it goes up or blows up it’s illegal in Auburn,” its website says.

Work of the committee

Since last fall, a Fireworks Committee has been gathering information about a proposed fireworks ban. The goals of the committee were to collect data on how a ban would affect the community, including service clubs who sell them and impacts on visitors; getting community feedback; and studying alternatives, such as a city display.

The group found fireworks cost the city thousands of dollars to clean up parks and streets, along with police and fire costs. Walt McKinney said Kiwanis has not been making as much money selling fireworks, so a ban would not be that hard on them. He also suggested reducing the time to sell fireworks may help.

Having a citywide display has not received much support, since the Marysville Strawberry Festival show is so close to July 4 already. Ballew said when that was tried in the past it was not very popular. Also, the cost can be from $5,000 to $30,000.

The committee looked into just enforcing current laws, but police Cmdr. Jeff Goldman said that is difficult because illegal fireworks are going off all over the city. Police have said an outright ban would be easier to enforce.

The panel found that property damage has been minimal, but is still a major concern of residents. Other concerns are noise, harm to animals and length of time fireworks are shot off illegally.

Fire Marshal Tom Maloney said many people don’t call, but his department still responded to 90 calls in the past six years. Smith has said 35 citations were written last year, with five on July 4. It is illegal to shoot off fireworks before or after the holiday so those culprits are easier to catch.

As for pollution, Puget Sound Clean Air says Marysville had the highest level of particulate pollution compared with other sites that spike on the holiday. They compared it to a really bad winter day when there is a lot of wood smoke in the air.

Poll comments

Following are some random comments from the city’s poll:

• “We’re one of the few cities left where folks can enjoy fireworks.”

• “It gets annoying when Fourth of July fireworks last over a month and random fireworks go off in the middle of the night.”

• “The activity should be an organized event put on by the city of Marysville and the local tribes.”

• “Most cities ban fireworks in town. It is time that our city, Marysville, shows equal concern about safety.”

• “I’m not seeing the need to ban fireworks… Nothing is any different now than it has been in years past.”

• “They are getting louder every year. They are a fire hazard and dangerous if aimed where cars are driving. Plus our pets are so scared.”

• “I am tired of living in a war zone on days that should be enjoyable. If the city would put on one display of fireworks that everyone could enjoy it would be wonderful.”

• “I love fireworks, but with the tribe next to us, it is not fun anymore.”

• “We love the fireworks… In twelve years here we have never seen a fireworks accident.”

• “Not only the obnoxious noise is disrupting but it is a fire danger. Police don’t have time to monitor.”

• “People tend to extend celebrations well beyond the current limits, making getting sufficient rest for work difficult to impossible.”

• “I think nowadays our time-honored traditions are being eroded away, and I would be dismayed to see Marysville continue the decline.”

• “The younger adults in Park View Estates get out of hand the entire month of July, using fireworks that were purchased at Boom City all hours of the day and night.”

• “I fear for my house… I would love for this to go through and a real citywide show be put on instead.”