by Garth Meyer
Last year a drone show replaced Redondo Beach’s July 4th fireworks because of new environmental laws. Tuesday night, the council voted 4-0 to bring back the traditional show for 2024.
The city will contract with Garden State Fireworks (Long Hill Township, N.J.), which has been in the business since 1890, for a barge-based show. It will also work with PI Environmental Consultants to ensure the fireworks are in compliance with the new State Water Board regulations.
“We are very confident that we can acquire the permit,” said Cameron Harding, community services director.
The 2024 fireworks contract is for $119,171, a significant jump in price – almost double what it would have been last year – due to inflation and the extra cost of the environmental consultant.
To do a drone show again this year was estimated to cost between $30,000 for 100 drones and $120,000 for 300 drones. Last year’s show had 200.
Garden State Fireworks representative Steve Jeffiries told the council, over Zoom, he is confident his fireworks show will be in compliance with the State Water Board.
“98% of what we use is biodegradable and we limit as much as possible what goes in the water,” he said.
Garden State has put on the Long Beach fireworks shows for the past 10 years.
Also, at the Tuesday Feb. 6 meeting, the city council directed staff to seek a permit for the annual Keep the Esplanade Beautiful fireworks show off of a barge near the beach at Avenue I.
Keep the Esplanade Beautiful would be responsible for fundraising to resume their display, which did not take place in 2023 because of environmental law compliance issues.
In March 2023, a court ruling spurred new fireworks requirements, including further clean-up of plastic debris in the water. In May, the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted new permit regulations in line with the federal Clean Water Act.
The 1972 law requires a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to shoot fireworks over United States waters. But it was not until a court ruling in Long Beach about its “Big Bang on the Bay” that fireworks were declared a “point source” of pollution, which may be regulated.
Plans were also discussed at the Feb. 6 council meeting for a new Fourth of July event at Dominguez Park, with food booths, live music, and museum tours. As part of last year’s 11th hour-changes, $20,000 was set aside for the event, to take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic, who represents District 3, where the park is located, supported the event, but suggested it be moved to another day.
She asked Community Services Director Harding what it would do to city staff’s workload on the Fourth, considering that Seaside Lagoon activities would be at the same time.
“What I’m hearing is, this Dominguez Park Fourth of July event is stretching you?”
“Yes,” Harding answered.
“I don’t know that it would be as well-attended, considering all that is going on that day,” Kaluderovic said.
After some council discussion, it was decided the event would be held on another date. ER
