By Moses Leos III
The Buda City Council amended its permitting process after a neighborhood requested a permit to hold a Fourth of July fireworks display.
By a 7-0 vote on June 2, council green-lighted a permitting process for fireworks displays in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. It’s an amendment to an ordinance passed in 2013 restricting fireworks sales and use 5,000 feet from city limits.
The discussion began when Steve Shannon, a member of the Coves of Cimarron homeowners association fireworks committee, submitted a letter advocating for a permit for the Coves to hold its yearly Independence Day fireworks display.
Under current ordinance, the Coves of Cimarron falls under the city’s 5,000 buffer restricting fireworks use and sales.
In his letter to the city, Shannon said the celebration is “conducted with safety foremost in mind” and “reduces to a significant extent the random launching of fireworks by individuals.”
He also wrote that an “overwhelming majority” of residents polled at a recent homeowners association meeting wanted to continue the tradition.
One of the primary advocates was HOA Director and veteran Bill Brown, who was emotional in his public comment to council on the merits of the display.
“This isn’t just a fireworks display. This is Independence Day,” Brown said. “This is something I want my son and my grandchildren to understand.”
According to Fire Marshal Mike Duffey, Buda Fire Code allowed for fireworks permits, but no permit process could be initiated due to the in-place ordinance.
With the council’s decision, Duffey said he has begun drafting what the permit process could look like.
While it’s still a work in progress, Duffey said one of the primary factors would be identifying the grade of fireworks, whether commercial or consumer grade, and requiring the entity to hire a licensed and insured pyro technician.
Several other factors including the feasibility of detonation location, access for emergency vehicles, assessing the fallout zone and drought conditions.
A time limit will also be assessed, with Duffey saying permits may be limited to the Fourth of July only at this time.
Emergency Service District No. 8 Fire Chief Clay Huckaby said during the June 2 meeting that the Buda Fire Department can “accommodate” permit requests without reducing staff, but said there could be a cutoff point.
“I’m confident they have the manpower and the equipment so that any fireworks display will be done in a safe manner,” Mayor Todd Ruge said.
See our story on last year’s illegal fireworks display here.
