Tumwater residents will vote on fireworks ban — again — in April

Voters in Tumwater will decide in a special election in April whether to undo the city’s fireworks ban, set to go into effect later this year.

In 2016, the City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale, possession and discharge of consumer fireworks at all times within city limits. That followed an advisory vote to ban fireworks that voters narrowly passed earlier that year.

An initiative petition submitted by a group called Citizens for Legal Fireworks would repeal the ban. Sales would be allowed from June 28 to July 4; the City Council could restrict but not eliminate the hours for fireworks use in years with extreme fire danger.

The measure will go to voters in an April 28 special election.

The city is looking for people to serve on “for” and “against” committees that will write statements for the voters’ pamphlet on the initiative. Committee members will be appointed at a Feb. 20 meeting of the City Council.

Statements for the voters’ pamphlet are due March 2.

Those interested should send a letter to: City of Tumwater, Attention City Clerk, Initiative No. 1 Committees, 555 Israel Road SW, Tumwater WA 98501. Include your name, address, telephone number, email, which committee (“for” or “against”) you are interested in, and explain why you would like to serve on the committee.

For information, call 360-252-5488.

This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Tumwater residents will vote on fireworks ban — again — in April."