Marina Blatt reports from the Coupeville Town Council meeting of Tue., May 27, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
On May 27, Coupeville Town Council amended Ordinance 804 regarding the punishment for illegal discharge of fireworks and the ability to launch mortar fireworks.
Setting off fireworks within city limits has been a recurring debate on the council. In 2022, the offense became a misdemeanor due to extreme weather conditions on July 4. More recently, on May 13, Mayor Molly Hughes urged the council to revise the current misdemeanor to a class one infraction as it was before 2022. However, she suggested that council members leave illegal sale of fireworks as a misdemeanor.
While the council approved the ordinance, it will not go into effect until July 4, 2026.
They Said It
Hughes explained that turning the illegal discharge of fireworks into a class one infraction is “more immediate, it sets a bigger example.”
Additionally, Hughes expressed her concern about mortar fireworks. She cited that her reasons against them are their noise level and that they tend to rain down debris, so they are most likely to cause a fire. Island County commissioners passed a ban on mortar fireworks last year.
“…[T]he enforcement will be a ticket that we can give right then and there for illegal fireworks or illegal discharge of them instead of having to take people to court,” Hughes said.
Councilmember Rick Walti, [who was the only councilor voting no,] voiced that he didn’t believe this could be properly enforced.
On the Ballot in November 2025
| TOWN OF COUPEVILLE |
|---|
| Councilmember Position 4 Evan Henrich. Incumbent Michael Moore did not file for another term. |
| Councilmember, Position 5 Kristo Allred Brandon Roos Incumbent Pat Powell did not file for another term. |
