JANET ST. CLAIR: Update From Commissioner St. Clair (Apr. 5, 2023)

Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island) sent the following email to constituents on Apr. 6, 2023.

Welcome to Spring!

     It is delightful to have sunshine and flowers blooming around our beautiful county.  I wanted to give all an update on an important issue before the Board.  During the last few months, you may have received information or seen in the newspaper about the effort to ban fireworks in Island County.  I mentioned it in the gov delivery letters about my Town Halls and it was discussed at the Town Halls in February and March.  Many have you reached out regarding the ban of fireworks in Island County, and I want to respond to that outreach. 

     This issue was raised by one of the Commissioners during commissioner comment in January.  It was not on our workplan and was not staffed as our current staff have a full workplan from our planning process in 2022.  The issue received support from both me and Commissioner Bacon to move forward with the discussion, but I was clear at that time that I expected full, robust outreach and a data-driven approach. The intention was to possibly move to a councilmanic vote on the ban given sufficient public support and details.  The ban would then pass without an advisory vote of the people or the staffing and workplan process normally allocated to code changes.

I requested a plan that addressed the following:

1. Detailed input from all five fire districts and detailed data on the fireworks incidents reported so we understand together the threat and solutions. 
2. Participation and support from the Fire Marshall (Sheriff) on a ban and a plan for enforcement given our severe workforce shortage in the Sheriff’s office (despite full funding from the Board)
3. Strong outreach to all communities and sides to get true public input on both sides of an issue that is very real and very personal to many residents
4. Given the testimony and a report by a community group, Safe & Sane, on the impact on veterans due to PTSD, I also now believe outreach to veterans’ groups is important in order to hear from veterans rather than speaking for veterans. I have received mixed input from vets that did provide input in the last few months.
5. Better data on environmental damage at a local level would also be helpful. For example, there is concern about toxic air quality in the Safe and Sane Report that could include input from Northwest Clean Air Agency which monitors air quality in Island County.

     I do believe much of the report highlights significant concerns that are accurate, and I share many of those concerns.  That said, I believe we have a responsibility to an authentic effort to gather information and bring forward an inclusive, data-driven strategy.  After several weeks of public input and my own research and outreach, I did not feel that I had received enough information to move forward with a councilmanic action on the ban. That said, I want to leave a path forward on this important initiative. 

     There are multiple solutions that can be offered that might address both the desire to curtail fireworks for public safety and the need for good process.  Many counties and cities addressed this by putting it on the ballot.  The City of Stanwood plans to have this on the ballot in November 2023.  In Snohomish County, it was on the ballot in 2019 and passed by a margin 56/43. The language on this effort can be found here: Snohomish County Ordinance No. 19-039 (2019) –Submitting advisory proposition on whether to prohibit consumer fireworks in the unincorporated urban growth areas. I recognize that this is not a guaranteed outcome.

     Other alternatives that can be explored include a partial ban, allowing for the sale and use of ground-based fireworks but prohibiting private use of aerial fireworks.  This was the strategy used by the City of Tukwila in 2022.  It continued to allow for a full ban of fireworks by the Fire Marshall during times of extreme wildfire danger.  In the City of Zillah, Washington they took a different approach allowing residents to apply for a license to use fireworks with appropriate fees and standards.  They retained a general ban on the use, sale, possession, or discharge of private fireworks except for special exceptions.  Those use or license fees could then possibly be used toward the licensing process and as a possible revenue source for enforcement.

      I offer all of these as solutions I am willing to support a ban or partial ban with proper process and the broader discussion of wildfire in our county and appropriate strategies to curtail that risk.  I recognize that many may experience frustration at this delay and if you do want to meet, I am happy to set up a time to discuss with you and others. 

Janet