As reported by Dave Franzman of KCRG, "The Cedar Rapids City Council approved a new law during a special meeting Friday [May 26, 2017] allowing private use of fireworks during the days around the Fourth of July and New Year's. The change coincides with a new state law approved this year allowing the sale of fireworks in Iowa around the same two holidays. That law still allows local governments to ban the use of fireworks but several cities that had bans have now lifted them to match state law. The city code previously banned all use of fireworks inside city limits and the Cedar Rapids fire chief opposed changing that, even with the new state law, citing safety concerns. Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett recommended the city follow state rules, at least through this first holiday period, because there was no time to draft a more restrictive rule. Council member Scott Olson, who was an eventual "no" vote proposed allowing fireworks but on a more restrictive time schedule. Olson wanted fireworks use allowed only on July 3rd & 4th and December 31st and January 1st. The action by the city council means the use of retail fireworks by anyone will be allowed from June 1st through July 8th and December 10th through January 3rd. The state law does restrict hours of use on certain days."
Every day and night, it is the Fourth of July in many Cedar Rapids neighborhoods which is impacting residents' right to quiet enjoyment of their property. Residents are using fireworks well outside the times permitted by law. The CRPD has been inundated with complaints and lacks sufficient manpower to respond and enforce the new ordinance.
Please urge the Cedar Rapids City Council to call a special meeting to immediately restrict the use of fireworks and introduce strict penalties for residents that fail to comply with those restrictions.
