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ATTACHMENT 1 <br /> <br />T.E city Parks and Recreation Commission <br /> Staff Report <br />pL£AS,~NTON January 13, 2005 <br /> ° Item 7C <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Conceptual Discussion of Fireworks for July 4th <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Prior to July 1999; the Alameda County Fairgrounds scheduled a fireworks display on July 4th <br />each year in conjunction with its annual County Fair. The Alameda County Fair Board sponsored <br />the fireworks display, with the County's Sheriff and Fire Departments having public safety <br />responsibilities for the event. <br /> <br />On July4, 1998, a shooting incident occurred in the Fairgrounds midway. Since that time, a July <br />4th fireworks display has not been held on the property. The Fair Board also decided to annually <br />close the Fair at 6 p.m. on July 4th, several hours earlier than on other Fair days. <br /> <br />At the September 9, 2004 Commission meeting, Commissioner Kummer inquired about the <br />feasibility of resuming a fireworks display at the Fairgrounds, and the Commission requested that <br />staff research the issue and present its findings. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />Staff contacted Rick Pickering, Executive Director of the Alameda County Fairgrounds, to <br />Oetermine the Fairgrounds interest in resuming a fireworks display on July 4th. Mr. Pickering <br />indicated that prior to 1998, the Fair was experiencing an increased number of gang members and <br />undesirable persons on July 4th. These individuals/groups would come from as far away as <br />Stockton, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Oakland, etc., and remain at the Fair until late evening. <br />Pleasanton residents who attended the Fair on July 4thwould generally leave the Fairgrounds by <br />late afternoon, and watch the fireworks from their own homes or in areas with an unobstructed <br />view. <br /> <br /> Since the 1998 shooting, the Fair has worked to modify its format and activities on July 4th to <br /> attract more families and promote the image of % safe place to be." The current feeling is that six <br /> (6) years after the incident; the County is still not comfortable about extending Fair hours and <br /> holding a fireworks display on July 4th. In addition, the Sheriff' s Department has been vehement <br /> in its opposition to resuming July 4th fireworks. As a compromise position, however, fireworks <br /> are provided during the opening night of the Fair's 10-day run. If the Fair Board were to re- <br /> <br /> <br />