MARYSVILLE — The booms of early revelers lighting off fireworks could be heard for several days leading up to New Year’s Eve in Marysville.
All of which raises the question: Didn’t voters approve a fireworks ban during the November general election?
The answer is they did, but it was only an advisory ballot measure.
On Monday, the Marysville City Council is expected to start talking about next steps. It has a workshop scheduled for 7 p.m. at City Hall and plans to discuss a potential ban. If it becomes an agenda item at a later regular City Council meeting, there will be an opportunity for public input.
State law allows the sale of legal fireworks for use July 4 and New Year’s Eve up until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1. But it also lets cities and counties enact bans within the boundaries of their jurisdiction.
Everett, Edmonds, Gold Bar, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and Mukilteo have done so, according to data compiled by the Washington State Patrol.
In Marysville, sales of fireworks are now allowed from June 28 through July 4. Fireworks can only be set off between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. July 4. They also can be legally discharged from 9 a.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1, police tweeted on Thursday.
Proposition 1 asked voters if the Marysville council should “prohibit the possession, sale and discharge” of fireworks within city limits. More than 59 percent of voters said that’s what the council should do.
The council started discussing a ban in 2014. Despite numerous meetings, a committee that included council members, city officials and people living in town could not come to a consensus. An unscientific online survey provided a nearly a 50-50 split on the fireworks issue.
Council president Jeffrey Vaughan said the city was able to place the fireworks advisory measure on the ballot without additional election cost.
Even if the council approves the ban in the next few months, it would not take effect until 2017 because of a provision in state law.
Vaughan said there are several factors to consider if the council approves a ban, including whether the city should come up with an alternative, such as a sanctioned fireworks display.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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