City Contemplates Fighting Lawsuits Over Fireworks Shows

The San Diego City Council is scheduled today to consider whether to spend up to $500,000 for outside counsel to fight five lawsuits by an environmental group over fireworks shows.   

The issue came up a couple of weeks ago but was postponed when the plaintiff's lawyer, Marco Gonzalez, suggested that the money could be split between an environmental review of the annual July 4 fireworks show at La Jolla Cove and his attorney's fees. Gonzalez asked the city last year for $750,000 in fees.   

Environmentalists contend that debris from pyrotechnics displays near bodies of water harm marine life. La Jolla Cove is adjacent to a marine sanctuary.   

Gonzalez has prevailed in most of the litigation over the issue. Judges have ruled that the city did not follow its own rules in issuing permits to fireworks show organizers. The organizers claim that environmental reviews are too expensive for groups that rely on annual donations.   

The city has been able to get the rulings stayed so the last couple of July 4 shows in La Jolla have taken place.   

Several council members appeared to be intrigued by Gonzalez' settlement offer, which caused the two-week postponement. The City Attorney's Office was to study the offer and report back to the council on Tuesday.   

City Attorney's spokesman Jonathan Heller told City News Service that he could not reveal whether the office would recommend accepting Gonzalez' offer because the issue is going before council members in closed session first. It is scheduled to be taken up in the public portion of the meeting later.

–City News Service