City Council saves Fourth of July fireworks show

The City Council stepped in this week and saved the community Fourth of July fireworks show with a bailout of the Porterville Exchange Club.

The Exchange Club, through early fundraising given a boost by a four-week campaign in The Recorder, had through the end of March secured almost $5,000 toward the initial down payment of $9,000, which was due last week, according club officials.

Another $9,000 was due in late June when the fireworks are delivered.

Bill Graves, Exchange Club board member and fireworks chairman, announced the show’s cancellation in late March. The club also opted not to seek one of the 13 fireworks booths allowed this year within the city.

Tuesday’s City Council agenda included a status report on the fireworks show. The discussion prompted one council member to step down from the debate and ended in a split vote to kick in $13,000 in taxpayer money to bring the show back to life this July 4.

City Councilman Felipe Martinez, a board member of the Exchange Club, sought direction from the city attorney as to whether or not he could take part in the discussion — something he wanted to do — even if it was a conflict of interest.

“I’ll go to jail for my country,” he told fellow council members and the audience.

Julia Lew, the city attorney, said Martinez could ask questions, but could not take part in the final council discussion and vote. He complied, and stepped down from the dais.

The Exchange Club has hosted the community Fourth of July fireworks show for the past 45 years. Graves said he’s been involved for the past 40 years, and at no time — that he’s aware of — has the city contributed toward the cost.

Those costs are around $20,000 — $18,000 for the fireworks, $1,200 to rent the stadium from Porterville College, and the costs for set-up and entertainment.

Councilman Pedro “Pete” Martinez recommended various options for cutting costs — including changing the venue — and suggested a more aggressive fundraising campaign. Councilman Brian Ward said he’d support taxpayer financing for the fireworks show if it can somehow be linked to economic development.

Mayor Cameron Hamilton said the Fourth of July fireworks show is something that deserves City Council support — at least for this year — to allow the Exchange Club time to get a long-term fundraising strategy in place.

“Let’s get the party started,” Hamilton said. “It’s about time the city steps up.”

The council voted 3-1 to pump $13,000 into the Exchange Club’s coffers to cover the balance of the cost of the fireworks. Vice Mayor Pete McCracken voted no.

McCracken said he would have supported granting $4,000 to cover the balance of the down payment, and would have later supported kicking in more cash toward the final payment if the club was still short — but he could not support a full bailout now before other fundraising options were fully explored.

The council directed City Manager John Lollis to find the money somewhere in the budget.

Graves said he was asked by Felipe Martinez to attend the council meeting. He said he had no idea the city would even consider helping bankroll this year’s fireworks show.

The cash infusion, he said, is enough to allow the show to go at this summer.

-- Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.