Councillor A. Owodunni has given notice to introduce the following motion for consideration this date:
"Whereas the City of Kitchener values the safety, peace, and well-being of its residents;
Whereas in May 2023 Kitchener City Council amended the city’s fireworks bylaw to make it more restrictive by only permitting fireworks to be used on the day of an actual celebration (Victoria Day, Canada Day and Diwali);
Whereas, despite those tighter restrictions on the use of fireworks in Kitchener, members of City Council continue to receive a significant number of concerns from residents about non-compliance with the city’s fireworks regulations;
Therefore, be it resolved that Kitchener City Council directs to city staff to:
1. Initiate a comprehensive public education campaign aimed at informing residents about the city’s fireworks regulations. That campaign should be culturally sensitive, and include initiatives such as targeted outreach to specific community leaders and organizations, public service announcements, media advertising, social media posts and collaboration with a variety of local cultural organizations.
2. Enhance enforcement and education of the city’s firework regulations by increasing the number of Bylaw Enforcement Officers on duty from 2 to 8 for all of the days when fireworks are permitted to be used within the city, and that those officers be pre-positioned at public locations throughout the city that have been previously used by residents to light off fireworks."