The city council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance banning the sale or use of any balloons.
The Laguna Beach City Council may give environmentalists a reason to cheer in the next month.
During its Jan. 24 meeting, the city council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would ban the sale or use of any balloons within the city of Laguna Beach. Proponents of the ordinance argue balloons of any kind pose a serious threat to the environment and safety of residents. Laguna Canyon Foundation Executive Director cited both ocean cleanliness and fire hazards as motives for supporting the ordinance.
“The fire danger is obviously very real, but the litter danger is also a problem for the open space and wildlife as well,” Jones said.
The Pacific, Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison reported a combined total of more than 1,700 power outages in Southern California due to metallic balloon incidents in 2021.
Local non-profit Project O founder Rich German started this push to ban the sale of balloons within the city back in 2017. He celebrated the first vote saying it warms his heart to see his efforts come full circle.
“We had a petition that thousands of people signed, but unfortunately, it just didn’t go anywhere with the city council back then,” German said. “It wasn’t until we formed an incredible coalition that included many other local non-profits, including Laguna Bluebelt, Laguna Ocean Foundation, Laguna Canyon Foundation, and Surfrider Foundation and others, that we got the ball rolling. We got the Environmental Sustainability Committee on board, local businesses and concerned citizens. It was when we formed that coalition that we got the ban through, which we did last night.”
The ordinance must go through a second round of voting in the month of February in order to get passed. Laguna Beach officials say the ordinance will go into effect nine months following its approval. But the bill has not received universal support from Laguna Beach residents.
“Don’t go to the extreme of banning the sales of balloons or policing people who celebrate with balloons,” Cheryl McKinney, a local business owner who sells balloons, wrote to the city. “Don’t put thousands of people out of work and close businesses down.”
However, German argued this ordinance would be worth it, making the community a safer, cleaner place.
“Some people might not think this is a big deal,” German explained. “But what is a big deal is all the plastics, the fishing line, and fishing gear that endanger wildlife. So for me, my biggest concern is marine animals. These balloons also are a massive fire hazard, and they’re just pollution. So I want to acknowledge the City of Laguna Beach for taking a stand and being a leader in environmental sustainability. We hope that other cities will follow our lead.”
If the Laguna Beach City Council votes to approve this ordinance, it would not be the first city to do so. Solana Beach and Encinitas voted to ban foil and latex balloons filled with gas lighter than air in 2022.
