A special meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. at city hall to further discuss the proposed fireworks ordinance and how it will affect Webster City residents.

Due to new fireworks legislation at the state level, the City Council of Webster City went over the first reading of a proposed ordinance amending the city fireworks code. The first reading was approved during Monday night’s council meeting.

The General Assembly of the State of Iowa has enacted new legislation relating to the possession, sale, transfer, purchase and use of fireworks. The new legislation provides for city councils, by ordinance, to prohibit or limit the use of consumer fireworks within their jurisdiction if determined a public safety risk or nuisance to neighbors.

The city is proposing to amend its fireworks ordinance to eliminate any inconsistent measures of both the state and city in order to avoid conflict of laws and better protect the public health and safety of its citizens.

The second reading of a proposed ordinance amending city code by replacing Chapter 111 of Title 3, establishing new rates to be charged for electrical energy sold by the city of Webster City may be approved. The first reading passed at last week’s council meeting at which councilman Jim Talbot voted against the proposed ordinance.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the operation of the municipally owned electric system. The proposed ordinance includes:

•An increase of 6.25 percent across the board on base rate

• A 6.25 percent increase in Kilowatt hours for commercial and industrial will be phased in over a two year period

• A one percent increase annually on Kilowatt hour after the following rates have been amended

“Once the ordinance or the increase are implemented, there will be a one percent increase on the energy side across the board every year, and that is to account for any fluctuations in energy rate as they go up,” said Ortiz-Hernandez. “This will provide us an opportunity so that when an increase comes our way, we’re not having to revisit such a drastic increase in the future.”

There hasn’t been an increase in rates since 2012.

A resolution setting Monday, July 3 at 5:50 p.m. for a public hearing on the proposed contract sale of city owned property located in Dubuque and Pacific Railroad Addition, Lots 8, 9, 10, 11, Block 110 may be approved by the council.