UPDATE: Future of safe and sane fireworks in Salinas in the hands of voters

UPDATE 2/10/2016 10 AM: Salinas City Council has decided to leave the future of safe and sane fireworks in the hands of voters this June.

This comes after more than 13,000 people backed a petition to stop the city’s current ban. Supporters said safe and sane fireworks are a huge fundraiser for local non-profits and organizations that benefit from selling them.

The city banned them last year out of safety concerns from police and fire.

ORIGINAL STORY: Tuesday night, the Salinas City Council will take up the fireworks debate. This comes after residents collected enough signatures to put the fireworks ban up for a public vote.

But now it’s up to the council to decide whether to hold a special election in June or save the issue for the general election.

Officials voted to ban all fireworks in the city last year due to public safety concerns.

KION’s Steven Fundaro will have more on this story at 5 and 6.