A FIREWORKS stand in Garden Grove, one of several cities – including Huntington Beach – that allow the sale and use of “safe and sane” fireworks (Orange County Tribune photo).

It may just be February but it’s not too early to make plans for the Fourth of July.

An otherwise routine agenda of the Huntington Beach City Council on Tuesday includes a presentation on the “Safe and Sane” fireworks stand application and lottery process for 2026.

The limit of permits is 16, with the categories of eligible non-profits being civic organizations (five), high schools (five), youth sports (five) and city foundation/partnerships (one).

In the category of high schools, four of the five would be public high schools and one for a private high school. If no private high school applies, the four public schools would be entered into the lottery drawing for the fifth permit.

The period for applying for a permit is March 1 to March 31.

Also on the agenda are items in the closed session on the city’s legal battles with the State of California on voter ID, and a struggle with the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, which is trying to compel the city council to replace its “at-large” system for electing members of the city council with a “by-district” model.

The council will meet in closed session at 4 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 2000 Main St. (at Yorktown Avenue).