HomeMy WebLinkAboutA008 - background on noise ordinance revision NoV%e-
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In January, 1982, Councilperson Mary Atherly was approached by an Ad Hoc group of
citizens who were concerned with the provisions of the existing ,Noise Ordinance and
were attempting to alter its requirements. This Ad Hoc group was comprised of Doug
Brown, Hubert Church, Charles Sage, Barb Munson, Bruce Munson and Pat Brown.
Prior to submitting their revised Noise Ordinance to the City Council, this group
requested that the City Manager staff conduct a neighborhood liaison meeting in order
to review these proposed changes with citizens in other neighborhoods. This meeting
was held in the spring of 1982. In late August, the Ad Hoc group met with the
University/Student/City Committee in order to explain the proposed revisions and to
solicit the Committee's support prior to bringing the matter to the City Council.
Rather than adopting the proposals outlined by the Ad Hoc group of citizens, the
University/Student/City Committee passed two resolutions on August 27, 1982 which
first encouraged the City Council to direct the City Manager to hold neighborhood
meetings for the purpose of discussing the Noise Ordinance and related issues, and
second to encourage the City Council to require copies of any citations issued for
violations of the Noise Ordinance be sent to the owner of the property at which the
violation occurred.
In October, 1982, the City staff met with representatives of this Ad Hoc group of
citizens to express concerns regarding these proposals. As a result of this discussion
it was agreed that the proposed changes to the Ordinance would be limited to the
following items:
1. In terms of identifying a violation, the sound shall be measured at the edge of
City property (City street or alley) nearest to the source of the noise. This
represents a significant change in the Ordinance, which requires the sound to be
measured at the property line of the complainant.
2. Maximum number of decibels permitted in residential areas without a noise permit
is proposed to be 60 decibels between 7 a.m. and 12 midnight, and 55 decibels
between midnight and 7 a.m. The current Ordinance allows for a maximum of 60
decibels without a noise permit in a residential area throughout the day and night.
3. A maximum of decibels will be issued with a permit. Currently the maximum
sound levels allowed with a permit is between IN decibels for a 24-hour period to 105
decibels during a 5-minute period. q0
4. It is proposed that the maximum allowable noise levels for motor vehicles less
than 10,000 gvw, more than 10,000 gvw, and motorcycles be established at the
existing EPA standards. The existing ordinance prescribes a maximum of 84 decibels
for vehicles 10,000 lbs or less, 93 decibels for vehicles more than 10,000 lbs, and 93
decibels for motorcycles.
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