Title
Amend Chapter 15, Article III - Noise Ordinance
Action
Action:
Approve an amendment to the Noise Ordinance.
Body
Committee Chair:
Justin Harlow, Neighborhood Development
Staff Resource(s):
Sabrina Joy-Hogg, City Manager’s Office
Patrick Baker, City Attorney’s Office
Willie Ratchford, Community Relations
Current Ordinance
§ City Council adopted the most recent version of Article III - Noise Ordinance on May 23, 2011, which made it unlawful for any person to create or assist in creating any unreasonably loud and disturbing noise in the city.
§ Significant growth and development in the uptown area and throughout the city has created a need for revisions to the Noise Ordinance. Following committee discussion of the current Noise Ordinance and current challenges, the Mayor requested a review of the Noise Ordinance.
Proposed Changes
§ A summary of the Neighborhood Development Committee recommendations includes:
- Update existing ordinance language to clarify intent,
- Create noise buffers within 200 feet of the property line of schools, houses of worship, and medical facilities to be in effect only when schools are in session, houses of worship are in assembly, and during medical facility service hours, with the criteria that these place types must post specific signage for enforcement to occur,
- Add decibel measurement for C-weighted sound levels to capture the bass components of sound,
- Add construction sites to establishment types covered under chronic noise producer regulation,
- Create an escalating penalty schedule, increase penalties, and establish a late fee, and
- Make technical additions and corrections of department references and sections to the correct names, references and citations, and add a severability clause.
Committee Discussion
§ The former Community Safety Committee (Committee) held discussions on the Noise Ordinance on October 18, 2018 and received a referral from the Mayor to review the ordinance on November 2, 2018. The Committee reviewed issues, data and research, community feedback and discussed revision options on December 11, 2018, February 20, 2019, and March 20, 2019. The newly established Neighborhood Development Committee continued the work and made a recommendation to full Council on April 17, 2019.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Noise Ordinance