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City Council Meeting Minutes September 5, 2017 Page 11 of 18 MUSIC REPEALING CHAPTER 9.40 AND MAKING CORRESPONDING AMENDMENTS TO THE LOUISVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE City Clerk Muth stated on May 17, the Legal Review Committee discussed the attached proposed noise ordinance The City Attorney's Office and staff prepared the ordinance based on feedback staff received from City Council at the November 29, 2016 Council study session. The proposed ordinance creates restrictions on amplified sound and live music based on decibel (dBA) levels, time of day, and zoning Muth stated sound would be measured at the property boundary of the property receiving the sound and measurements will be taken by police staff with an approved decibel meter There are options for relief from the ordinance through the special event permit, a block party permit, or a park rental permit Council will need to determine where to set the decibel levels. She stated there are there are other ways noise can be addressed Staff can place limits on music and sound for special events by the conditions placed on the event permit In addition, the Planning Department can regulate music and amplified sound by limiting hours in the Special Review Use (SRU) process or, in some cases through existing revocable license agreements. These rules do not have any effect on indoor music. Muth noted that even with the decibel levels in place this may still be somewhat subjective; decibel readings can be affected by wind, weather, location, and other factors. Also, these proposed decibel levels are already being surpassed by businesses in the downtown area from indoor sound. Muth stated this discussion initially came out of a series of complaints related to the special events, particularly at Community Park (outdoor movies and music going later into the evening) Staff feels this issue has been addressed through the special event and park rental permitting processes Noise complaints related to Community Park are down significantly in the last two years After discussion at their May 11 meeting, the Legal Committee voted 3-0 to recommend Council take no further action on the draft ordinance. Councilmember Council member Leh, chair of the Legal Committee, values inform this discussion. Those values include individual freedoms, quiet enjoyment of your property & freedom to conduct business and patronize a business. Communal values include potential health risks, small town feel of Louisville, and what music does for that or detracts from it, potential indirect issue of tax revenue by changing business practices, and how disputes are resolved in a small town. Councilmember Stolzmann stated the practice has been to try to educate and not issue tickets She asked if the current code is hard to prosecute. Councilmember Leh stated it