Council asks staff for recommendations to update noisy-party and commercial noise rules

Several residents urged the council May 4 to strengthen enforcement and penalties for chronic loud-party and noise complaints. Alexander Meyer, who said he had lived two years with repeated nighttime noise and had won a civil judgment, described the impact on sleep and health and urged ordinance changes.

Police and staff said the city's noise ordinance is outdated, noted the current first-time citation is automatically $500 and described operational limits, including a shortage of decibel meters; the chief said the department planned to add meters to the budget. Councilmembers asked staff, police and legal to return recommended ordinance revisions (including escalation for repeat offenders, equipment needs, and a residential-vs-commercial penalty structure) for consideration in two council meetings. The council passed a motion to have staff provide those recommendations.