Neighbors and range operators clash in public comments as Redmond studies noise ordinance changes

Redmond residents, acousticians and representatives of the Interlake Sporting Association took turns at the podium on June 2 to push opposing views about proposed changes to the city’s noise code.

Several speakers who live near the outdoor ISA range described disturbance from gunfire in newly developed suburban neighborhoods and said updated noise standards should limit hours and protect early morning, evening and weekend quiet. "Limiting hours during these times would concentrate activity during times when ambient noise levels are already higher and fewer people are affected," resident Mark Epstein told the council as he urged adoption of the staff recommendations.

Linda Seltzer, an acoustics and speech engineer, explained how standing waves and reverberation between parallel building facades can amplify and prolong low‑frequency noise, and she warned that delivery drones would produce distinct blade and airframe noise that overlaps speech frequencies and could harm intelligibility. Seltzer recommended trialing deployments and careful measurement before making permanent code changes.

Speakers associated with the Interlake Sporting Association, including Richard Ripley and other members, asked the council to pause and work collaboratively on mitigation, noting the unique acoustic characteristics of impulse sounds like gunshots and the expense of effective mitigation. Ripley said ISA was prepared to invest in design and construction to reduce noise and asked that the city consider alternatives rather than immediately imposing restrictive hours. CK, who identified himself as a recent ISA member, emphasized the club’s 76‑year history in Redmond and that its membership is drawn from the local community.

The comments came ahead of council deliberations on separate agenda items: staff are advancing code amendments to Redmond Municipal Code 6.36 and will return through the planning and council processes. No formal ordinance on hours or technical noise thresholds was adopted at this meeting.

Councilmembers acknowledged the range of views and said staff work and further study — including acoustic measurement, potential mitigation engineering and community engagement — will help inform any future legislative action.