New sound regulations for Metropolitan Park weren’t ready for the big stage Tuesday, leading City Council members to pass on voting on the issue for another couple of weeks.
The issue stemmed from noise complaints from residents regarding live music events at the Northbank facility. Council member Don Redman in January filed legislation to eliminate the 12 ticketed events at the site, but that was later withdrawn.
Council waived the noise ordinance for the Southeast US Boat Show and “Welcome to Rockville” music festival in April and the “Funk Fest” in May. As part of the waiver, sound levels were tested during those shows.
Council was later told that the noise survey for the two-day Rockville festival had little measurable impact on noise levels in surrounding neighborhoods.
Council also has examined the sound issues through a Metropolitan Park ad hoc committee.
The delayed bill, which would establish noise criteria for the park for one year, has gone through substantial changes since being introduced in September.
Council President Bill Gulliford said there are still a lot of issues and concerns to be addressed.
“I think it needs to be considered fully,” he said.
The deferral announcement came hours after council members Greg Anderson and Lori Boyer met to hear concerns about the bill from their colleagues and others before it was open to discussion and a potential vote later in the evening.
The current legislation would require those hosting shows at the park to not exceed 105 decibels.
Promoters can either ensure that by following technical restrictions determined by the city or by finding a way to do it on their own.
If the noise level is broken, city staff would then follow up with tests about every three minutes. If levels exceed during those tests, fines are implemented.
A first violation brings a warning, a second offense a $1,000 fine and the third-fifth violations each bring a $3,000 fine, up to a maximum of $10,000 in total fines. Further violations would result in a three-year ban for the promoter to rent Metropolitan Park.
The legislation also requires city staff from the Environmental Quality Divisionto be hired by the renters to ensure compliance. That cost is not to exceed $1,000 a day.
St. Nicholas resident Ginny Myrick has led the charge on behalf of the residents against the noise. She told Boyer, Anderson and others in Tuesday’s earlier meeting that the decibel level is higher than what the residents sought, but the bill was a good compromise.
Attorney and promoter Mike Yokan, who has been at the forefront of the issue, said the legislation with the changes is a “workable solution” for the year it is in effect.
Gulliford sent it back to the council committee levels, but the lack of a vote also meant the need for council to pass emergency legislation to waive the noise ordinance for two upcoming shows, much like it did earlier in the year.
Council members then argued over who should pick up the tab should sound testing be required for those events.
The idea to make promoters pay the $1,000 to cover city staff, should they be available, failed on a 10-9 vote.
Opponents said the city should be doing more to attract shows and the people they bring instead of “meddling,” as council member Richard Clark phrased it.
Yokan told council his organization would pay the staffing costs for two upcoming shows.
After the debate over who pays the cost, the emergency noise ordinance waivers were granted for the Soul Food Fest seventh annual Kinfolks Soulfood Festival on Saturday and The Big Ticket rock show Dec. 8. It passed 13-6.
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