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Council adopts alcohol-licensing noise standard to align permits with municipal code
Summary
Council and committee members approved language to align alcohol-license permit conditions with municipal noise code 7.23, replacing a prior 100‑decibel/100‑foot standard on permits so police and licensees share the same enforcement language.
The Common Council and the Public Safety Committee discussed and approved an amendment to alcohol-license permit language to bring permit conditions into conformance with municipal code 7.23 on noise.
Alderman Noah (sponsoring alderperson) described a mismatch between permit language and the city’s noise ordinance after the city revised noise enforcement earlier in the year. She said some permits still cited a decibel-based limit (for example, a 100‑decibel measurement at 100 feet) even though police no longer use decibel meters for enforcement and the municipal code uses a different standard. Attorney Decker and staff advised that the change will redact the decibel/100‑foot language from alcohol-license permits and instead require licensees to comply with municipal code 7.23.
Council and committee members asked about older permits that include specific decibel limits; staff said those special provisions remain on existing permits where previously granted (Paulie’s was cited as an example), and future licenses will reflect the revised standard. Committee members also discussed neighborhood nuisance complaints and asked staff to ensure permits and enforcement practices clearly align with the ordinance so that police, licensees and complainants have consistent expectations.
The committee moved and approved the amendment by voice vote.
