Residents urge council to act on noise from Transcendence Theater and Sonoma Stompers

At the meeting, several Sonoma residents used the public-comment period to press the council to address excessive noise they attribute to Transcendence Theater performances in the Field of Dreams and to amplified public-address sound from Sonoma Stompers events.

Graham Bennett told the council that stage orientation and an unenclosed stage have sent "extremely loud, unimpeded music" into his home and that his familychildren wake up "exhausted and anxious." He urged the council to schedule the proposal for a three-year extension of Transcendence's Field of Dreams site on a future agenda so the community can vet a long-term plan.

"Please, please help me to protect my family. Let's put Transcendence on the agenda," Bennett said. Other speakers, including Charles Centreto, Kerry Atwood, Stephanie Seda and Patty Markin, described sleepless nights, rattling windows, louder-than-expected announcer PA systems and repeated summertime schedules that they said make homes unusable on performance nights.

Speakers asked the city to reexamine stage orientation, require sound engineers during events, require an environmental review or an agenda discussion before long-term contracting, and to move performance venues to less intrusive locations. The council did not take action but several members -- including Vice Mayor Wallander, Councilmember Lowe and Councilmember Gurney -- acknowledged residents' concerns and said they wanted to see the issue placed on a future council agenda for fuller vetting.

The residents asked the council to coordinate with event managers and to enforce noise limits and mitigation measures so that residents can use their backyards and sleep during performances.

No formal action was taken; the matter remains an item for staff and council follow-up.