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Committee tables proposal to shift loudspeaker/attraction-permit authority to licensing board; asks chief and licensing board to return with joint proposal
Summary
Councilor Rivera proposed amending ordinances to require loudspeaker and attention-getting-device permits to be issued by the Licensing Board with recommendations from the police chief. The committee tabled the item and asked the licensing board and police chief to meet and return with coordinated language and recommendations.
The committee discussed an order to amend the city’s ordinance that governs the use of loudspeakers, drums and other attention-getting devices for commercial or promotional purposes. The filer sought to move permitting authority to the Licensing Board, with the police chief charged to make rules and regulations and to recommend approvals.
Councilors and staff discussed potential overlap with the city’s noise ordinance and how licensing would interact with the police chief’s enforcement role. Alex (Licensing Board) joined remotely and said the licensing board typically handles alcohol-related temporary permits and can require police detail for large events; she said that board would need clear standards if granted the additional permit authority for sound-related permits.
Several councilors expressed concern about blurring lines between the police chief’s authority and the licensing board’s role, and asked the licensing board and police chief to return together with suggested rules and regulations. The committee voted to table the item and asked the licensing board and police chief to meet and present coordinated language at a future ordinance meeting.
Next steps: licensing board and police chief to coordinate and return with proposed rules and draft ordinance language to avoid overlapping or conflicting responsibilities.
