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Council greenlights two-day sound test at Irvine Bowl and directs study of best practices to set new policy
Summary
Council approved a short suspension of the current 70-decibel limit to allow in-the-field sound measurements during a November concert, authorized consultant work and asked staff and council representatives to study Santa Barbara Bowl practices and return with recommended standards.
The City Council approved a staff proposal to suspend part of the Irvine Bowl sound policy for a short, two-day test and authorized a consultant to measure and analyze sound during a live festival concert in November.
Background: The Irvine Bowl policy committee deadlocked earlier this year on whether to allow increases to the neighborhood sound boundary limit (currently 70 dB at the neighborhood line). Staff retained Rincon consultants to test concert simulations and recommended measuring sound at a live event before considering long-term policy changes.
What the council approved: - A limited suspension of the sound policy tied to a two-day concert event (staff later clarified it is for November 7; council added an extra day to allow sound checks and setup); - Hire Rincon consultants to measure sound during the live event, authorized at up to $15,000 (staff originally requested $7,592; council raised the not-to-exceed authorization to $15,000 to allow additional measurement locations based on best-practice input); - Direct the city's Irvine Bowl policy representatives and staff to compile best-practice guidance, including a visit and technical consultation with Santa Barbara Bowl staff, and return with recommendations on monitoring stations, measurement locations, and a recommended sound policy that balances live music programming with protection of nearby public open space and residences.
Staff recommended, and council agreed, that measurements should include locations representing the neighborhood boundary and key open-space points; council members also requested attention to wildlife and canyon impacts and asked staff to select sampling points that would capture any effects within Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Several council members urged that staff consult Santa Barbara Bowl for detailed audio-engineering practices and speaker configurations that focus sound toward the audience and limit off-site propagation.
Public safety and music advocates both urged the council to proceed. Festival representatives said they will host the event as a case study and will work with the city and consultant on measurement plans. Several residents asked for a firm numeric cap and for monitoring that includes locations in the wilderness park; staff said the November measurement will inform whether a numeric cap is feasible and where meters should be sited.
Outcome and next steps: Council approved the limited policy suspension and consultant authorization, added one day to allow sound checks, and directed staff to return with a best-practices report (including Santa Barbara Bowl input) to draft a formal, long-term sound policy.
Speakers quoted: Shweta Sharma, Senior Planner; Wayne Baglan, Festival of Arts; Ben Warner, Coast Film & Music Festival.
