The commission received a briefing on a potential ordinance to regulate amplified sound near medical facilities, following citizen concerns about amplified protest activity near a Planned Parenthood facility in the Cherry neighborhood.

Interim city attorney Phil Strom said the initiative was citizen-led, staff held a virtual listening session and directly engaged four or five local medical facilities. "This isn't a staff led initiative. It really came from a citizen led effort...You directed us to do some more community outreach," Strom said. He said medical providers were generally "warm to the idea of regulating amplified sound to protect their patients and employees," but staff identified two core concerns: the broad definition of 'health care facility' in the code (which could sweep in dental and physical-therapy offices) and the risk of increasing police contacts around protected free-speech activity.

The police chief, speaking in the meeting, said officers are currently responding regularly to the location and that a clearer, bright-line rule would make enforcement easier: "...we are responding on a weekly basis, if if not more to this location and dealing with a sort of gray area...a more bright line rule...is easier for the police to interact with individuals," he said.

Several commissioners expressed reservations about criminal sanctions and unintended consequences for free-speech activities. Commissioner Knight urged caution, saying the measure should not lead to shaming or escalation and suggested officers exercise discretion. Commissioner Robbins said the ordinance should not single out organizations and recommended exploring enforcement options across the city rather than targeting specific entities. Commissioner Sasse and others described repeated noise issues near the site and expressed support for a tailored "bubble" approach around health-care sites; Commissioner Perdue asked for more direct outreach to patients or representative samples of those seeking care to ensure the remedy fits the problem.

Strom said staff would bring back proposed ordinance language for a first reading if at least four commissioners supported moving forward; the mayor counted five commissioners in support to direct staff to draft ordinance options that would include choices such as full decriminalization or retaining graduated civil infractions and would include a public comment period as part of the ordinance-change process.

Strom also said he would coordinate with community engagement staff to broaden stakeholder input ahead of ordinance drafting.