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Rules Committee advances city noise ordinance after industry requests exemption review
Summary
The San Francisco Rules Committee forwarded an ordinance to amend the Police Code’s noise regulations — including administrative penalties and a proposed noise task force — after a waste-hauler representative asked the committee to review whether existing exemptions (cited in section 2404) should apply to commercial waste operations under proposed section 2909.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee advanced an ordinance to revise the city’s noise-control provisions after a representative for local waste-haulers urged the committee to consider an exemption for unavoidable operational noise.
Chris Daley opened the special Rules Committee meeting and the clerk read an ordinance that would amend multiple sections of the San Francisco Police Code to “revise the city's noise control regulations, add administrative penalties, and create a noise task force.” The committee granted three minutes for public comment.
Alex Clemens of Barber Ecos Consulting, speaking for Sunset Scavenger and Golden Gate Disposal, said his clients did not seek to delay the measure but asked the committee to examine whether proposed section 2909 provides an exemption similar to the one in section 2404, which the speaker said specifically addresses waste disposal services. Clemens asked whether a comparable exemption could be written for noises that “can't be minimized, can't be eliminated” and offered to follow up with staff or the city attorney for clarification.
A committee member who identified themselves in the transcript as a supervisor raised concern that neither the city attorney nor the ordinance author was present. That supervisor suggested committee members follow up with staff after the hearing to determine whether the issue merits substantive revision or could be handled administratively.
Without recorded objection, the committee voted to send the ordinance forward with a recommendation to the full Board. The committee chair said any further changes could be made on the Board floor if needed.
Next steps: the ordinance will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors; committee discussion suggested the city attorney or staff should clarify whether an exemption for waste-disposal or commercial service noise should be added to the draft before or during Board consideration.
