Police noise study finds most nighttime readings within ordinance limits; residents urge measuring peak concert volumes

Seguin police presented a noise study at the Nov. 19 meeting that sampled decibel readings outside known nightlife venues on alternating Friday and Saturday nights between March and September. Lieutenant Mike McCann said officers took readings from 10 to 11 p.m. at eight locations; mean and median ranges generally fell between about 51 and 68 decibels and most readings were within limits defined by the city's noise ordinance.

McCann said the highest routine readings in the study were in the mid-70 decibel range as outliers, and that the police department found one schoolyard event (outside the study window) with readings of 88 and 86 decibels; officers warned the sound engineer and told council that citations would be issued if staff returned and found a violation.

A resident who lives on Nolte described hearing headline bands that may stop earlier and DJs that play later, questioned why the study measured the 10–11 p.m. window rather than during headline performances, and urged staff to measure peak-band volumes. McCann replied that officers were instructed to start at 10 p.m. because that is typically when establishments increase noise, and that staff availability later at night limited earlier sampling; he encouraged residents to call police to prompt responses and said the department will use new decibel meters to warn or enforce violations.

The presentation included summary graphs and historical complaint counts by year; council thanked staff for compiling the data and discussed enforcement steps for future complaints.