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Commission directs staff to draft noise ordinance options after briefing on amplified sound near medical facilities
Summary
Following a citizen‑led complaint about amplified sound near a Planned Parenthood clinic, staff briefed commissioners on outreach to medical providers and public feedback; commissioners expressed concerns about First Amendment limits and increased police contact and asked staff to return a draft ordinance with options including civil enforcement and decriminalization.
Interim City Attorney Phil Strom briefed the commission on a citizen‑led effort to address amplified sound near medical facilities, a matter that arose principally in the Cherry neighborhood around a Planned Parenthood facility. Strom said staff conducted outreach — including a virtual listening session led by Dr. Andrea Riley Mukovic and targeted engagement with several medical providers — and found those facilities generally receptive to the idea of regulating amplified sound to protect patients and staff while noting variation in how widely the issue is experienced across other providers.
Strom cautioned that the city code’s broad definition of “health care facility” could capture many providers (dental offices, physical therapy, etc.), creating broad application if the same definition is used. He also flagged risk of unintended consequences from increased police interactions and emphasized careful drafting to avoid criminal penalties for nonviolent protest activity.
Chief of Police said officers currently respond regularly — about weekly — to the location in question and that a clearer rule would assist enforcement; other commissioners urged drafting language that clearly preserves First Amendment protections and avoids misdemeanor sanctions. Several commissioners favored a bright‑line buffer (e.g., 100 feet) around certain health‑care entry points with graduated civil consequences for repeat violations and an explicit carve‑out to avoid criminal escalation.
Commissioners also discussed process and engagement: some asked for additional outreach to patients or vulnerable clients who receive care to test whether proposed measures would address their needs; others suggested broader review of nuisance codes and enforcement practices citywide. Strom said he would bring back a proposed ordinance change, including options for decriminalization or graduated civil enforcement and a 30‑day public comment period if the commission wants to proceed; at least four commissioners indicated they were ready to move forward with drafting.
