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Los Ranchos trustees keep 10 p.m.–6 a.m. quiet hours, add emergency‑utility exemption after heated debate
Summary
After public comment and trustee debate about farming, construction safety and enforcement, the board rejected a proposed 8 a.m. start and instead retained the existing 6 a.m. start time for daytime hours (10 p.m.–6 a.m. quiet hours) while adding an exemption for emergency repair work on government‑owned utilities.
Trustees on April 21 debated a proposed amendment to the village nuisance code that would have moved the start of daytime permissible noise from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. during the day and added exemptions for residential maintenance and emergency government utility repair. Public comment and trustee discussion exposed a split between residents who want quieter mornings and those who argued earlier starts are needed for construction, farming and heat avoidance.
Speakers at the public hearing urged different outcomes. Trish Rael (1005 Old Albuquerque Circle) opposed an 8:00 a.m. start, saying earlier work windows are necessary for concrete pours, municipal crews and contractors to avoid extreme heat and to prevent project delays and increased costs. Vincent Sanchez (6802 Rio Grande) also opposed 8:00 a.m. and suggested 7:00 a.m. as a compromise; he emphasized the semi‑rural character of the village and that farming and irrigation work often begins early.
Trustees weighed enforceability, community character and safety. Some trustees proposed a compromise of 7:00 a.m. or seasonal adjustments; others noted the village already exempts agricultural and livestock activities. After amendments and clarifying staff that the code’s daytime and nighttime decibel standards remain (50 dB day / 40 dB night under current code), the board adopted a final change that keeps quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (status quo) and adds an explicit exemption reading: “these provisions shall not apply to emergency repair work performed on government‑owned utilities when such work is necessary to restore or protect essential public services.” The trustees also clarified that the previously discussed residential‑maintenance language would not be an unlimited exemption from time windows.
The ordinance (No. 3311) passed on a 4–0 vote. Staff said they will follow up with any needed clarifying language on decibel enforcement and noted the village owns a handheld decibel reader to support investigations. The board asked staff to consider future decibel‑level review as part of any subsequent code updates.
