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Council grants noise waiver for Saint Rafca festival with limits: music off at 11 p.m., 60 dB cap
Summary
After split public comment, the council approved a three-day noise-waiver for a church cultural festival with conditions: music must end by 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and sound levels capped at 60 decibels; the motion passed 6–0.
Council approved a petition from Saint Rafca Maronite Catholic Church to waive the noise ordinance for an August cultural festival, but only after amending the request to include explicit time and decibel limits.
Petitioners asked for extended hours so they would have time to clean and clear the site; a church representative said music would be turned off at 11 p.m. Saturday and by 8 p.m. Sunday. Neighbors said the event’s bass and loudspeaker volume had created repeated sleep disruptions in prior years and urged the council to deny the extension or limit hours.
Jennifer Meyer told the council loud bass from prior festivals kept her children awake and said police did not respond effectively when she complained. Other neighbors presented petition signatures and audio recordings of late-night noise.
Vice President Brockway offered an amendment to require the music stop at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and to include a 60-decibel cap; the maker and supporter accepted the amendment. The amended motion passed by roll call vote, 6–0.
Council members said they expect the petitioner to enforce decibel limits at property lines and to coordinate with event sound technicians to reduce bass transmission to neighboring properties.
