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City attorney urges new acoustic study as Commission moves sound ordinance to civil enforcement
Summary
City legal staff told the Downtown Improvement District board that the City Commission wants an updated acoustic study to guide revisions to the sound ordinance and asked an expert to present March 23; in the meantime enforcement remains civil and SPD will respond to sound complaints.
Julie, a city staff member, opened the discussion by saying the purpose of the briefing was to update the board on the status of the city’s revised sound ordinance after action at the City Commission’s Dec. 1 meeting. The board heard from the city attorney, who said the current legal framework and technical guidance need modern technical input.
“Our city had one done in the nineties,” the city attorney (Mr. Polzak) said, arguing it is time for a new study and that the commission had directed staff to bring an acoustic expert back so the commission can be properly informed about decibel thresholds, plainly audible standards and other technical choices. He said the expert is expected to make a March 23 presentation to the commission and to propose a cost and scope for a full study.
Polzak and board members discussed interim enforcement and where responsibility will sit. The attorney said the revised ordinance moves enforcement to a civil code‑enforcement model (rather than criminal) and that Sarasota Police Department can respond to sound complaints in the meantime. He noted vehicle/exhaust noise remains subject to state statute provisions.
Board members pressed two operational points: whether the city could provide interim relief before a full study is completed, and how enforcement would work for mobile sources such as loud vehicles. Polzak said SPD can respond to complaints and that calibrated equipment is used for official measurements; he also said the expert could advise what department should serve as frontline enforcement depending on the final code.
Several board members suggested directed patrols and short‑term enforcement surges — for example, targeted motorcycle patrols at problem intersections — as a way to deter repeat offenders while the study proceeds. Polzak said staff will propose the expert’s visit and scope to the commission and bring back recommended next steps after March 23.
The board did not take any formal action; the city attorney described the item as an informational update and next steps hinge on the March 23 commission presentation.
