Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Noise Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears first reading of proposed noise ordinance that sets decibel thresholds and bans engine braking
Summary
Council heard staff present Ordinance 01-26 to add measurable noise thresholds (80 dB for amplified speaker noise; speed-dependent engine noise thresholds), ban engine braking in designated locations, and add a public-nuisance subsection addressing pervasive low‑frequency noise. Council asked staff to refine definitions, enforcement plans and benchmarking ahead of a Feb. 9 public hearing.
Jeanne Willis, the city staff presenter, introduced Ordinance 01-26 to amend Chapter 72 of the Dublin Codified Ordinances to address vehicular and environmental noise.
"The changes aim to establish clear, measurable standards, enhance the city's ability to respond to community noise concerns, and objectively evaluate disturbances," Willis said, describing proposed thresholds including an 80-decibel limit for amplified motor-vehicle speakers and speed‑based engine noise thresholds (86 dB for posted speeds of 35 mph or lower and 90 dB for higher-speed roads). She also said the draft adds a provision to prohibit engine braking where appropriate and creates a public‑nuisance subsection for excessive and pervasive noises that can be unreasonable even below 80 dB.
Council members pressed staff for clarity on definitions and enforcement. One councilor asked that motorcycles be explicitly included; Willis acknowledged an oversight in the motor‑vehicle definition and said staff will revise it for the second reading. Councilors and staff discussed how to measure pervasive low‑frequency noise, noting the need for context and evidence where a subjective standard applies.
Staff said the city has been testing measurement technologies and referenced FHWA guidance when setting thresholds for heavy trucks. "We have been using FHWA's criteria... which establishes what that decibel threshold should be for a dump truck in proper working order," Willis said, noting that those readings informed the draft thresholds. Councilors urged an educational campaign and early device testing before the Feb. 9 second‑reading public hearing.
What happens next: staff will revise definitions (including motorcycles), continue pilot testing of measurement devices, and provide benchmarking and an education plan prior to the Feb. 9 public hearing.
