It seems Sacramento is taking notes from its melody, preparing to fine-tune its sound ordinance for a harmonious urban symphony. An Austin-based consultancy, Sound Music Cities, dropped the decibel level on how the city’s amplified sounds are being managed, or more to the point, mismanaged. Following a report that struck a chord with city officials, Sacramento is gearing up to revamp its noise rules to better suit its growing reputation as one of California’s creative hubs.
According to a recent article by Sacramento City Express, Dustin Hollingsworth, assistant director of the City’s Convention and Cultural Services Department, believes that “Sacramento’s current sound rules don’t reflect the realities of our growing city.” The city’s plan includes embracing a model that supports entertainment while still shielding residents from excessive noise. The proposed updates suggest practical changes like measuring noise at the source’s property line, crafting Sound Management Plans for all permits, and establishing an accountable official for adherence to sound policies.
Perhaps the most innovative chord struck by this report is its move toward a more proactive and layered permitting system, taking into account the venue’s proximity to residences and their past conduct. The city pointed to an electronic music event held on April 5 as a textbook example of effective sound management. Event organizers leveraged real-time monitoring and community outreach to preempt noise complaints and adjust accordingly. The successful handling of this event painted a picture of what could be the city’s norm with the implementation of these new policies…