Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/320652
Supreme Court ruling; and "explore possibili- ties for increasing penalties for violation." First, Fournier proposes combining the cur- rent ordinances' two sections on sound restrictions into one. That part of the revised law would establish separate maximum deci- bel levels for sounds emanating from inside sources and outside sources, his memo points out. Further, different levels would apply in the daytime and at night. He also proposes eliminating the current law's distinctions between "continuous source" sound and "impulsive" sound, along with the separate regulation of "amplified" sound at night. Fournier notes that after the previous draft of a proposed new ordinance was released in February, "citizen comments were received to the effect that the decibel limitations in [it] were too high and exceed what are in place in other communities." However, Fournier continues, after talking with a consultant who advises the Sarasota Police Department on sound meters, he and his staff learned the city's decibel levels are "generally consistent with levels set in other jurisdictions for 'mixed use' areas." He adds, "Although the consultant agreed that the City's current decibel limits are higher than many limits established for exclusively res- idential areas, he felt that they were in line The City Commission Monday will be asked to extend the right of way permit for the Sarasota Keys program, which invites the public to play pianos at various outdoor locations. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader May 30, 2014 Page 9