Amador County – The Ione City Council at its last meeting rejected a draft noise ordinance and set a public workshop to work on solutions.

City Planner Christopher Jordan presented his draft ordinance, which he said would set limits for amplified sound, prohibit noise, and allow for a “noise deviation permit.” It had exemptions for type, location and time of day, and would necessitate buying a $3,100 decibel meter, and calibration equipment.

City Manager Kim Kerr said the city receives regular complaints, which Ione Police often can resolve, but sometimes cannot. The city only has a “public nuisance” ordinance that doesn’t apply to every noise complaint, nor do all complaints concern time of day, so interpretation “becomes very subjective.”

Mayor David Plank opened a public hearing, with many people requesting that citizens or police continue to handle the issue. Vice Mayor Ron Smylie said: “This to me is a little bit too detailed and extensive.” He said a good community working out the problem was “better than having a five-page ordinance.”

Kerr said “we do have complaints which we can’t resolve at that level.” She would much rather be able to say it was a civil matter, and let parties handle the issue themselves, but “we have had someone who requested this.”

Plank said he thought they should “make something very simple to address this issue.” Councilwoman Andrea Bonham said she felt “a lot of hostility toward staff even presenting this. It’s their job” and it was not right for them to be “attacked for doing their job.” She made a motion to reject the ordinance, which passed 5-0.

Kerr then told the council: “You need to give us direction,” and Councilman Lloyd Oneto said: “Is procrastinating a direction?” Kerr said they could tell staff to “do nothing.” Smylie said: “I think we need to forget about it and drop it. Not do anything,” and “table it.”

Resident, Dominic Atlan asked for a “point of order,” saying: “What upsets me with what just happened here” is that “your job is to read that package.” Staff brings a solution then the Council should look at specifics to discuss, such as decibel levels. “Now you want to throw it out,” because “you have not done your homework.”

Bonham said: “We need to give direction,” and suggested establishing a threshold, using warnings and trying to fill the gap in the public nuisance ordinance.

Kerr asked how they wanted to handle the issue of limiting loud noise. Plank said it should have wording about “extremes of noise” including high degree and hour of night. Kerr said “some of our complaints do not have to do with the time of day.” She said they could play with the civil nuisance aspect of it.

The council set a public workshop for June 7 to work on the issue with the public.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.