Councilmember Kevin McKeown
					Leadership includes listening and learning. This website is interactive. Please let me know what YOU think on this issue. Just click to send me an email: noise@mckeown.net.
			"Motion to authorize staff to research amendments to existing City noise ordinances, so as to afford greater protection to residents living in proximity to industrial and commercial uses, and so as to make the amended ordinances fully and fairly enforceable."
	When I first advanced that motion at City Council over four years ago, we already were hearing from residents suffering unacceptable noise levels, particularly at night, from nearby commercial sites like recording studios, loading docks and nightclub operations. By the time we summoned staff resources and held our first public hearing in late 2001, the problem included exasperating new mobile sources like air- and noise-polluting gasoline-powered scooters. Santa Monica noise ordinances are intended to protect residents from intrusive sound levels, particularly during hours typically set aside for rest and relaxation. When existing laws were enacted, such sounds were likely to come from loud industrial machinery, air conditioning units and the like. Ordinances proscribing continuous noise or vibration above a steadily measurable level were adequate. Over the years, noise-creating uses in industrial and commercially-zoned parcels adjacent to or across courts and alleys from residences have become more diverse. The sounds are now often intermittent, harder to measure accurately, but no less distressing to neighbors trying to sleep or otherwise enjoy their homes in peace. Existing Santa Monica law limits sound levels emanating from within residentially zoned areas at night, while allowing significantly higher levels in commercial areas of the city. Commercial sound sources must meet slightly quieter standards from 10pm to 7am. Industrially zoned parcels have the loudest allowable noise levels, with no relative nighttime restriction at all. This is the case even when the industrial parcel is immediately adjacent to residential use, often with a bedroom window facing the sound source. Residents are now clearly telling us that new noise ordinances must also address other irritating sound sources such as motorcycles, scooters and such. It is time to review our noise ordinances, with an ear to making them effective in their intended purpose of protecting the peace, health and welfare of residents. The work has begun! Please attend any of the upcoming public workshops on our new noise ordinances, or contact directly the Planning and Community Development staff member who is coordinating our efforts: bill-rodrigues@santa-monica.org.

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