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closeVote on noise rules postponed
The Sumner City Council has postponed voting on an ordinance that would set a measurable standard for noise levels in the city, citing a need for more research on whether the rules would negatively impact businesses.
The city’s current code is subjective, said Community Development Director Paul Rogerson. The proposed ordinance would change that, applying decibel levels as an objective measurement.
The ordinance would put limits on the noise that residential, commercial and industrial areas can deliver to neighbors, with the decibel level measured from the greatest impact on the “receiving” property.
“Nuisance noises” such as live music could continue to be regulated by the level of complaints in addition to the decibel rules, Rogerson said. This provides a better way to enforce the rules.
“It almost gives us two mechanisms,” he said.
The entire ordinance is complaint-driven, meaning only complaints will warrant a verbal warning or fine.
Commercial businesses would only be allowed to deliver a decibel level of 57 to residential areas during the day and 47 decibels after 10 p.m. Normal conversation falls into the 50-65 decibel range.
Windmill Gardens’ management believes that the suggested decibel requirement is too low and could negatively impact its reception operation, said Ben DeGoede, general manager. Weddings booked there often include DJs, and complaints have been made in the past by those who live adjacent to the business.
Still, DeGoede said he is in favor of noise regulation in general.
“We fully support noise control,” he said.
The Windmill is taking steps to control noise, such as decibel meter testing and relocation of the DJ and speakers. They may also hire a noise abatement consultant — and they already turn the music down by 10 p.m.
Also during the council meeting, Sumner resident Earle Stuard spoke in support of the noise ordinance. He said he has been fighting noise from a neighboring trucking company for years.
“I sleep with earplugs and I still get woken up,” Stuard said.
Sumner Downtown Association Executive Director Shelly Schlumpf spoke on behalf of Sumner businesses, pointing out that the east end of Sumner is ripe for more commercial development.
“I’m an advocate of our downtown,” Schlumpf said. “Our businesses are a part of our community.”
The city does not yet have a decibel meter, which is a point of concern to Councilman Randy Hynek. Rogerson said extensive training is necessary to get an accurate reading, but that option is still open.
Because of unresolved issues, further discussion and a vote on the ordinance were postponed to a special meeting at 6 p.m. July 28, with the vote to occur about 7 p.m.
The city has been working on the ordinance for at least a year, Rogerson said. It was crafted from a section of Washington Administrative Code that provides detailed advice on how best to control noise.
Windmill Gardens opened in 1982 as a retail business, but has operated as a greenhouse and nursery since the 1930s. The Windmill’s reception operation opened in 1999 and the Windmill Bistro, which is operated by the company that owns Mama Stortini’s in Puyallup, moved into the reception space last month.