City tackles noise ordinance enforcement

The city’s Music and Entertainment Division is planning a pilot study of acoustics and sound issues related to nightlife, with a target for launching next spring. The study is expected to include two locations in the city regularly impacted by low-frequency bass sounds generated from live and recorded music in venues and nightclubs, with the intent to recommend measurement and enforcement standards that will ease complaints from residents affected by loud noise. The study will include an acoustic engineer consultant and sound monitoring devices and equipment from JBN Sound Solutions that is intended to reduce sound impacts from venues. The music division is also developing a new procedure for city staff to respond to noise complaints using an affidavit process through Austin Municipal Court, rather than relying on police officers to enforce the city’s noise ordinances. Using a new full-time hire, the division will have one point person in charge of managing all processes for outdoor amplified sound enforcement.