Music Commission withholds input on ‘agent of change,’ for now

The Austin Music Commission has opted to take a wait-and-see approach to the city’s latest attempt at creating an “agent of change” ordinance to smooth tensions over noise issues between new entertainment venues and new residential construction and hotels. At last week’s meeting, Commissioner Rick Carney advocated giving City Council a written outline of the commission’s expectations for the proposed ordinance, which was abandoned prior to Council consideration in mid-2017. Concerns over the lack of definitive expectations for new businesses entering a neighborhood stalled the ordinance, but last month City Council passed a resolution directing the city manager to propose a new ordinance by mid-February. Chair Gavin Garcia said it would be best to let newly elected Council members be seated in January and give their own input on the matter before the commission weighs in. Commissioners also said that advocacy groups Music Moves Austin and the Music Venue Alliance will be working behind the scenes to lobby and educate city leaders on the best policy points for live music venues and how to protect them from legal action by new businesses moving into their sound path.