Noise ordinance hot topic at new Raleigh City Council's first meeting
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The new Raleigh City Council will have its first official meeting Tuesday with several things on the agenda, including the western corridor of the Bus Rapid Transit Line and proposed revisions to the noise ordinance restrictions that were enacted back in February.
The City Attorney's Office proposed three changes to the existing ordinances that include:
- Requiring a noise violator to turn down the sound immediately and each refusal is a separate offense
- Requiring any nightlife establishment that receives a noise citation to move all amplified sound inside a structure for 24 hours
- Revising the appeal process for civil noise violations so that the City Manager or the City Manager's designee decides any appeal.
The proposed changes come as people living on or near Glenwood South in Downtown Raleigh finally got some relief outside their windows when the new ordinances kicked in.
However, Jacob Schraufangel said there are still times when there is noise late at night on a weeknight, but he said it's part of life in the city.
"You have to understand that that's how it's going to be," Schraufangel said. "I can't get mad at all the noise. I don't have an issue 98% of the time but on a Wednesday night if you hear screaming at 1 a.m., everybody here wants to go to sleep ... it can get frustrating but certainly does come with the territory."
Raleigh Police Department Deputy Chief Rico Boyce says they've had instances where they've received multiple calls to a location, even after issuing a citation.
"Our hands are tied, so we're just hoping for some changes to help us enforce this ordinance," said Boyce.
In response to Boyce's remarks, Council Member Jane Harrison said, "Our officers do an amazing job across the city but have limited resources particularly to focus on one particular area of the city weekend after weekend. So I want to ensure that you all have the ability to do the work that you need to do. My hope is this will help."
Much of the focus surrounding the noise ordinance has surrounded the bustling Glenwood South neighborhood.
"There are some actors perhaps that have found loopholes in our current noise ordinances or there have been deficiencies in our officers in being able to enforce it or to be able to expedite the enforcement efficiently, particularly with the appeals process. So now that it's been in place for a year, we're hearing sort of a pattern of repeat complaints," said Raleigh Council Member Jonathan Melton.
Harrison added, "Previously they could only be subject to a citation once every 24 hours. So this is going to ensure that somebody doesn't game the system."
The Council unanimously voted to put the proposed changes to the noise ordinance on the Consent Agenda in January.
The Council is also expected to sign off on two federal grants, including one for the western corridor of the Bus Rapid Transit Line.
The Western Corridor BRT, an approximately 12-mile project, will run along Western Boulevard, Cary Towne Boulevard, Maynard Road and Chatham Street from the Raleigh central business district westward to Harrison Avenue in the Town of Cary.
The Southern Corridor BRT, an approximately five-mile project, will run along South Wilmington Street from the Raleigh central business district eastward to Rupert Road in the Town of Garner.
Transportation and the environment were some of the matters newly elected Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said she looked forward to working with the council on.
