Live music downtown: outdoor amplified music rules
Council heard a work-session presentation on amplified outdoor music. The staff memo names the consultant firm Shen, Milsom and Wilke. Official minutes of the work session (printed in the February 24, 2026 packet) spell the firm Shen Milsom & Wilkie. The memo spelling is used in this record; the minutes variant is noted in the source list. No ordinance vote was taken.
EarlierMay 8Work session on extending the plainly-audible distance
Jan 27Work session on a permit system with a decibel limit
Apr 7Work session consensus to leave time for a sound expert
Apr 8Public hearing; Motion 2025-056 tables the ordinance
Latest ↓Feb 9Work session with Shen Milsom & Wilke; consensus on a live-band test
Current status
In progress
After a February 9, 2026 work session, Council's consensus was to conduct an additional sound test using a live band.
The result of the live-band sound test hasn't appeared in Council packets through Nov 10, 2026.
History
2023 · 1 event
May 8
Recorded
Work session on extending the plainly-audible distance
Staff proposed changing the plainly-audible standard from 50 feet to 100 feet for permit holders. Official minutes record consensus to hold a future work session on potential amendments, including benchmarking other jurisdictions, looking at technologies to reduce sound impacts on neighboring properties, and including Police Department input.
No Council action recorded in the packets reviewed.
2025
Jan 27
Recorded
Work session on a permit system with a decibel limit
Council discussed a permit system with a decibel limit. Official minutes record consensus for staff to develop proposed changes to the noise ordinance and schedule a public hearing in March.
Work session consensus to leave time for a sound expert
During additions to future meetings, Council discussed the next night's public hearing. Official minutes record consensus to amend the April 8 agenda to allow time for a sound expert to provide input before adopting the ordinance.
Public hearing; Motion 2025-056 tables the ordinance
The staff memo described a 60–75 dB limit at the property line and no rooftop music. Motion 2025-056, a substitute motion when adopting the agenda, passed 6-0-1 (Cimino-Johnson absent) and tabled the matter after the hearing until a sound expert reports. The hearing ran from 7:41 to 9:20 p.m. The ordinance was not adopted.
Work session with Shen Milsom & Wilke; consensus on a live-band test
Council heard from the consultant firm named in the staff memo as Shen, Milsom and Wilke (the official minutes spell the firm Shen Milsom & Wilkie). It was the consensus of Council to conduct an additional sound test using a live band. No ordinance vote was taken.
Town Code Sec. 24-182 uses a “plainly audible” distance standard for amplified outdoor music. In 2023 staff proposed extending that distance from 50 feet to 100 feet for permit holders; Council asked for more work, including a look at other jurisdictions. In 2025 Council held a public hearing on a permit system with a decibel limit and no rooftop music, then tabled the ordinance until a sound expert reported; a February 2026 work session ended with consensus to run an additional sound test with a live band. (packet pp. 100–101) (slides 6) (packet pp. 47–49) (slides 20–27) (slides 5)
This is a proposed amendment to Town Code Sec. 24-182, which regulates amplified outdoor music. It is a townwide code question. No location geometry is stored for this issue.