Sacramento Launches Urgent Feedback Initiative on Sound Policies

UPDATE: Sacramento officials are urgently seeking public feedback on a groundbreaking initiative to modernize the city’s entertainment sound policies. The proposed Community Sound Management Framework aims to transform how sound is managed for entertainment venues, and community input is crucial for its development.

According to reports by Sacramento City Express, the plan has already garnered insights from over 1,100 survey responses, along with data from the Sacramento Music Census and a detailed sound study. Don Pitts, president of Sound Music Cities, emphasized that the community has voiced significant interest in reforming sound management practices, highlighting the need for change.

The drafted framework proposes several key strategies, including the integration of Sound Impact Plans with permits and the appointment of an official to ensure consistency across city departments. These adjustments aim to enhance communication and enforce source-based sound measurement, addressing ongoing concerns about low-frequency noise and bass complaints from residents.

Megan Van Voorhis, director of Convention and Cultural Services, stated that the goal is to strike a balance between maintaining residents’ quality of life and fostering the city’s vibrant creative activities. In a bid to gather more community input, the city will host a series of important meetings on December 8, 9, and 10, 2023. Residents, venue owners, and event organizers are encouraged to share their feedback on this pivotal sound management framework.

Dustin Hollingsworth, assistant director of Convention and Cultural Services, noted that the feedback collected will be instrumental in guiding the framework’s implementation set for 2026. All related documents, including the full Community Sound Management Framework, the Sacramento Music Census, and the sound policy review, are readily available on the City’s official website.

This initiative represents a significant shift in how Sacramento will handle entertainment sound, ensuring that both the community’s needs and the city’s cultural vibrancy are respected. The urgency for residents to participate in the upcoming meetings cannot be overstated, as their input will shape the future of sound management in Sacramento.

For the latest updates and to access the full framework documents, visit the City of Sacramento’s website now.