Posted by: thepinetree on 09/01/2010 08:35 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 09/09/2010 09:27 AM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
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Copper Residents Critique Noise Ordinance Draft to go Before Board of Supervisors~By, Charity Maness
Copperopolis, CA...At the Town Hall meeting held on Tuesday night at the Outcast Hall in Copperopolis’ Poker Flat approximately 40 residents of Copperopolis were in attendance to obtain more information and raise questions with regards to the proposed noise ordinance draft that has been submitted for agenda with the Board of Supervisors...
Russ Thomas opened the meeting recapping the events of the previous years leading to the current noise ordinance draft, including "similar complaints of excessive noise from the residents of Poker Flat and those of Copper Cove. Most notably in rental homes and from the lake traffic."
Captain Jim Macedo addressed the crowd stating that he had felt, "after countless hours of his time and that of county council," he had drafted an “ordinance that is enforceable.” Stating that the Sheriff Office felt it was necessary to “build a comprehensive noise ordinance for the entire county.” Many questions were asked with regards to how the proposed ordinance would affect lake use or homeowners on the lake. Captain Macedo reiterated multiple times that the proposed ordinance was for the entire county “wall to wall.” When asked if an amendment could be made to make a special ordinance for Lake Tulloch or if the area surrounding Lake Tulloch could have its own noise ordinance, Capt. Macedo said he was “not opposed to a noise ordinance” just for the area in question, however, he pointed out that it could be some time before another noise ordinance was drafted and submitted.
Questioning the cost of enforcing the possible new ordinance with regards to the county budget and the need for new expensive decibel reading equipment, a suggestion from Russ Thomas, referring to another successful lakes answer to the same problem, was to charge a vessel fee. One man in the crowd asked, “For all my boats?” Russ gave the floor to Susan Larson of Tri Dam to explain a vessel fee.
Susan Larson stood and addressed the crowd regarding possible vessel fees stating that other lakes have used similar fees to offset the cost or pay for full time law enforcement to patrol their lakes. If a vessel fee were to be passed “it could possibly take a couple of years before the fees caught up to the funding cost of the Sheriff Office personnel.” With that statement made, Ms. Larson added that the current General Manager of Tri Dam Dan Pope, was willing to honor the previous general managers offer to “front load the system” so that patrolling law enforcement personnel could possibly be realized now.
Sgt. Blaine Smith Marine Division Sheriff Dept ensured the citizens that there was “more sheriff presence on the lake than in the past." Russ asked to see a show of hands whether people thought there was a greater SO presence, the majority of the crowd raised their hands. Russ Thomas took this opportunity to point out that the support for the Marine Division in the town of Copperopolis was clear with the availability of the SO boat and trailer storage within the gated community of Poker Flat, making for a “quicker lake response.” Sgt. Smith agreed and added his wish would be “one deputy, one boat, one lake, Friday, Saturday and Sunday” for the counties lakes. Saying he was “thinking out of the box.”
An excerpt from the noise ordinance draft, (board meeting date August 10,2010) Section 9.02.030 Sound level limitations A. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any sound source on property or any public space or or public right-of-way in such a manner as to create a sound’ in previous stated places “in such a manner as tp create a sound level that exceeds the background sound level by at least 10 dBA during daytime hours (7am to 10pm) and by at least 5 dBA during nighttime hours (10pm to 7am) when measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property, which shall constitute a noise disturbance, provided however, that if the background sound level cannot be determined, the absolute sounds limits set forth in Table 1 Maximum Permissable Sound Levels, provided that if the sound source in question is a pure tone, the limits of Table 1 shall be reduced by 5 dBA.
Capt. Macedo encouraged concerned citizens to attend the board meeting when the proposed noise ordinance is on the agenda.
Supervisor Russ Thomas welcomed comments or suggestions regarding this matter at rthos2020@caltel.com.
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