I met with jeff kingsbury at the artisan's cafe earlier this week to discuss some concerns I had about the impact of the ordinance on music events downtown. Jeff stated a few things which I would like to share here.

-the decible readings are taken from the property of the plaintif.

-the noise in question must exceed the ambiant noise

-noise ordinances are enforced by the building code folks, not by the police. someone found to be in violation of the ordinance will be give a 30 day notice to comply.

-jeff believes all of the downtown music venues are either currently in compliance with the ordinance or could be brought into compliance by keeping windows shut or investing in some relativly inexpensive sound baffling.

-jeff is going to add a 1 year sunset clause to the ordinance and bring it up for public review after that year to fix any adverse effect it might have on the music communnity.

this helped to aleviate some of my concerns and I appriciated the chance to communicate with jeff who was very generous with his time. Here are some further improvements I would like to see with the ordinance.

*require that sound measurements be taken from inside the plantif's building (not just at the property line) with doors and windows closed.

I feel that it is fair to ask that the plaintif do their best to keep the sound out by at least closing their windows.

*zone 5th avenue to the farmer's market as an entertainment district with a more lenient requirement.

I highly recommend this article to folks interested in the current noise ordinance issue:

Nobody could have imagined that seven days of intense public debate over the city's proposed new noise ordinance would end in five minutes of silence.

And yet it was pin-drop quiet at last Wednesday's public forum on said noise ordinance, when Assistant Police Chief James Fealy used his closing comments to announce that the city wouldn't be moving forward with what he admitted was a "half-baked" proposal.

"We need to slow it down and back it up," Fealy told a standing-room-only crowd of club owners and local music industry players, who had just spent an hour outlining for APD representatives how the ordinance would destroy their livelihoods. Had Fealy begun the meeting with that announcement, those same concert promoters could have shifted their stance from fear and unbridled anger to hope and talk of compromise 55 minutes earlier.

Austin Chronicle - Keeping the Peace

This is a transcript of a conversation I've been having with jeff about the noise ordinance, I'm posting it here because I think it will help to clarify where Jeff's position which was a little unclear to me before. -ross

hello jeff,

I had a few questions for you regarding the noise ordinance you support. I am curious what your vision of downtown olympia is, and if it is your intention to push live music out of downtown? If this is not the case how do you see the music community and this ordinance living side by side? thanks for your time. -ross

Hi Ross,

This has nothing to do with "pushing" live music out of downtown. Have you read the proposed amendment? It is considerably more liberal with regard to decibel level than Seattle's ordinance. Seattle continues to have a lively and thrving music community. My own business engages in music, sometimes quite loud, that continues after 10:00 PM, so I can assure you the music community is not in jeopardy. (We are a musical theatre venue, with fully amplified productions, including numerous rock operas.)

The city has been, for some time, attempting to bring a rich array of housing options downtown. Our first housing project is slated to break ground quite soon adjacent to Olympia Federal Savings. Over 100 units. This ordinance addresses the concerns that have been brought to us by a handful of current downtown residents, regarding their ability to live in quiet enjoyment after reasonable hours. Certainly those in the music and nighclub industry woud support similar ideals in their own neighborhoods. I would encourage you to read the proposed amendment, research what other cities have done, and see if you come to the same conclusions I have.

The council would enjoy hearing from you, as well as others, regarding concerns. Please feel free to address us at any time.

Best regards, Jeff Kingsbury

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hello, here are 5 upcoming all ages shows in olympia.
xo ross

sunday feb 24th
polka dot dot
annie rossi (l.a.)
mad gregs (l.a.)
@ the abc house (105 sherman)
$5 7pm

monday feb 25th
jenny jenkins
zoe vermillion (oakland, ca)
google maps
@ the artisan's cafe (109 n capitol)
8pm

wednesday feb 27th
fall of electricity
the evening episode (sacramento, ca)
@ the artisan's cafe (109 n capitol)
free 8pm

saturday march 1
june madrona
sara lankutis
agent ribbons (sacramento, ca)
the nextdoor neighbors
@ the abc house (105 sherman)
$5 7pm
(snacks will be served)

wednesday march 5th
the sundance kids
google maps
the future of the ghost (salt lake city)
@ the artisan's cafe
8pm free

This just happened. A military recruiter just called asking for Joseph Becker. My friend Lee asked him where he got this number and he told her "It is from a 1996 phone list from Evergreen." Lee responded that she was "surprised that Evergreen would hand out student's private information to military recruiters." He responded that Evergreen is difficult to work with but that they were cooperating with their requests for student information.