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Councilmember McGovern said she shared Councilmember Sullivan's concern over cumulative noise as well as the idea that a business might be negatively affected by music or significant ambient noise from an adjacent commercial use. Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked if the type of music has any influence on the perception of sound. Mr. Rosen said yes, but humans tend to accentuate sounds that are in the speech frequencies versus the very low and high frequency sounds. Music with more vocal content will generally be perceived as louder, although music with a repetitive low frequency sound like heavy bass might be more annoying to some. Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked at what point consistent exposure presents a health concern. Mr. Rosen said OSHA identifies the point at which hearing protection should be considered as 85 around decibels. Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked Mr. Rosen if he perceived any appreciable difference between the zone map recommended by staff versus that recommended by the EVC and PDA relative to noise. Mr. Rosen said that if noise levels were between 70 and 74 decibels at the core zone property line, sound would have further to travel and therefore be better attenuated before reaching the residential property line with staff's recommendation. Councilmember Cook-Kallio noted that the requirement is 60 decibels regardless of the depth of the transition zone and asked what the purpose of the larger transition zone recommended by staff is. Ms. Ott said the idea is related to noise as well foot traffic, loitering, littering and other impacts that accompany increased vitality. Councilmember Cook-Kallio noted that no bars or restaurants currently operate within the transitional buffer zone and said she felt it to be a bit of an artificial barrier. She struggled with understanding what exactly was accomplished by creating a deeper transition zone along Peters Avenue, given that the noise level would have to be at 60 decibels in the same place on either map. Mr. Fialho said the area was adjusted in part because of the comments and concerns raised by the neighborhood and was staff's attempt to balance the need for economic vitality in the core area with what seemed to be a moderate and appropriate buffer area for adjacent residences. He also stressed that the Task Force action in approving the EVC and PDA recommendation was not unanimous and was in fact barely approved on a 6-5 vote. Councilmember Cook-Kallio acknowledged the concern for the residents but reiterated her point that it seemed artificial. She asked about the allowable noise level for fairground events, which she can clearly hear at her own home. Ms. Ott consulted the City's Noise Ordinance, explained that any community activity, sporting event or special event occurring at the Alameda County Fairgrounds is exempt from the provisions of the ordinance, and not required to comply with the City's standards. Councilmember Cook-Kallio requested clarification on an email received from Peter McDonald in which he referred to a bank being downzoned. 12