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that back alley behind the shopping center that we could see potential collisions <br />occurring between those trucks and the fenced outdoor area being proposed. <br />Commissioner O'Connor: That was one of the issues, but we also mentioned the noise <br />which was the second issue. <br />Weinstein: Yes, absolutely. Noise was a problem as well. I don't believe we indicated <br />the noise levels there would exceed the noise ordinance. That wasn't a claim that we <br />made during that discussion, but we acknowledged that just like we're talking about <br />tonight, noise can be an irritant along with activity levels, along with the other things we <br />talked about before like lighting; that even though there wasn't necessarily going to be <br />an exceedance of the noise ordinance, that was a consideration; that noise generation <br />at that location was something worth considering in denying the application. <br />Commissioner O'Connor: The City wouldn't claim that we've never enforced the code <br />against a large party that has too much noise, would they? <br />Weinstein: Yes, so there's another provision that often is enforced in relation to noise <br />and that's disturbance of the peace. That's completely separate from exceedances of <br />the noise ordinance and that's a call that police get often and typically what happens <br />when somebody has a little party in the backyard that disturbs the peace, a neighbor <br />might call the police. The police will come and talk to the neighbor and talk to the person <br />that's generating the noise and seek some resolution. So that's a separate action that's <br />taken independent of our noise ordinance. <br />Commissioner O'Connor: So if that's the case, why does the code enforcement officer <br />not enforce this provision of the noise ordinance? Why haven't they talked to the <br />Mason's when they have these parties? Why do they just say they don't enforce it <br />because it's voices? <br />Weinstein: Our code enforcement officer is here and he can speak to specific examples, <br />but the point I would want to make is that since 2008 City staff have interjected <br />themselves into the complaints that are occurring, the complaints that the Millers are <br />raising about the Masonic Lodge. So back in 2008 and 2009, City staff met with the <br />Masonic Lodge. We sent them letters when we were notified of the big party that was <br />planned to happen to try to get some correction of what was happening and our <br />involvement in the dispute has continued from 2009 on. So I think we have been closely <br />involved. The issues that we've been involved with haven't always centered on <br />enforcing the noise ordinance though. There have been other issues and other tactics <br />that we had taken to address the problems. <br />Commissioner O'Connor: We can move on. I just know personally in my neighborhood <br />there was a party shut down because the noise was so loud that they did show up —a <br />different code enforcement officer, but they did close it down. I don't want to beat this to <br />death. <br />Beaudin: The difference is, there's code enforcement and there's police response. Our <br />code enforcement officer is not responding to disturbing the peace calls. There's a <br />possibility that if he was on a shift and a call like that came in that he may ask for some <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, June 22, 2016 Page 10 of 56 <br />