Lake City Council rewrites city codes, gets tough on noise
pollution
November 15, 2004
By Karl R. Burkhardt
Lake City Council agreed to a revision of city codes to formally define
departments and standing committees, replacing an informal system that has
been in place for many years. They also considered complaints concerning
noise pollution.
Councilman John Robertson suggested the code change at
the Monday night meeting as part of a general update of the codes.
City Attorney Herbert Darby said he is in the process of cleaning up the
city code to remove unnecessary language and references to positions that
no longer exist, such as city auditor and city treasurer.
Mayor Ray Kirkland said the informal committee system was set up at a time when council meetings lasted past midnight, dealing with complicated proposals. Committees now research proposals, consider options and present their findings to council with recommendations. Council meeting now run about two hours. Darby said the city manager would benefit from formal guidelines listing departments and their duties. He recommended including a committee of the whole to the list of standing committees to resolve any potential conflicts between committees. Staff members should be ex-officio members of committees, but do not have voting rights. "I have read many city codes and each codifies the departments, their duties and the standing committees," Darby said.
The mayor retains the right to create committees and designate members. The city code can be amended whenever council wants to amend it and as often as they want, as long as they don't contradict the city charter, Darby said. Council agreed to revise the code.
Lake City Police Capt. Gary Laxton gave council a report on complaints about "boom-boxes" in cars that were loud and irritating. A four-day police patrol of the area bounded by Duval, Baya, Church and Ermine resulted in one ticket issued for loud music.
Councilman George Ward said some vehicles were so loud that the glass in his windows rattled. He also said the noise is a safety issue - people in cars can't hear emergency vehicles.
Councilman John Robertson said on one occasion the noise shook a picture from the wall in his house. "I live two blocks from a park and I think there are boom-box contests," said Councilman Eugene Jefferson.
Councilman Mike Lee said those who make the noise are so
inconsiderate that "Please don't do that any more" doesn't work.
After a discussion of the city noise ordinance and the state statute, council
recommended enforcing the state statute. The city ordinance defines a loud
noise as one that can be heard 300 feet away. The state restriction is only
100 feet. The city pays court costs for cases involving city ordinances,
but is not charged when the state statute is used.
Cone was instructed to send a letter to the high schools advising students about the law and that it will be enforced. Robertson noted that the noise pollution includes loud mufflers as well as boom boxes.