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Athens officials expressed a variety of opinions Friday about proposals that have come out of a city subcommittee looking into strengthening regulations for street fests and parties in Athens.
Under consideration at this point is a permit process for stages and/or amplified sound at house parties, and perhaps a ban on stages and amplified sound altogether. Also under consideration is a ban on partiers on rooftops.
Second Ward City Council member Sherry Coon reported to council last week on a meeting that was held to discuss the ordinance that would regulate stages and amplified sound at parties.
An e-mail obtained by The Athens NEWS from Randy Morris, who represented the Near Eastside Neighborhood Association at that meeting, said that the committee has so far proposed the following: That stages for bands not be allowed at all in residential areas; that band fests (multiple bands at a party or event) not be allowed in residential areas; that while a single band may play at a party, a maximum number of hours be established for how long it may play; and that an ordinance be passed prohibiting people from hanging out on porch and house roofs (with some allowance for sunbathing, etc. when there isn’t a party).
The next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the conference room at City Hall, she said. OU Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi has been invited to that meeting.
Fourth Ward council member Christine Fahl, who represents the east side, said she sees the suggestions as preliminary at this point. Many of the street parties targeted by the proposed regulations are located in Fahl’s ward.
“The neighborhood associations have indicated to me that if there is a permit system, then it’s a de facto [approval of the parties],” Fahl said. “At the same time, there is a health and safety issue.”
Police Chief Richard Mayer submitted an ordinance to council last May that addressed concerns arising from last year’s Palmer Fest, also in May. Mayer presented City Council with a plan to have a licensing or permit process for people having an outdoor stage or amplified sound system on their property, front or back.
Mayer drafted an ordinance that could be changed or modified by council to address the concerns he listed. The permits envisioned by Mayer would cost $25 and be approved by the city code director, the police chief, the fire chief and the city service-safety director.
Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said that the issue always comes down to the ability of the Police Department to enforce the regulations.
“This amplified music ordinance, from what I’ve seen, sounds like a lot of work to have a party,” he said. With discussions focusing on banning stages and amplified sound, Wiehl pointed out that the city already has a noise ordinance.
“The question is, should we write another law or should we just take the noise ordinance as is and really use it,” he said.
Third Ward member Nancy Bain said that when the police chief makes a recommendation, council has to take it seriously.
“Having said that, I’m a little concerned about the price that would be incurred,” Bain said. “I’ve also listened to people who have talked about if you license a party, will you be responsible. I don’t know where that goes.”
City Law Director Pat Lang said that while he would have to look further into it, he does not believe a permitting process would create a liability for the city.
At-large member Jim Sands said he doesn’t think the permitting process should be recommended because he doesn’t think it would work.
“I don’t think it would be effective for parties or any of the fests,” he said. One potential problem, he said, is that if residents go through the permitting process, and the party has to be shut down by law enforcement anyway, the permit didn’t have much purpose.
At-large member Elahu Gosney said that it doesn’t seem likely that the committee will recommend permitting, which he said is wise because he doesn’t think permitting would work out.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to ban amplified sound,” Gosney also said. “There’s already a noise ordinance that’s pretty strict.”
He added that while he doesn’t think banning music or stages will improve the situation, the city could still work to make the events safer. “Students crowding onto roofs should be stopped before someone is seriously injured or killed,” he said.
OU’s Mill Street community assistant Nikki Lawler, who acts as a sort-of liaison between the city and off-campus students on Mill Street, said she understands the safety concerns about people on rooftops. She added that she doesn’t see additional noise regulations as necessary.
“I’ve never heard of [the parties] being too noisy,” Lawler said. “I feel like they’re pushing it too hard, maybe – becoming too serious about it.”
OU Student Senate President Robert Leary said that the city has good intentions, with the safety of students in mind.
“But I do think – and I think most students would agree – that they feel as though their rights are being infringed upon, and that perhaps there are other solutions to these safety issues other than passing ordinances,” Leary said. Student Senate, he said, is working on educating residents of off-campus neighborhoods about safety issues, especially before the spring fests.
Almost all City Council members made mention of the fact that when OU switches to semesters in 2012, school will be out in spring 2013 before many of the May street fests take place, which puts the whole situation up in the air.
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&lscript>
Maybe Athens should try actually enforce the laws it has before passing a dozen new ones they can later cry about not being able to enforce.
Athens has a knee-jerk reaction. No matter what the issue is, the immediate response is to pass new city laws. It doesn;t matter if these laws work, or if they simply reiterate laws that already exist. As long as it is a new law, Council feels like they are actually doing something.
News flash, they aren't.