Page 8 - the NOISE September 2013

On July 17, 2013 nearly 80 people gath- that they would begin relying on a state that they have chosen for me.” Further discussion hit on the problems
ered at the Sedona Public Library to discuss recent issues involving musicians, entertainment venues, local residents and Sedona’s noise ordinance. Kevin Snyder, Sedona’s new Community Development Di- rector, moderated the meeting. At the be- ginning, Mr. Snyder assured attendees that
“we’re not trying to solve anything tonight. We’re trying to start a conversation. We’re aiming for progress tonight, not victory.”
Noise complaints have caused tension be- tween residents, musicians, and entertain- ment venues in Sedona for years. This is not a new issue. However, Mr. Snyder appears to want to take a new approach to the problem. After asking everyone in the room to identify themselves and note what their interest in the issue was he stated, “At the end of the day, we are all people. Although we might have disagreements and different passions and ideas, we are all people and we are here to talk.”
He laid some simple ground rules for the ensuing conversation. Be courteous and re- spectful. No personal attacks. Be concise to allow everyone a chance to speak. Be open- minded. He then invited everyone in the room to “clear the air.” “This is an opportuni- ty to get some things off your chest,” he said. With that, a new dialogue was begun.
The first comment was made by a woman who said she had been at the Oak Creek Brewery on a Sunday afternoon where a group of three people were performing music. Three police cars showed up at the venue to announce that a noise complaint had been received. The speaker said this was
“just too much. People should have some freedom to play, sing, express. It’s a beautiful reason why people come to Sedona.”
Kathy Perry, a local resident and perform- er, commented on the issue of musicians be- ing cited when noise complaints are called in to police. In June, the city had announced
criminal statute regarding disorderly con- duct to cite, and even arrest, musicians and/ or business owners if noise complaints were received from residents near a performance venue. Nancy Robb Dunst, a local artist and homeowner, asked if Mr. Snyder would con- firm that musicians are not being cited at this time.
Mr. Snyder replied that, when the city was initially looking for solutions to the noise is- sue, “We leapt before we looked and the is- sue of citations built up really fast. That was not our intention. So we’re here because we want to find a way to work collaboratively.” He did clarify, with the support of Sedona’s Police Commander Marlayn Hatler, that ci- tations are a last resort and would only be issued if someone willfully ignored a request to reduce the volume of sound. Ms. Hatler said, “We don’t want to issue citations. We would like voluntary compliance.”
Ms. Perry commented that “The communi- ty needs to be aware that the musicians are doing a job and their intention is not to be abusive to anybody.”
Karen Chodl, a Sedona homeowner who lives in close proximity to the Martini Bar said that “This is not anything against the musicians or the music. The problem is the drunkenness and the noise after the music that goes on until 2 or 3 in the morning. It has nothing to do with your jobs or not wanting your music — we love your music.” Her husband, Tom, reiterated that “my big- gest problem is after 10PM. As far as the mu- sicians, the music is stopped at 10PM. It’s the people hanging out afterward.”
Another area resident had a slightly dif- ferent take on the issue. Cynthia Paster, who also lives near the Martini Bar, said that
“there are times that I feel like a shut-in. I can’t have dinner on my patio with my friends un- less I accept the music that is playing down there. I don’t get a choice — it’s the music
Several musicians and business owners questioned habitual police interventions that have resulted in music being shut down before 10PM, the time that Sedona’s noise ordinance changes to a lower decibel restric- tion for commercial venues.
One local performer said that “the bottom line is one out of four times that we have music at the Martini Bar, the police show up usually around 9PM and shut us down. No one puts more effort into complying with the city’s ordinances then the Szechuan and the Martini Bar. We have security people who also have decibel meters and check the sound throughout performances. If we are abiding within the ordinance, why are we being shut down at 9PM?”
Joe DeSalvo, owner of Relics in West Se- dona, pointed out that all of these things have been said before and “the culmina- tion of this all being said before was a very thorough sound ordinance law. It covers the whole thing. My point is: why don’t we follow the law? And, if we’re within the law
— stop complaining.” Mr. DeSalvo was inter- rupted by a burst of applause. “It’s a police department problem, too,” he continued.
“This should be treated the same way as a speeding law. If we are exceeding the deci- bels, it needs to be checked by a person that knows how to check it. And, if we’ve broken the law, then we fix it. If we’re within the or- dinance, leave it alone. If you live in an area and have complaints and the ordinance is being abided by, move elsewhere. We have the law right here. Get a copy of it and have it at your house. The police should not come to an establishment and say turn it down un- less they have tested it properly.” Ms. Perry added that “when complaints come in, they really need to determine the source of the sound as well.” Several other people agreed that it is not always a commercial business that is the problem.
of people coming to Sedona and not being able to find anything to do at night. One at- tendee quipped, “I’d like to know where this music is happening at 2AM because every- thing is shut down in Sedona by 9PM!”
Another resident added that “there’s noth- ing to do in Sedona. I hate watching a town that could be wonderful turn around and say we don’t want young people because they’re too loud. It makes me sad. We say we support music and the arts in Sedona but then we have these issues and it’s hard to give my friends a reason to come here.”
Charlie Schudson, Sedona homeowner and President of the Vista Montana Hom- eowners Association related a meeting that he and Suzie Schomaker, former owner of Studio Live and Executive Director of the Sedona Performing Arts Alliance, recently had. Studio Live recently closed, partly due to issues involving noise containment. “We found that we agreed on everything,”said Mr. Schudson. “There is no conflict between the interests of the musicians and the interests of homeowners when they are understood.”
He and Ms. Shomaker authored a letter that was sent to relevant city officials includ- ing the mayor and chief of police. “There are two distinct problems — before 10PM and after 10PM,” Mr. Schudson said. “Before 10PM is acoustical. After 10PM is behavioral and re- quires a very different solution.”
He noted that after learning much about the sound needs of musicians and perform- ers from Ms. Schomaker, he realized that “the acoustical problem for residents is also a problem for musicians and their audience. It is not in the musicians’ best interest for the music to go places it is not intended to go.” For these problems, there are technological solutions that can be implemented.
“But the after 10PM problem is growing se- riously and rapidly,” Mr. Schudson continued. “What would be the worst thing for the busi-
ness owners? Drunkenness and loudness
8 • september 2013 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us