The City Council finds the following.
(A) Loud and raucous noise degrades the environment of the city to a degree that:
(1) Is harmful to the health, welfare, and safety of its inhabitants and visitors;
(2) Interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property;
(3) Interferes with the well being, tranquility, and privacy of the home; and
(4) Both causes and aggravates health problems.
(B) Both the effective control and the elimination of loud and raucous noise are essential to the health and welfare of the city’s inhabitants and visitors, and to the conduct of the normal pursuits of life, including recreation, work, and communication.
(C) The use of sound amplification equipment creates loud and raucous noise that may, in a particular manner and at a particular time and place, substantially and unreasonably invade the privacy, peace, and freedom of inhabitants of, and visitors to, the city.
(D) Certain short-term easing of noise restrictions is essential to allow the construction and maintenance of structures, infrastructure, and other elements necessary for the physical and commercial vitality of the city.
(E) The obligation to draft regulations that affect speech in a content-neutral fashion is of paramount importance to protect the freedom of expression guaranteed by Article I, § 8 of the Oregon Constitution and the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This chapter enacts narrowly drawn, content-neutral regulations that are to be interpreted as such so as not to infringe upon constitutionally protected rights.
(Ord. 294, passed 12-18-2012)