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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4 Public CommentNovember 18, 2021 To: City Council and City Manager Clifton c/o City Clerk Mejia Re: City Council Goals and Priorities - November 20, 2021 Special Closed Session Meeting - Review of the Noise Ordinance Should Be Included as a Goal and a Priority Item Dear Mayor Holstege, Mayor Pro Tern Middleton, Councilmembers Kors, Garner and Woods and City Manager Clifton: Ted Janka and I, officers of the Warm Sands Neighborhood Organization and Directors in ONE -PS, support the City Council including a review of the city's Noise Ordinance as one of the City Council's goals and priority items to be addressed this coming year. This communication acknowledges the City Council's continued interest (since 2019) in reviewing the Noise Ordinance and the recent efforts of ONE -PS with the city on addressing low -frequency amplified music. Our focus in this is not on music but on vocal noise disturbances that are intermittent, often abrupt, and disruptive when occurring at quiet hours adjacent to residential properties. Our neighborhood organization (Warm Sands) has had an increase in disturbing levels of loud conversation, shouting, and whistling (hereafter `vocalized noise') occurring late into the night from an unsupervised small resort that is adjacent to residential properties. Our concerns are compounded by the scheduled opening of a similar small resort in the same area, by reports from other neighborhood organizations of similar vocalized noise issues from unsupervised small resorts, and by continued reports of similar unaddressed noise issues from vacation rentals. The existing Noise Ordinance (11.74 NOISE ORDINANCE) describes in detail the levels of noise allowed, defines exceptions to those levels, the times when noise must be reduced, and allowable variations by area. Our concern is that the current code describes enforcement procedures that are adequate for continuous noise such as music and mechanical noise but, as residents of our neighborhood have found, fall short on enforcement options when the noise is intermittent, as is the case of vocalized noise. The ordinance's section 11.74.033 (Noise Measurement Procedure) describes the documentation of a noise incident as being conducted by an enforcement agent ITEM NO. with sound level measurement equipment. While this procedure works with music or mechanized noise, it is difficult to use and puts a strain on enforcing agencies when the disturbing noise is intermittent vocalized noise, such as might occur at a 1AM pool party. We thus strongly recommend consideration of alternative procedures of measurement that would allow for acceptable documentation of violation of standards in 11.74.031 (Noise level limit) when the noise is discontinuous and an enforcing agent has limited time to wait for an occurrence. It is essential for residents to feel safe and secure in their homes, and for businesses to be able to interact with customers in a reliable manner. Fitting with the guidelines in 11.74.040, high levels of unexpected vocalization during normally quiet times of the evening and night disrupt the ability of residents and customers to rest or function appropriately, thus it is in the City's interest to increase the ability to assess and address intermittent but disturbing vocalizations. For the above reasons we urge the City Council to make it a goal and priority to review the city's Noise Ordinance making changes appropriate for protecting the residents and businesses of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Don Barrett and Ted Janka Directors Warm Sands Neighborhood Organization and ONE -PS 280 Minnehaha St. / 1111 E. Ramon Rd. Palm Springs, CA Anthony Mejia From: Elizabeth Amenta-Avner <eamentaavner@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 7:24 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Closed Session Special Meeting Nov. 20th NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. To the Palm Springs City Manger and City Council Members, I am writing as a fifty year resident of Palm Springs concerned with public safety in our city. Specifically the Palm Springs Fire Department. My husband was a Palm Springs Fire Department Firefighter for 31 years. Our son is currently a Palm Springs Firefighter. Adequate staffing was an issue for my husband's entire career and continues to be an issue today. In the fifty years I have lived in this city I have seen much growth and many changes. As the city has grown the Palm Springs Fire Department has not. Past councils brought in an outside agency to study the growth projections and the need for fire stations and staff in the City of Palm Springs. The agency recommendations for more fire stations and staff was laid out in a detailed report. These recommendations have been ignored by all Councils past and present. Funding the Palm Springs Fire Department's needs to meet the growing demands in our ever expanding city will benefit all residents and visitors in this beautiful city we call home. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to seeing our Palm Springs Fire Department receive the funds it needs to meet the growing demands of the city. Elizabeth Amenta-Avner 1340 Primavera Drive Palm Springs,CA 92264 11120 1-2102( � wbl4, Ca ITEM NO. — A - Anthony Mejia From: Gayle.Keagy@Ferguson.com Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 9:07 AM To: City Clerk Subject: FIRE DEPARTMENTS STAFFING NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Good Morning, Having been 12 year neighbors of the Palm Springs Fire Station I have first hand seen the importance of proper staffing. I remember when my station was closed for close to 3 years the stress and worry people had knowing that the response time to our end of town was now a matter of life and death. I am asking the Coty Council to taking immediate action on investing in our Fires Departments stations and safety staffing levels. The live it saves can be yours. Regards, Gayle Keagy Please be advised that COVID continues to drastically impact lead times for our industry. The sourcing of the raw materials, freight delays, port congestion, and many factories working in lessened capacity have been attributed to extended lead times. All backordered dates are subject to change without notice. Please allow up to 48 hours for Ferguson to process any products once they are shipped and received. We appreciate your patience as we navigate through this challenging time. • Ifyou need assistance with scheduling an appointment: Click hereto book your Showroom Appointment online • For assistance getting status of your order, making a payment, scheduling delivery, or placing an order please call 760-773-9838 and ask for Client Services. Gayle Keagy Showroom Consultant Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery 72-060 Highway 111 Suite C Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 T: (760) 895-6125 Gayle. keagy(a-)-ferguson.com www.ferguson.com/showrooms 11O2.b1?.l Cbmv�- Anthony Mejia From: Darren <Elkins526@msn.com> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 11:00 AM To: City Clerk Subject: City projects NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. As a city resident for the past 10 years and a former firefighter with the city, I know the importance of both staffing levels and station readiness. I too remember when a fire station was closed, and the danger and burden it put on both the residents and the firefighters. It is my desire that my tax dollars go towards staffing and station needed modifications and repairs, to assure we are all protected. Thank you, Darren Elkins 355 W Pico Rd PS Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android 1rl�ol� r11:1`Q NO. Anthony Mejia From: Vivian <fyrytur@gmailxom> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 7:12 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Staffing NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Dear City Council, My name is Bob Yturralde. I've lived in Palm Springs since 1983. I was also employed by the Palm Springs Fire department from 1983 to 2015. When I began my career we were a department that staffed 3 out of 5 stations with two personnel. In 2001 we improved those unsafe conditions and began staffing with three personnel but even that was below the safe standards recognized throughout the country. I am asking you now to finally bring this department up to National Safety standards and staffing the stations with a four person personnel. I believe this is an attainable goal financially and would provide a much safer environment for not only the fire department personnel but also the visitors and locals as well. Thank you for your attention on this critical manner. Robert Yturralde 3003 Cypress Rd. PS. 92262 (760) 320-1474 fA\%"U � unrv�r�-�- ITFh15 NO. __ f Anthony Mejia From: Dustin Avner <dustinavner@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 5:06 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Closed Session Special meeting Nov 20th NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. To the City Manager and City Council Members of Palm Springs, CA I am writing as an extremely concerned citizen concerning the current state of the Palm Springs Fire Department's lack of adequate fire stations. As someone who has lived in Palm Springs, CA his entire life, and has served on the Palm Springs Fire Department for seventeen years, I have firsthand knowledge of the city's growth and development. I continue to be appalled and dismayed by the city's complacency with regard to public safety. It is clear the city has deemed it fit to leave the Palm Springs Fire Department in a stagnant state despite the growth in residency, tourism, and festivals/events Palm Springs has and continues to experience. The amount of stations has not increased in accordance with the rate of growth the city of Palm Springs has experienced. Public safety should be the first priority for both visitors and residents alike. The amount of fire stations within the city of Palm Springs has not increased to appropriately accommodate the city's aforementioned growth. The city has not increased the number of fire stations since 1981. In addition, we have not decreased our response time coverage since 1981. As you know, the city's population, infrastructure, tourism, and sponsored events/festivals has increased significantly since 1981. As a result, the number of people within the city limits, at any given time of day, has significantly increased since 1981. As a result, the emergency 911 call volume has increased. We are presently exceeding 11,000 calls per year with only five fire stations. These 911 calls are only a portion of the Palm Springs Fire Department's responsibilities. The Palm Springs Fire Department is also responsible for inspections, occupancy inspections, mountain rescues, technical rescues, public relations services, trainings, and much more. The Palm Springs Fire Department has always been deeply committed to providing a variety of essential services to its citizens. However, we have reached a critical point and need the city to commit to increasing staffing and station coverage. Prior city councils have known this as an issue, and that the amount of stations needs to increase, yet it has not happened. In 2005-2006, an outside agency was brought in to conduct a thorough study of our city's projected growth and public safety needs. This agency laid out a timeline for when we should add additional stations. Since that study, there has not been a single station addition. The results of the study led the agency to highly recommend and strongly advise that we immediately add a sixth station in 2005, with stations seven and eight being built in the immediate future. At the end of 2021, we currently still have only five stations. The same residential, neighborhood, industrial, and commercial real estate growth projections that were forecast in the study have come to fruition, yet no additional station coverage has been added. In addition, unforeseen projects not factored into the study have happened, and continue to be planned since the study was conducted. At what point will the city of Palm Springs act upon the recommendations of the professionals in both the Palm Springs Fire Department and outside agencies in order to provide adequate protection and services to its citizens and visitors? I eagerly await your response detailing your plan of action, Dustin Avner -UI-VzA __ ITEM NTO. Anthony Mejia From: Rande Ferguson <randeferguson@me.com> Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 9:18 PM To: City Clerk Subject: Fire Stations and Safety Staffing Levels NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are Il sure the content is safe. Palm Springs City Council Members, Please consider taking immediate action on investing in the Fire Department's stations and safety staffing levels. Thank you, Rande Ferguson 1426 Yermo Dr. N. Palm Springs, CA 92262 954-258-3741 ITEM NO. Anthony Mejia From: mike guerra <attyatlawca@hotmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2021 8:24 AM To: Anthony Mejia Subject: 11/20/21 Special Close Session Meeting - Goals and Priorities NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. November 17, 2021 To: City Council and City Manager Clifton c/o City Clerk Mejia Re: City Council Goals and Priorities - November 20, 2021 Special Closed Session Meeting - Review of the Noise Ordinance Should Be Included as a Goal and a Priority Item Dear Mayor Holstege, Mayor Pro Tern Middleton, Councilmembers Kors, Garner and Woods and City Manager Clifton: Joni Forrer and I support the City Council including a review of the city's Noise Ordinance as one of the City Council's goals and priority items to be address this coming year. As historical background, the City Council expressed interest in reviewing the current Noise Ordinance at least since 2019. (See, March 20, 2019 City Council Agenda Item, 5.b. "DISCUSSION OF THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE AND RELATED REGULATIONS." The matter was referred to the "City Council Subcommittee on Special Events and rename the Subcommittee, Special Event and Noise Ordinance.") The City Council Noise Ordinance subcommittee members were current Mayor Holstege and current Mayor Pro Tern Middleton. In January 2020, the subcommittee was retired; however, a review of the Noise Ordinance was set for March 26, 2020 with a City Council Study Session. The March 26, 2020 Noise Ordinance Study Session was cancelled because of the beginning of the COVID pandemic. As you know, the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs ("ONE -PS") Code Enforcement and Public Works (CEPW) Committee Noise Work Group drafted two policy recommendations as to the Noise Ordinance on managing noise from outdoor amplified music events at venues. The recommendations were: (1) The City should take measures to manage the impact of low frequency noise from outside amplified music events on residential areas from all commercial venues, making changes to the Noise Ordinance as appropriate. i ?t-ZI ITEM NO. (2) The City should require an annual Conditional Use Permit or Land Use Permit with a consistent set of objective requirements and criteria to manage the overall noise level and low frequency noise for all commercial venues having outdoor amplified music events. The ONE -PS membership voted overwhelmingly to adopt the recommendations for presentation to the City Council (25 Yes, 0 No, 2 Abstain). The adoption by ONE -PS was formally memorialized in a September 23, 2021 ONE -PS letter to the City Manager with copies to the City Council, City Attorney and City Clerk. Besides the Noise Ordinance recommendations of ONE -PS, there are numerous other changes to the Noise Ordinance that should be made to address the concerns of residents in neighborhoods effected by outdoor amplified music events taking place at various venues (i.e. small and large hotels, the Air Museum, etc.). Insuring the peaceful enjoyment of residential properties (single family homes, apartments and condominiums) should be a priority of the City Council. Moreover, businesses (large and small hotels, restaurants, etc.) which are next to or near other business which have outdoor amplified music may see the conduct of their businesses adversely effected by the neighboring outdoor amplified music producing business. For the above reasons we urge the City Council to make it a goal and priority to review the city's Noise Ordinance making changes appropriately to protect the residents and businesses of Palm Springs. Sincerely, Joni Forrer and Mike Guerra 457 W. Arenas Rd. Palm Springs, CA