On September 25, 2017, the City Council considered an ordinance amending the Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC), Chapter 17, Noise.  After receiving public testimony, the Mayor closed the public hearing and Council discussed the proposal.  Councilmembers suggested three or four changes and postponed the item until the October 23, 2017 meeting.  At the October 16 work session, staff informed the Council that a sound expert is being consulted about the proposed changes and that the proposed changes have not been reviewed with stakeholder groups.  Staff recommends that the Council indefinitely postpone consideration of the noise code changes so that the staff can complete its research and obtain stakeholder comments on the proposed changes.  When those tasks are completed, staff will return the code amendments to the Council for a public hearing and first reading of the ordinance.   

City Council may:

• Approve the staff recommendation to indefinitely postpose the proposed noise code changes, or:
• Postpone action on the item until a date certain, or;
• Approve the ordinance on second reading, which would not include the issues that the Council requested that staff research further. 

There is no anticipated cost or revenue from this action.

Staff recommends that the City Council indefinitely postpone action on the ordinance amending BMCC Chapter 17, Noise.