Embedded Files
I. NOISE ORDINANCE AND ASSESSMENTS
Start here to see the Davis, CA Municipal Code for Current Maximum Noise Levels: City Noise Ordinance (section 24.02.020 showing Table and Maximum Noise Level (dBA) Column. And, here is the full version of Chapter 24 Noise Ordinance.
Re Changing "Maximum Noise Level" to "Average Noise Level" for the Pickle Ball Noise Assessment, see page 4, Figure 3: Bollard Pickleball Noise Assessment Slide Hill Park (August 9, 2019) highlighted at Table 1 (page 4) And with added Limit Lines to understand how these were ignored once Average Noise Limit (over an hour) was substituted: Bollard Figure 3 showing Maximum Noise Levels exceeded for Pickleball using an Onyx ball with two players.
Re Changing "Maximum Noise Level" to "Average Noise Level" for the Zip Track Noise Assessment, see page 4, Figure 3: Bollard Zip Track Noise Assessment Arroyo Park (August 16, 2019) highlighted at Table 1 (page 4). And with added limit lines to understand how these were ignored once Average Noise Limit (over an hour) was substituted: Bollard Figure 3 showing Maximum Noise Levels exceeded (night) or reached regularly (day) by the Arroyo Park zip track.
The Acoustics Group, Inc. (AGI) Arroyo Community Park Sky Track Noise Study (March 1, 2022) at Table 1 on page 6 again incorrectly represents the City's noise standard, this time using "Noise Standard Leq, dBA" (a measurement of an average over time) not the correct "Maximum Noise Level, dBA" called for in DMC 24.02.020.
II. PROCESS
Noticing guidelines of the city weren't followed before the Arroyo Park zip track was installed in 2019. These were the applicable Noticing Guidelines and Standards for Impacts to Parks. Please note the Minimum Standard of Noticing section states [numbering added]: "The minimum standard for noticing items with an impact to a park as defined above will include the following noticing efforts:
Recreation and Park Commission Agenda Posting (includes list serve)
Mailing 500 foot Radius around the Park
Mailing to Neighborhood Association nearest the park
Website Theme Page linked to City’s Main Page
Press Release to Enterprise for Article to run when Commissioners receive packet"
Not one of these five items was carried out by the city before the zip track -- perhaps the largest and loudest piece of park equipment in Davis -- was installed. The decision wasn't even shared with the Recreation and Parks Commission until staff began reporting on the purchase and delivery of the structure in early 2019.
To see how public notice was conducted in 2017 for a zip track that's half the length at Pioneer Park, see this staff report, highlighted at page 2. In the Pioneer Park situation, the city provided notice to all neighbors within 1000 ft (only 500 ft required), and a public meeting was held. The city has said that they "canvassed parks residents in the park" prior to their Arroyo Park zip track decision. For this activity we asked the city who conducted the canvassing and if there were any surveys, related documents or notes, or if there was a presentation of any findings from the canvassing to the public, such as at a Recreation and Parks Commission meeting (as required per the guidelines). Initially we were told there were notes and canvassed information had been sent to eight playground manufacturers. We formally requested this information, but nothing was ever provide to establish any level of public input. Even for what it might have been worth, "canvassing" isn't one of the five noticing requirements.
III. RECENT PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment of Janet and Joe Krovoza to Recreation and Park Commission (May 19, 2021) Re Misrepresentation of City Noise Ordinance in Arroyo Park Zip Track Noise Assessment (Bollard Acoustical Consultants), and in the Subsequent Staff Report Analysis. Public comment attachments: Noise Ordinance; Bollard Zip Track Noise Assessment; Figure 3 showing violations. Note: nothing is posted on the City's site for the May 19th RPC meeting because it wasn't properly noticed and so the meeting will be repeated on June 2, 2021.
Public Comment -- RPC Commission, May 19, 2021 meeting.pdfPage updated
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