SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023 

VOLUME 17 NO. 34VOLUME 17 NO. 34

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RECOMMENDED CHANGES 
TO NOISE ORDINANCE 
QUIETED FOR NOW

Ambient noise limits are coming soon

By Kevin McGuire

The passing of an amended Noise Ordinance addressing 
excessive, unnecessary, and unreasonable 
noises from all sources in the community will have 
to wait as the item was continued to a future City 
Council Meeting.

In February 2023, Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Kriebs requested 
that The Planning Commission update the 
Noise Ordinance to establish acceptable noise limits 
using “the Local Ambient” noise level as a threshold. 

On June 27, the City Council continued a public 
hearing on August 22, 2023, to allow the Energy 
and Natural Resources Commission time to provide 
feedback on leaf blower regulations.

However, Mayor Pro Tem Kriebs could not attend 
the continued public hearing on August 22, so the 
City Council has opted to continue again to an undetermined 
date. 

Ordinance 1467, amending Chapter 9.32 of Title 9 
(Public Peace, Morals, and Welfare) of the Sierra 
Madre Municipal Code, was codified in 1984 and 
established policies to control the adverse effects of 
noise. 

In 2009, the last time the Noise Ordinance was 
amended, the main issue was early morning leaf 
blowers, and the result was that restrictions were 
put in place on what hours operators could run the 
equipment. However, the Energy and Natural Resources 
Commission may remove leaf blowers from 
the Noise Ordinance altogether, citing that they are 
more of an environmental problem because of dust 
and exhaust spewed into the air. 

In the meantime, the city hired the CSDA Group to 
analyze noise ordinances in neighboring cities and 
develop the best options for Sierra Madre. CSDA 
prepared an ordinance establishing new ambient 
noise thresholds for residential, commercial, manufacturing, 
institutional uses, special events, and 
special exceptional provisions. The expectation is 
that Sierra Madre’s model will be similar to those of 
Pasadena and South Pasadena. 

In addition to the leaf blower situation in Sierra 
Madre, other noise complaints have included loud 
music, political event trucks, and special events at 
schools. Alverno Heights Academy has, most recently, 
received noise complaints from neighbors 
for events on the school grounds and the use of their 
parking lot for outdoor activities for students. 

Ordinance No. 1467 establishes the following decibel 
level thresholds for defined property types. 
Decibel level readings are measured as distance 
measurements from the noise source. 

“Every violation that is an infraction is punishable 
by the following: (1) A fine not exceeding one 
hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation. (2) A 
fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for a 
second violation of the same ordinance within one 
year of the first violation. (3) a fine not exceeding 
five hundred dollars ($500) for each additional violation 
of the same ordinance within one year of the 
first violation,” is the amended language suggested 
by The Planning Commission. 

A copy of Ordinance No.1467and the staff report is 
available on the city website:

 www.cityofsierramadre.com. 

SURVIVING THE STORM


All things considered, Sierra 
Madre did well when the tropical 
storm resulting from Hurricane 
Hilary reached Southern 
California last week. Yes, there 
were downed trees, such as the 
remnants of this big one (above) 
that fell on the roof of a residence 
in Bonita Ave in Sierra Madre. 
There were also damaged power 
lines, intermittent power outages 
and up to 9+ inches of rain in 
some parts of town that caused a 
few streets to flood and minor mudslides. However, despite those challenges, 
Sierra Madre did what it does best, Survive! Photos by Dirk Bolle

INSIDE THIS WEEK

WELCOME CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY................Page 2 

REMEMBRANCE: Jean Sylvia (Osti).............................Page 3

PETER DILLS: A REMEDY FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS.......Page 8

CHRISTOPHER NYERGES: THE POWER OF WORDS........Page 8 

HARVEY HYDE: “College Football Changes Part 2 ...........Page 14

CORRECTION: In last week's edition, the name of the city 
manager appeared as Jose Garcia. The Sierra Madre City 
Manager's name is Jose Reynosa.

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