City Council to Discuss Temporary Ban on Permits for Outdoor Music Venues

One ordinance up for consideration by the Austin City Council this Thursday calls for a temporary moratorium on permits for outdoor music venues.

Sponsored by Council Member Mike Martinez with support from Council Members Laura Morrison and Randi Shade, the ordinance states that "confusion regarding the operational requirements, permitting procedures, and enforcement mechanisms applicable to outdoor music venues has caused problems for neighborhood residents, venue operators, and city staff," and while a resolution is worked out, "imposes a temporary 'time out' on the issuance or renewal of outdoor music permits."

If approved, new permits and renewals wouldn't be issued until February 27, the day after the City Council is expected to reach a resolution on the matter.

The proposal also specifically mentions that it will not "impede or limit" any venues related to the South by Southwest Music Festival. Based on our first glance at the paperwork, we think it's also doubtful that this ordinance will hold any sway over the myriad unofficial events that take place throughout the city during SXSW, as the ordinance also notes that permits and permit renewals could be granted provided they expired "on or before March 24, 2009, which is the last day of the South by Southwest Music Festival."

You can read the proposed ordinance in its entirety online, as a PDF.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Allen Y Chen in Arts & Entertainment, News on January 13, 2009 6:11 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

gary

Please keep in mind that the posted, proposed Ordinance is not what may be put in place. That will not be determined until it is discussed, and voted upon, and hopefully, only after hearing public input. Things could change, prior to a vote.

Note the fact that it is being proposed as an Emergency measure, and if passed, would take effect immediately. It became known, as far as I know, on Monday. Some might consider this an abuse of the power that comes with declaring an true Emergency.

I'm just not convinced that the timing, and real-world negative effect it will have, is not purposeful, and not specifically aimed, almost exclusively, at the ever growing fringe of the festival. I'm not convinced that it is not a indication of the continuation of anti-competitive tactics that seem to increasingly make their appearance, in the period leading up to the spring break week of the music festival.

Regulation gets tricky, when Physics is involved. Sound and Noise happen. Music is a beautiful thing. I definitely think Outdoor Music should be embraced, City-wide, during the week of the festival, with no restrictions on proximity to residential, liberal decibel levels, 2 AM cutoff. Bring the after parties indoors. Everybody must get small.

But that's just me.

sitstageleft

I know this didn't end up passing (because i was going down to the city anyways and found out) and will be voted on again next week i think, amended, but I do not know what those amendments entail and would appreciate some additional reportage on its progress...if anyone at austinist is up to that...

gary

I believe item # 55, on the proposed Outdoor Music Venue Permit moratorium, did actually pass, on consent, and the City Manager's office will be studying and proposing a rewrite, and new rules.

Will those new rules be ready by the end of the moratorium? When will they go into effect? What applies, and how will the City staff actually handle applications, between the end of the moratorium, Feb 26, and the end of the SxSW festival, March 24th?

Tarvin

Seems to me in the self styled Live Music Capital that the opposite tack should have been taken.

All public performances should be permitted until a permitting procedure is in place.

mdahmus

Disappointing to see Martinez stoop to Morrison's level. Also aggravating to see the local TV coverage imply that this has something to do with new condos downtown, when the actual impetus behind the Live Music Task Force was the same bunch of old-school ANC types that elected Morrison - people who live in single-family houses in Zilker and other old neighborhoods and have been trying to shut down outdoor music for decades now.