CCP508 Amplified sound in parksCITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
COUNCIL POLICY
Subject: Effective Policy
Page Date Number
USE OF AMPLIFIED SOUND SYSTEMS
WITHIN CITY (PUBLIC) PARKS 1 of 4 3/3/98 508
This policy shall govern the use of amplified sound systems within public parks in the City of
San Juan Capistrano. The purpose of this policy is to allow appropriate use of amplified
sound systems while assuring that such systems do not adversely affect adjoining
neighborhoods. Amplified sound systems shall consist of any equipment which provides
electronic sound amplification for sound effects, human voice, music or musical
instruments. For the purposes of this policy, the City has distinguished between two broad
classes of sound systems, (1) APublic Address Systems@ (integrated microphone, amplifier,
and speaker), and (2) AStage Systems@ (multi-speaker systems for amplified music). The
provisions of this policy have been based on the report entitled AEvaluation of the Sound
System Impacts, City of San Juan Capistrano@ dated June 9, 1997 by Gordon Bricken &
Associates of Santa Ana, California.
I. Applicability: This policy shall apply to the use of any amplified sound system
within the following public parks:
A. Descanso Veterans Park (Paseo Adelanto)
B. Historic town Center Park (El Camino Real)
C. Cook Park (La Novia)
D. Cook Park (Cordova)
E. San Juan Capistrano Sports Park (Camino del Avion)
F. Marco Forster Athletic Fields (Del Obispo)
Amplified sound system use shall be prohibited at all other public parks within the
City of San Juan Capistrano.
II. Process: The Afacility use application@ shall include any proposed use of an
amplified sound system. If amplified sound is proposed, the application shall include
adequate information for City staff to determine the type of system, either Apublic
address system@ or Astage system.@
III. Standards: The following standards shall apply to the use of amplified sound
systems:
A. The Apublic address system@ shall consist of a single unit (integrated
microphone, amplifier, and speaker). The unit shall be located no closer than
three hundred (300) feet to any residence and will not be directed toward any
residence. The sound level will be set at eight-five (85) dBA at fifty (50) feet
using a Apink@ noise source.
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
COUNCIL POLICY
Subject: Effective Policy
Page Date Number
USE OF AMPLIFIED SOUND SYSTEMS
WITHIN CITY (PUBLIC) PARKS 2 of 4 3/3/98 508
The Apublic address system@ will be permitted within the designated hours in
the following parks (City sponsored or co-sponsored events are permitted to
use the Apublic address system@ for the duration of the event:
Cook Park (Cordova) Use limited to San Juan
Capistrano based youth sports
groups, with a maximum two (2)
hour duration in conjunction with
opening and closing day
ceremonies.
Cook Park (La Novia) 12:00 p.m. to sunset.
Descanso Veterans Park 12:00 p.m. to sunset (Sunday -
Thursday)
12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Friday
and Saturday)
Historic Town Center Park 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Marco Forster Athletic Fields Use limited to San Juan
Capistrano based youth sports
groups, with a maximum two (2)
hour duration in conjunction with
opening and closing day
ceremonies.
San Juan Capistrano Sports Park 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Monday -
Saturday)
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Uses limited to San Jan
Capistrano based youth sports
programs, sports camps and
tournaments. Amplification not
permitted on soccer fields #2 and
#3.
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
COUNCIL POLICY
Subject: Effective Policy
Page Date Number
USE OF AMPLIFIED SOUND SYSTEMS
WITHIN CITY (PUBLIC) PARKS 3 of 4 3/3/98 508
B. The Astage system@ shall be located no closer than seven-hundred and fifty
(750) feet to any residence and system speakers will not be directed toward
any residence. The sound level will be set at eight-five (85) dBA at fifty (50)
feet using a Apink@ noise source fed through the entire system and
electronically adjusted as required for performance. The system will be
equipped with limiting devices set to control the output to the specified level.
The Astage system@ will be permitted within the designated hours in the
following parks only:
Historic Town Center Park 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Cook Park (La Novia) City sponsored or co-sponsored
events only, for the duration of the
event.
Descanso Veterans Park City sponsored or co-sponsored
events only, for the duration of the
event.
San Juan Capistrano Sports Park City sponsored or co-sponsored
events only, for the duration of the
event.
CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
COUNCIL POLICY
Subject: Effective Policy
Page Date Number
USE OF AMPLIFIED SOUND SYSTEMS
WITHIN CITY (PUBLIC) PARKS 4 of 4 3/3/98 508
C. The use of amplified sound systems at the designated public parks shall be
limited to the following types of events:
Amplified sound
permitted for opening
day ceremonies and
tournaments associated
with sports leagues.
Amplified sound
permitted for
live/recorded music,
speeches, special
events, etc. Descanso Veterans Park not applicable
Υ Historic Town Center
Park
not applicable
Υ
Cook Park (La Novia)
Υ
Υ Cook Park (Cordova)
Υ
Υ
San Juan Capistrano
Sports Park
Υ
Υ
Marco Forster Athletic
Fields
Υ
Υ
IV. Monitoring: Use of any Astage system@ may require on-site monitoring by City staff
or their designee for compliance with the standards of this policy (subsection III).
The permittee shall be required to pay the cost of monitoring services prior to City
approval of the Afacility use application.@ The cost of monitoring services will be
established by the Community Services Director and shall be based on the total
number of hours monitoring, including system setup and calibration, and the hourly
pay rate of monitoring staff.
V. Exceptions: The Community Services Director may grant an exception to the Ahours
of operation@ based on findings that the requested exception would not result in an
impact to adjoining residences. However, in no case, shall the Community Services
Director grant an exception to the Astandards@ established by this policy.
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