1/15/09

Noise ordinance concerns Marysville citizens

by Carmell Emory

The Marysville City Council drew a larger than usual audience for its January 12 meeting. Concerned citizens were anxious to comment on a proposed ordinance amending the code of enforcement and nuisance regulations. To accommodate the interest in public comments, Mayor Dennis Kendall postponed the vote until the January 26 council meeting.

The ordinance in question would enforce the regulation of a number of issues, such as disabled or unused motor vehicles in a person’s yard, broken fences, graffiti, the height of vegetation, and a time period to fix these concerns. Audience participant Mike Gribbler was thankful for the “responsiveness” of Director of Community Development Gloria Hirashima, and the city’s plan to “move forward with the ordinance,” but he is concerned about how the new regulations will be enforced.

Councilmembers are struggling about where to draw the line with the new regulations, and what language would best suit the needs of the community, without dictating citizens’ every move. Councilmember Carmen Rasmussen referenced the restrictions regarding the height of vegetation, saying, “One man’s weed is another man’s plant.”

The Council hopes to gain more clarity on this issue during their work session Monday, January 19. The meeting is open to the public, and begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 1049 State Avenue.

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