The City of Cambridge is looking to change the way residents are notified of events in their area after over 100 complaints of noise at events at Riverside Park.
Two Indian dance events that were heard late into the night by Preston residents on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 have spurred new conversations about how residents and council members are informed of loud events taking place in the city.
"We have learned a lot after these two events and we hear the community when they say they want something done," said Ward 3 councillor Corey Kimpson.
"We have a duty to make sure that if something is going on near someone's house, they are aware of it."
Coming to the next Cambridge city council meeting on Tuesday is a notice of policy change that will see postcard-like notices delivered to residents' homes in the area where a large event will be happening.
While this policy change has been on the council's radar for a few months, Kimpson notes it couldn't have come at a better time.
The Ward 3 councillor adds this will give community members enough time to prepare or be aware that there might be some disruptions or loud noise in the area.
"It will also serve as a way to inform people that there might be something to do," she said. "If someone is looking for a night out, this could also be used as a way to get people to attend an event and try something new."
The notices that will be handed out will be plain postcards or door hangers that will have very basic and clear language informing not just a property owner, but residents of events, road work, zoning changes or any other public matters.
The two Garba events that happened on back-to-back weekends have generated a lot of conversation around the noise bylaw and systems that are in place at the city to approve events.
Kimpson noted she received over 100 complaints for noise over the first event, because no one in the community, including herself knew the event was going to run until midnight.
"Nothing should have changed at the city where council was not informed of the noise exemptions or the approval of the event," she added. "Somewhere along the way someone decided that the policy that has been in place would not be followed."
This lack of communication between city staff and members of council has prompted councillors like Kimpson and Helen Shwery to find out what happened and prevent it from occurring again.
Kimpson added she plans to ask staff to expedite a report on the noise bylaw to see what can be done to limit the amount of noise that could be made at an event.
"Currently there is not a numerical limit for noise. It is more aligned with the hours that noise can be made," said Kimpson. "So we are going to look at that, because people that are a few kilometers away shouldn't have their windows shaking because of an event."
Going forward, Kimpson wants the councillors in their respective wards to be the first informed of events, construction and other changes so they can be prepared to deal with any questions from the public.
She added that it is the councillors who are getting the calls and emails from residents, not the city staff so there needs to be an understanding and sensitivity around this issue.
Notices will also be going live on the city's website as well as larger signs to be posted around affected areas.
"The key is consistency and transparency," said Kimpson. "We have to be there for our constituents and also give the event organizers as much information as possible so they can host the great events our community wants."
