La Conner council votes to bring back live music

The La Conner Town Council voted Tuesday to resume its summer live music series in Gilkey Square after an outcry following the surprise noise restrictions that emerged earlier this spring.

Those restrictions cited a local ordinance and state statute and sought to limit bands to 55 decibels, which is about the sound level of moderate rainfall or a normal conversation.

In response, residents, business owners and musicians came to town meetings to protest. The frustration spurred an online petition that gathered nearly 500 signatures.

On Tuesday, the town councilors voted to approve a multipart resolution to get music going again.

Among other things, that resolution recognizes Sundays between noon and 5 p.m. as a time for special events and puts some limits on the decibels allowed, according to Town Administrator Scott Thomas. The music would be allowed at about 85 decibels while going up at certain points to 100 decibels.

In a text message, La Conner Live organizer Gloria Hulst said she's contacting bands in an effort to get music ready for this Sunday.

"It's obvious that the town wants it so hopefully we can make this work," Hulst wrote in a text message.

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