The Mount Pleasant Ordinance Committee met Tuesday morning, September 9, at City Hall, taking up issues ranging from amplified sound complaints to loitering and panhandling within the city.
Amplified Sound Debate
The first and lengthiest discussion centered on the city’s regulations for amplified sound under Chapter 14-69 of the municipal code.
A resident of 307 West Brace Street addressed the committee with a detailed account of ongoing noise issues in her neighborhood. A mother of a one-year-old, said repeated incidents of loud music from nearby homes have disrupted her family life and made evenings at home difficult.
She noted that current city code prohibits music plainly audible at 100 feet, but pointed out that in Mount Pleasant, the average distance between homes is closer to 56 feet. “That leaves many residents, like myself, unprotected by the ordinance,” she said, urging the city to amend the rule so that amplified music cannot be audible inside neighboring homes.
The resident also provided committee members with examples of similar ordinances adopted in Iowa City, along with research linking noise annoyance to health impacts.
Other residents raised concerns about how changes might affect ordinary activities like lawn mowing, motorcycle maintenance, or teenagers listening to music. Committee members acknowledged the challenge of balancing reasonable neighborhood activity with protections against excessive disruption.
City officials noted that the 100-foot rule was originally aimed at car stereos and motorcycles, not residential homes, and agreed to research alternative approaches before bringing the matter back for further discussion. Any ordinance changes would require multiple readings before adoption.
Loitering and Panhandling Concerns
The committee also discussed growing concerns with loitering and panhandling in the city. Police Chief Lyle Murray reported that while many individuals experiencing homelessness use services at the Fellowship Cup, others decline assistance and instead cause ongoing problems in local business areas.
Murray cited individuals living in vehicles in store parking lots, as well as organized groups who travel to communities specifically to solicit money. “Our taxpayers don’t mind helping people who need help,” he said. “But when people are just here causing problems and not taking advantage of services, it’s no different than a criminal presence.”
Some residents suggested Mount Pleasant consider developing a homeless shelter, but officials noted the complexity of providing staffing, security, and medical resources. Murray stressed that the city does connect people with services when they want help, but said enforcement is limited when individuals refuse assistance.
Committee members said they will continue to review potential ordinance changes with input from the city attorney and neighboring communities.
Next Steps
The committee expects to revisit both amplified sound regulations and panhandling policies within the next month, with additional research and public input before any recommendations are forwarded to the full City Council.