Aug. 31 the deadline for inclusion in study being undertaken by Siebein Acoustic of Gainesville
As Siebein Acoustic of Gainesville, the City of Sarasota’s sound consultant, nears completion of its initial citywide sound study, city leaders are inviting residents, business owners and visitors “to participate in a brief online survey to help the City better understand how sound is experienced in different parts of Sarasota at different times,” the city’s Aug. 14 newsletter points out.
Responses will be accepted through Monday, Aug. 31, the newsletter says. This is the link to the survey: www.SarasotaFL.gov/Soundscape
Participants are being asked “about the types of sounds they encounter, including sounds they find acceptable and unacceptable, as well as where and when those sounds are experienced, their duration, and their effect on participants’ use or enjoyment of an area,” the newsletter explains.
The first page of the survey says , “We welcome responses from residents, business owners, employees, and visitors — including those who have positive, negative, mixed, or no significant concerns about sound. “
It adds, “Your responses will help the City’s independent experts evaluate existing conditions and will inform — but not determine — the City Commission’s future consideration of sound regulations, enforcement practices, and event policies.”
Throughout the summer, Siebein Acoustic staff members “have conducted sound measurements, collected technical data, met with residents and business owners, and visited locations of interest throughout the city,” the newsletter notes. Community comments “will be presented alongside field observations, acoustic measurements, and other technical information” when the consultant presents its findings to the City Commission in September, the newsletter adds.
The findings will help inform the city commissioners “as they consider whether additional study is appropriate and what changes to the City’s sound ordinance should be considered,” the newsletter explains.
In early December 2025, the city commissioners approved a “plainly audible standard” as the basis for enforcement of a nighttime decibel restriction citywide, as they worked on a revised sound ordinance.
During the discussion that day, part of the focus was on the need for the hiring of an acoustical engineer to provide data necessary for any revision of the maximum decibel levels for both daytime and nighttime, including the potential that different restrictions could be assigned for various zones in the city.
Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch ended up making a motion calling for the hiring of such a consultant, which won unanimous approval.
Nearly four months later, the board members voted unanimously on March 23 to hire Siebein Acoustic. The cost of the work was put between $175,000 and $250,000, “depending upon specific number of study areas and duration of work,” as shown in a document provided to the commission in advance of the meeting.
The Agenda Request Form for that item explained, “Sound regulation presents both technical and legal considerations. Courts evaluating municipal noise regulations frequently examine whether standards are supported by objective criteria, reliable measurement methodologies, and a rational relationship to legitimate governmental interests such as public health, safety, and quality of life. Regulations that are informed by recognized acoustic principles and empirical data are more likely to be consistently enforceable and legally defensible. For these reasons, municipalities commonly rely on qualified acoustic professionals when evaluating or modernizing sound regulations. An experienced consultant can assist the City in objectively assessing existing conditions and identifying opportunities to improve clarity, predictability, and enforceability.”
Moreover, that form noted, “From a legal perspective, the development of sound regulations benefits from a record demonstrating that the City relied on competent technical expertise and objective evaluation. A structured acoustic analysis can assist the City in: establishing reasonable and measurable standards; reducing ambiguity and guiding enforcement operations; supporting the City’s regulatory decisions with documented evidence; and strengthening the defensibility of the code if challenged.”