Old Town Temecula music scene struggles as city works to update noise ordinance

TEMECULA, Calif. (KABC) -- A nearly two-decade-old noise ordinance is silencing Old Town Temecula's thriving outdoor entertainment scene.

The band Those Guys had been drawing hundreds of fans to Baily's Old Town on weekend nights, but the venue recently canceled all live entertainment through the end of the year after racking up more than $20,000 in fines from the city.

"On any given night, it can be 350 to 400 people and the vibe, especially here at Baily's, is at an all-time high," said Kyle Hudson, lead singer and guitarist for Those Guys.

Alex Baily, the general manager and owner of Baily's, said the financial toll became too much to bear.

"It got to the point where enough is enough," Baily said. "So, we canceled over $50,000 in live entertainment contracts for the rest of the year."

At the center of the dispute is Temecula's 2007 noise ordinance, which limits sound to 70 decibels at the property line. Musicians argue that threshold is lower than the volume of a normal conversation.

"My conversation is over 70 decibels," Hudson said.

Temecula Mayor Brenden Kalfus said the city is working to strike a balance between residents' concerns and the needs of local businesses.

"It is difficult for us to ask our code enforcement officers not to enforce the code as it is currently written," Kalfus said. "Temecula is evolving. The General Plan was implemented in 2007. It has to evolve with the city and our sound ordinance is one of those things that has to evolve with Old Town."

Updates to the city's General Plan could take up to two years to complete.

In the meantime, Baily's is investing $200,000 in noise-reduction modifications in hopes of bringing live music back in compliance with the code. Hudson said the situation has already had a significant financial impact.

"This affects my livelihood," he said. "It's taking thousands of dollars out of my pocket having all these gigs canceled, food off my plate. It's affecting me and hundreds of other musicians in this valley."

Until changes are made, Those Guys are taking their act on the road, booking gigs in Riverside, Orange County and La Jolla.