JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — You may notice some changes to the way some Jacksonville Beach bars and restaurants operate from now on.
It's all part of a pilot program about noise levels that Action News Jax showed you Tuesday.
The rollout of the program by city leaders caused confusion among several businesses.
On Friday, those businesses had a closed-door meeting with Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Pat Dooley to dispel any misconceptions.
“The meeting went as expected. The chief of police was apologizing. A lot of confusion how everything went down,” Meza said.
Meza, who operates The Wreck Tiki Bar and Lounge, and other businesses owners said they left the meeting with a better sense of understanding.
“They're trying to work with us and they're trying to say ‘Here's what we're doing’. Kind of police yourself to a certain extent,” business owner Robert Tilka said.
Businesses that were not grandfathered in under a previous noise ordinance will have to watch the noise levels outdoors.
The pilot program rules require that people outside of the property line be able to carry a conversation without having to raise their voices.
“There's going to be a compromising level we have to meet where it doesn't affect our business but it doesn't affect the community too as well,” Meza said.
But there are still some outstanding questions.
“Certain locations don't have any residences nearby, other locations do. Other locations are paying the costs for a location that's next to a house or residential area, is it fair?” Meza said.
Meza hopes the city council will consider re-wording the new ordinance.
In the meantime, the businesses don’t want anyone to be deterred from going to Jacksonville Beach.
“Beaches are open, come out to the beach, there's a lot out there,” Tilka said.
The pilot program will be in place for a year.
Cox Media Group
