The city of Jacksonville Beach is trying to explain the messy rollout of a new pilot program that restricts outdoor sound from businesses.
The program was meant to put all businesses on an even playing field with certain downtown restaurants that already have permits for outdoor music, but instead, the program has created confusion.
One of the selling points for The Wreck Tiki Lounge is its location, steps away from the ocean.
That is why, for operating partner Fernando Meza, keeping his garage doors open is key.
“The atmosphere the ocean breeze, that's the moneymaker,” said Meza.
But around 9:30 p.m. Friday night, his bar was nearly empty after police officers told him he needed to shut his garage doors if he was going to play music.
“I had to comply. I did but it changed the vibe and killed business,” said Meza.
It was all part of a pilot program passed last week that requires businesses to get a low-volume permit if they’re going to play outdoor music.
It also prohibits all outdoor sound past 10 p.m.
But when Meza went to get the permit at City Hall, the permits weren’t ready.
“It made my blood boil. Like how can you pass something and not be ready?” said Meza.
There's now a petition on change.org with hundreds of signatures to get the city to bring the issue back up for discussion.
“I'm doing my best to accommodate and keep the music at a low level,” said Meza. “But at the same time I’m going to keep it to where it's still enjoyable and not feel like you're at a coffee shop or trying to study at the library.”
The city manager and police chief said the pilot program will only affect the businesses that didn’t previously have a permit. Businesses that already had a permit are grandfathered in.
The city is meeting with businesses this Friday to clarify any confusion.
The pilot program ends in June 2018 with the option of adopting it permanently.
Cox Media Group
