A more subdued, though no less impassioned, gathering filled City Council chambers this morning to monitor progress of the long-controversial “sound” ordinance (a/k/a “noise” ordinance)—rearing its head today in what would have otherwise been a yawner Monday morning update to council’s health committee.

Musician Mario Abney speaks about being stopped on the street for playing music.

A city health department deputy gave opening remarks in lieu of just-departed departed Health Commissioner Dr. Karen DeSalvo, who left January 10 to join the Obama administration in Washington D.C. The health department was given $250,000 in funding for the current fiscal year to pursue quality-of-life concerns ranging from, yes, the long-disputed “sound” ordinance to what is apparently an epidemic of restaurants treating storm drains as grease traps. The quarter-million in funding was achieved by Councilwoman Kristen Palmer’s allocation from French Market Corporation dollars. Palmer told the crowd that the “sound” ordinance was not on the day’s agenda while demanding “a respectful conversation” before inviting in a long, meandering parade of public comment from a colorful cast of individuals representing everything from an Uptown black-magic group to an absurd array of acronyms for Vieux Carre-based interest groups (such as the VCPORA).

Music club owner Jimmy Anselmo speaks on entertainment venue permitting issues.

One common focus of the public speakers is the French Quarter, as an eight-block entertainment corridor centered on Bourbon Street was the target of a last-minute push of the Vieux Carre Property Owners and Residents Association (VCPORA)—a deal that appeared so greasy it insulted (and infuriated) even New Orleans’ collective political intelligence. Highlights from public comments include the real health concerns that working musicians face in these over-amped Bourbon Street clubs by jazzman Tim Laughlin, to an intellectual-while-passionate discourse from trumpeter Mario Abney, who questioned if in all the ordinance’s talk about “science” why don’t they look into quantum physics-proven laws of music heard by a community and its positive benefits to its consciousness.

Council member Head thanked Abney for his passion and later gave the most-pointed statement in the very long, mostly acrimony-free, affair, when she answered a speaker’s rhetorical questions about why this ordinance was pursued in the first place.  Council member Head contended that “a group of business owners are fighting any regulation and using musicians as shills.”

Renowned jazz musician Tim Laughlin calls out health, safety issues on Bourbon St. more important than noise issue.

While any reforms to the city’s current “sound” laws will be the subject of an undesignated duty in the Health Department’s quality-of-life study, “Deacon” John Moore served as dapper, eloquent statesman for the whole affair. Speaking in his role as president of New Orleans Musicians Union, Moore thanked the council for having the wisdom to delay the ordinance’s implementation before telling a rapt audience of council members and culture-bearers alike that, “Only with cooler heads and informed sources will we prevail.”

Councilmember Head says she will defer to the desire to receive more public input and says she hopes that this work will soon result in draft legislation so that the debate about appropriate decibel levels (on Bourbon Street) can begin.

NOTE: Follow www.maccno.com for regular updates and facts about the ongoing New Orleans Noise Ordinance status and process. Once the New Orleans City Council announces next steps in the new Noise Ordinance composition process, they will be announced, as will any further hearings at City Hall.

Need to catch up on the New Orleans Noise Ordinance issue? Search OffBeat.com for more.

WATCH full video from Monday’s City Council hearing with the Housing & Human Needs special committee on the New Orleans Noise Ordinance here.