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Noise in Sponge Docks Cross Hairs

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 17, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Police Chief Mark LeCouris says "enough is enough" when it comes to noise along the Sponge Docks.

LeCouris is tired of ongoing abuse of public address systems within the riverfront tourist district and won't take it anymore.

Problems with controlling noise along Dodecanese Boulevard, the Sponge Docks' main street, has gone on for years. Some merchants say they must use bullhorns and speakers to woo visitors to their shops and tourist attraction.

Others say competing public addressing systems have become an annoyance.

Several years ago the city passed an ordinance regulating length of time messages can be blared each hour.

Even after being warned and cited, offenders refuse to cooperate with police, LeCouris said.

The police chief said "enforcement of the ordinance permitting use of sound amplifying devices within the Sponge Docks is difficult and impractical and would require an excessive allocation of police resources."

He asked that use of loud speakers, public address systems, and sound amplifying devices at the Sponge Docks be prohibited.

Under the proposed prohibition merchants and restaurateurs could still play music inside their establishments.

This has caused a cry of dissent among merchants who say they depend on use of loud speakers to attract visitors.

City commissioners will vote Nov. 20, on second reading, whether an outdoor commercial sound ban should go into effect.

Scott Conger, owner of the Tarpon Springs Aquarium, said banning show announcements would "adversely affect business." The Aquarium announces its shark shows and other underwater shows over loudspeakers.

There is always the possibility of abuse when it comes to the amplified outdoor advertising, but it is an issue of enforcement.

The Sponge Docks Merchants Association, however, is in favor of the ban.

The trade group has voted in favor of banning "public address systems, yelling or any loud attention getting behavior to hawk wares, services (or) attractions," according to Barbara Brice, the association's secretary.

In a letter to the city she wrote, this step should be taken to "ensure that tourism is encouraged and to preserve the historic and aesthetic nature of the area."

The existing noise law is being ignored, she said.

David Gauchman, the merchants association president, said the noise continued even after city commissioners warned offenders of the upcoming ban at a public meeting.

Eighty Sponge Docks store owners signed a petition in favor of the ban.

George Billiris, who uses a public address system to attract customers to his St. Nicholas sponge diving tour boat, said more is at stake here than just an ordinance.

If people speed on U.S. 19 you don't ban driving on the highway, said Billiris.

The outdoor sound systems are needed to keep Sponge Docks attractions viable and in business, according to Billiris. The owners of businesses that have recently set up shops at the docks are the source of the complaints, he said.

Those who are truly interested in the well-being of the docks should find a solution to the problem, not ask the city to enact penalties. The issue should be talked out and solved without a ban, said Billiris, who is married to Mayor Beverly Billiris.

The mayor did not participate in the first-reading vote or discussion on the Sponge Docks noise ban to avoid having a conflict of interest.

Ted Billiris, George's brother and a co-owner of the sponge boat attraction, said he will not shut down his speakers if others in the city get to use them and will file a lawsuit to protect his rights.

Commissioners noted those in opposition to the ban agreed rules are broken, but no one said they would change the way they do business.

Commissioner Robin Saenger suggested the city look into installing a central public address system, over which music and attraction announcements could be heard.

Several years ago, when Dodecanese Boulevard was being improved, conduits for a speaker system were set underground but no wiring was placed in them to reduce cost.

Now, workers would have to remove concrete around each pole to gain access to the conduits and add the wires, Paul Smith, assistant public services director said.

Staff favors an alternative that would not require digging along Dodecanese Boulevard.

Commissioners agreed they did not want to have to ban amplified announcements at the Sponge Docks but they had no other recourse.

Commissioner Peter Dalacos said elimination of the amplified music will create a period of tranquility during which merchants can suggest revisions to the ban.

Dalacos, Seanger and Commissioner Chris Alahouzis voted to support the prohibition on first reading. Commissioner David Archie was absent during the vote and the mayor abstained.

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