After contention, La Conner Town Council makes changes to La Conner Live event permit
LA CONNER - After much controversy, the La Conner Town Council voted Tuesday to change the criteria on La Conner Live's special event permit.
In April, the town added an addendum to a special event permit for La Conner Live - a nonprofit that organizes music seasonally in Gilkey Square - after receiving complaints last year about the noise created by the concerts.
The town included a 55-decibel limit, the equivalent of a quiet suburban street or a dishwasher, on the permit.
The council had previously passed a noise limit ordinance in 2022 to keep noise below 55 decibels.
La Conner Live posted on Facebook on April 30 that concerts would not be able to continue if the 55-decibel limit was enforced.
Backlash exploded against the town, but Mayor Marna Hanneman and town staff said the town's addendum was never intended to stop the concerts.
Town Administrator Scott Thomas said when he proposed addendums to the permit to address issues, he was unaware the 55-decibel limit was impractical.
About a dozen residents gave public comment Tuesday to a packed room in support of the La Conner Live music series.
Commenters expressed a love for the music series and the importance of music. They shared their histories with the series, and implored the town to came up with a solution.
"This town doesn't need to be limited in music opportunities, we need to have more," Troy Olason said to audience applause.
Commenter Valerie Pearson said, "We do not want to become the town of silence."
Hanneman and councilmembers said that since the conflict over the music series began they and others have faced personal attacks.
"I believe we can disagree without disrespect," Hanneman told the audience at the start of the Town Council meeting.
The town and La Conner Live brainstormed solutions to address the issue.
Tuesday's resolution approved by the council recognizes this year's Sunday afternoon concert series as a special event, and increases the sound limit listed on the previous permit.
Now, the event has a "targeted sound level" of 85 decibels, with "transient peaks" of no more 100 decibels.
Measurements of the music series' sound will be taken at the adjoining property lines.
Town staff will act to enforce the code, if necessary, and will start a tip line for noise complaints.
Councilmember Mary Lee Chamberlain said the town asks that La Conner Live do what it can to keep the sound from becoming too loud.
On Tuesday, the Town Council also approved an agreement with a contractor for towing services.
The La Conner Town Council typically meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The meetings are at 6 p.m. at Maple Hall and are recorded.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 7:03 AM.