HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2619-22 Allows for the Legal Use of Fireworks to Celebrate Diwali SPONSOR(S): Councilors Rider, Worrell, Aasen,
Campbell, Finkam and Nelson
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon Oberlander, Interim Corporation Counsel, on 3/11/22 at 10:30 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal
sufficiency or otherwise.
ORDINANCE NO. D-2619-22
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA,
AMENDING CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE 5, DIVISION VIII, SECTION 6-158(d) OF THE CARMEL
CITY CODE.
Synopsis: Ordinance allows the use of legal consumer fireworks to celebrate the festival of
Diwali.
WHEREAS, Diwali, the “Festival of Lights,” symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and is one of
the most celebrated festivals of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains; and
WHEREAS, more than one billion celebrants worldwide reverently observe the Holy Day of Diwali
to mark the beginning of the Hindu New Year; and
WHEREAS, the US Congress and House of Representatives officially passed unanimous resolutions
since 2007 recognizing the religious and historical significance of Diwali; and
WHEREAS, Diwali is a time for dana (charitable giving) and seva (selfless service) by bringing
light in the form of wisdom, knowledge, nourishment, and shelter in order to alleviate the tangible forms of
suffering, such as hunger, disease, and poverty; and
WHEREAS, the holiday of Diwali signifies a special time of peace and serenity, with the hope of
building bridges of understanding and tearing down barriers of intolerance; and
WHEREAS, many celebrants of Diwali use fireworks to symbolize the victory of light over
darkness; and
WHEREAS, the City of Carmel (the “City”) has the power and authority, pursuant to Indiana Code
36-8-2-8 and its general police powers, to regulate the generation of sound within its corporate boundaries;
and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, now finds that it is in the public
interest to amend the City’s current noise regulations in order to allow the use of legal consumer fireworks to
celebrate the festival of Diwali.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Carmel,
Indiana, as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing Recitals are fully incorporated herein by this reference.
Ordinance D-2619-22
Page One of Three Pages
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7B5C54CA-599D-47DC-9BF0-E6BBA7B1AFCE
SPONSOR(S): Councilors Rider, Worrell, Aasen,
Campbell, Finkam and Nelson
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon Oberlander, Interim Corporation Counsel, on 3/11/22 at 10:30 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal
sufficiency or otherwise.
Section 2. Carmel City Code Section 6-158(d) is hereby amended and shall read as follows:
“(d) The following are exempted from the provisions of this section:
(1) Sounds emitted from authorized emergency vehicles.
(2) Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, weed trimmers, garden tractors, and power tools, when
properly muffled, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. only.
(3) Burglar alarms and other warning devices when properly installed, providing the cause
for such alarm or warning device sound is investigated and turned off within a reasonable
period of time.
(4) Events authorized by the Board of Public Works in writing, including but not limited
to, parades, festivals, carnivals, fairs, concert performances, band and drum corps
performances, artistic performances, as well as any rehearsals for the same.
(5) Attendant noise connected with the actual performance of athletic or sporting events
and practices related thereto.
(6) The emission of sound for the purposes of alerting persons to the existence of an
emergency, or for the performance of emergency construction, repair or other work.
(7) Sounds associated with the use of legal consumer fireworks during the following days and
times:
a. Between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and two hours after sunset on June 29, June 30, July
1, July 2, July 3, July 5, July 6, July 7, July 8 and July 9;
b. Between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on July 4;
c. Between the hours of 10:00 a.m. on December 31 and 1:00 a.m. on January 1.
d. Between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on the day of Diwali.
(8) Sounds associated with the use of the Carmel Police Department Firing Range.
(9) Except as provided by subsection (b) and (c), sounds associated with the normal
conduct of legally established non-transient businesses, organizations and governmental
entities, when such sounds are customary, incidental and within the normal range appropriate
for such use.
Ordinance D-2619-22
Page Two of Three Pages
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7B5C54CA-599D-47DC-9BF0-E6BBA7B1AFCE
SPONSOR(S): Councilors Rider, Worrell, Aasen,
Campbell, Finkam and Nelson
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon Oberlander, Interim Corporation Counsel, on 3/11/22 at 10:30 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal
sufficiency or otherwise.
(10) Rubbish collection utilizing any mechanical equipment between the hours of 6:00 a.m.
and 9:00 p.m. only.
(11) Subject to the other provisions of this section, and any other applicable law, rule or
regulation, those sounds associated with motor vehicles lawfully operating on City streets. This
does not include music or other sounds associated with a vehicle’s sound system, including
portable devices capable of emanating sounds that may be located within the vehicle. Nothing is
this section shall interfere with the restrictions on the use of compression release engine brakes
and similar devices, as set forth under Carmel City Code
(12) Sounds associated with equipment or animals lawfully utilized by handicapped
persons to accommodate their handicap.
(13) Sounds associated with the operation of aircraft or snow removal equipment.
(14) Sounds associated with church and temple bells and chimes, and with mosque
minarets.
(15) Sounds associated with building construction between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00
p.m. only, as well as, and to the extent that, such construction is necessitated at other times due
to a bona fide "emergency", as that term is defined in I.C., 36-1-2-4.5, as the same may be
amended from time to time. Music is not considered a valid construction noise.
(16) Sounds associated with public speaking, public assembly, or other activities conducted
on any public space or public right-of-way pursuant to constitutional or other lawful authority
and assembly between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Section 3. The remaining provisions of Carmel City Code Sections 6-158 are not affected by this
Ordinance and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. All prior ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Ordinance
are hereby repealed, to the extent of such inconsistency only, as of the effective date of this Ordinance, such
repeal to have prospective effect only. However, the repeal or amendment by this Ordinance of any other
ordinance does not affect any rights or liabilities accrued, penalties incurred or proceedings begun prior to
the effective date of this Ordinance. Those rights, liabilities and proceedings are continued and penalties
shall be imposed and enforced under such repealed or amended ordinance as if this Ordinance had not been
adopted.
Section 5. If any portion of this Ordinance is for any reason declared to be invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance
so long as enforcement of same can be given the same effect.
Ordinance D-2619-22
Page Three of Four Pages
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7B5C54CA-599D-47DC-9BF0-E6BBA7B1AFCE
SPONSOR(S): Councilors Rider, Worrell, Aasen,
Campbell, Finkam and Nelson
This Ordinance was prepared by Jon Oberlander, Interim Corporation Counsel, on 3/11/22 at 10:30 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Oberlander for legal
sufficiency or otherwise.
Section 6. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage
and signing by the Mayor and such publication as required by law.
PASSED by the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this ____ day of ________, 2022,
by a vote of _____ ayes and _____ nays.
COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL
___________________________________
Kevin D. Rider, President Jeff Worrell, Vice-President
___________________________________ ____________________________________
Sue Finkam Laura Campbell
___________________________________ ____________________________________
H. Bruce Kimball Anthony Green
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Adam Aasen Tim Hannon
___________________________________
Miles Nelson
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Sue Wolfgang, Clerk
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana this ____ day of
_________________________ 2022, at _______ __.M.
____________________________________
Sue Wolfgang, Clerk
Approved by me, Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this _____ day of
________________________ 2022, at _______ __.M.
____________________________________
James Brainard, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Sue Wolfgang, Clerk
Ordinance D-2619-22
Page Four of Four Pages
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7B5C54CA-599D-47DC-9BF0-E6BBA7B1AFCE
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