Employees and patrons spoke out in defense of Island Brewing Co. during the Carpinteria City Council meeting on Monday after the brewery received 21 complaints last year, mostly from the same household.

The owners of Island Brewing said they feel frightened and threatened after their business received the noise complaints during the last half of 2023, according to city staff.

Council members on Monday received a presentation from staff about the current licensing regulations for live music. They then unanimously approved allowances for permanent outdoor live music and removed the rule that a business would have its license revoked after three citations. For now, the council also opted to remove volume and distance limits because they are too difficult to accurately monitor.

When Paul Wright, owner of Island Brewing, spoke in front of the council on Monday, he didn’t talk about the burden that the licensing regulations place on his business. Instead, he spoke about how the regulations affect local musicians. 

“These are people who play because they love the music,” Wright said. “Often, music that hit them especially hard in high school and college days, and that’s what they’re trying to emulate. It takes a lot of time for each of the bands to work up their repertoire.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Carpinteria allowed live music indoors only, aside from special events. In 2020, the City Council temporarily approved licensed live entertainment to be outside. That exception was set to expire June 30.

When local businesses were allowed to have outdoor live music, they began to receive noise complaints from neighbors. While dozens of people spoke during public comment to defend the brewery and ask for permanent outdoor live music, a few asked that businesses have only indoor music and complained about the noise.

Carpinteria Mayor Al Clark asked Wright specifically what he doesn’t like about the current licensing program. Wright explained that the rule that music can’t be heard from 300 feet away was confusing and hard to track. Wright added that he would like to be able to have live music later into the night.

Wright said he’s willing to work with the city to develop new common-sense conditions for the licensing program.

In July 2023, city officials and local law enforcement began receiving several complaints about loud music during the weekends at Island Brewing. It was then discovered by city staff that the company and other local businesses hosting live music didn’t have a license to host live music, according to a report from city staff.

Since December, lsland Brewing, Corktree Cellars, the BrewLAB and Apiary Beverage Co. have obtained valid licenses for live entertainment. Neither Corktree Cellars, the BrewLAB nor the Apiary has received complaints about live music since obtaining a license. The same can’t be said for Island Brewing, which continued to receive complaints until January.

Island Brewing has live music two or three times a week, sometimes on Friday and Saturday evenings or Sunday afternoons. After receiving so many complaints, Wright tried to amend the situation.

Island Brewing has had more selective screening for live acts, relocated live music inside, ended performances earlier in the evening and tried to ensure that music stayed below a certain volume.

Stephen and Eileen Marcussen, who have been part-time Carpinteria residents for 19 years, said the loud noise has interfered with important work inside their home and affected their mental health.

Eileen Marcussen asked the council not to amend or change the licensing regulations and said that claims that the current conditions are hard to comply with are unbelievable and shocking. 

“We believe that any amendment to the licensing conditions would amount to an ethical collapse that would essentially approve and allow businesses to deprive residents of their fundamental right, their right to quiet enjoyment in their private homes,” she said. 

She went on to add that the loud music coming from the brewing company disrupted important activities that required focus and had hard deadlines. She said that the loud music affected their ability to communicate, rest, relax and play. 

Stephen Marcussen asked that the council not extend permission to allow live outdoor music after June 30 and said that the music is disruptive and hard to contain. 

“Live indoor entertainment is a win-win-win — for businesses, patrons and surrounding users,” he said. “It’s containable and ensures the business operator control and accountability.” 

He went on to say that Island Brewing’s location isn’t good for outdoor live music. He added that the couple have received an outrageous amount of hate from the community and that he has seen people pointing at him on the street. 

Local musician Will Breman said Wright helped him get his first solo gig and helped pave the way for Breman to establish himself as a local musician.

Breman said he is hired by local businesses to improve the customer experience, make people stay longer and purchase more food and drinks, and that he brings in customers who come to see him play. 

“That relationship is a win for everyone involved,” Breman said. “It’s a win for myself and my band. It gives us an income and a place to play. It’s a win for these local businesses. They receive more revenue than they otherwise would, and as a result that’s a win for the city.”

Breman added that he and his band know they have to play music at appropriate levels or they won’t be invited back. 

Mark Matthews, a longtime employee at Island Brewing, walked up to the podium during Monday’s meeting with a stack of five large files that he said held signed petitions and 1,265 letters calling for support of live music and less restrictive regulations. 

“We are a vibrant focal point for the arts. People come to be outside and to listen to music,” Matthews said. “The current trends with the entertainment license is one that constricts live music and the community as a whole.”

Councilman Roy Lee agreed with many public commenters that Island Brewing was being unfairly targeted and argued that the terms of the licensing program needed to be easier to understand for business owners. 

Lee, who was recently elected to the First District seat on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, said the licensing regulations needed to be updated as the city looks into the future and adds new businesses and hotels. 

“People want to have fun, people want to enjoy music,” Lee said. “Music is not noise; music is something that we all appreciate, we all love. Let’s make it simple going forward.”