Richard Meaney and Hacienda neighbors speak out about noise

Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club plays host to jamming pool parties and live music events like Splash House, but the sounds are too much for some neighbors at the next door Tahquitz Mesa Villas.

“We just get a thump, thump, thump,” said Judy Deertrack, who lives in the back of the housing complex. “When I’m out the balcony the floor just vibrates.”

“When it got really loud and that bass got really intense, I had pictures go askew on my wall,” said Ann Muller who also lives in Tahquitz Mesa Villas.

Hacienda’s current land use permit with the city of Palm Springs defines when it can play music outside and how loud.

“It’s until 6pm at 60 decibels and reduces thereafter,” said city manager David Ready.

So what’s 60 decibels? According to city documents, 65 decibels is defined as normal conversation. A rock band would be 110 decibels. (See city graphic in video.)

“It’s almost twice what they’re legally permitted to do here so we’ve questioned if the permit was legal in the first place,” Deertrack said, adding that many 911 calls have been placed from community members during loud party events.

Neighbors worry the noise situation could soon get worse.

Last month, Hacienda Cantina filed an application with the California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control to extend the hours it can offer outdoor live music to 10 pm, and recorded music until 2 am.

“2 a.m.? This is an older community, we’re in bed by two and that’s just not right,” Muller said.

The city says its aware of Hacienda’s application with ABC, but says Hacienda hasn’t asked to modify its permit with Palm Springs.

“They certainly can request a change to their land use permit, but I don’t think that would be granted,” Ready said.

Neighbors hope that’s true, but in the meantime, they want the city to do more about the current noise so they can finally get some peace and quiet.

“A lot of people are working and we’re working hard and we need the quiet,” Deertrack said. “We can’t afford to lose sleep.”

For the first time since his name has appeared in KESQ/CBS Local 2 reports, owner Richard Meaney offered a response to the allegations that Hacienda has violated the city’s noise ordinance:

“In 12 months we have had one violation in which we were fined, I believe $250. I don’t believe the fine was justified.”

We operate poolside only 14 hours a week, from 11-6 Friday and Saturday. One of the most vocal detractors before we opened who happens to be the nearest property owner just wrote a letter of support.

We monitor the noise every hour with a decibel reader. The police came two to three times this weekend as they received calls. They took a reading and said thank you and left.”

This isn’t the first time Hacienda Cantina is making headlines. Meaney received a $250,000 incentive grant from Palm Springs in June 2014 which fell under intense scrutiny when seven companies filed lawsuits claiming Meaney never paid them for construction work. The incentive grant stipulates the work must be completed and proof of payment documented with the city before the incentive grant could be disbursed.

Meaney is the private developer who employed Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet until April 2014 as a private consultant. Between 2013 and 2014 Pougnet earned at least $200,000 in that position. An investigation with the Fair Political Practices Commission remains open looking into Pougnet’s relationship with Meaney and recent city business.