Operating hours, buffer zones, mediators and enclosing the patio at Mo’s Pub & Eatery are all suggestions for how to deal with consistent noise complaints in Langley.

Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy called for department supervisors and city council members to suggest solutions to the persistent problem of neighbors’ protests. As part of a fall and winter study on the noise problems and possible solutions, the city is taking time to look at what can and should be done to satisfy residents’ concerns. In all, 49 ideas were submitted to the mayor, who plans to research all of them for feasibility, combine some with similar premises, and vet a few through the city’s legal counsel before involving the public, the homeowners and pub owners in the process.

All five city council members and all of the city department heads gave the mayor suggestions. Some of the more hands-off ones include leaving the matter to residents and business owners to resolve because they see it as a civil issue, not a city concern. Councilwoman Rene Neff, acting as mayor pro tem during Monday’s council meeting — McCarthy was absent — said the city has an interest in keeping a thriving business in town and keeping its residents from moving.

“We want a business to stay, but we also want our neighbors to feel comfortable,” she said.

Jeff Arango, Langley’s director of community planning, has worked on this issue for years. He helped draft rules concerning live music that restricted the number of amplified performances for lounges next to single-family residences to six times per year.

Noise complaints from Second Street residents continue to be filed with the city and the Langley Police Department. One of the lingering issues previously described by neighbors is that of people leaving the bar — ancillary noise of people walking to their cars or home.

Arango, whose last day with the city is Nov. 7 before starting a job in private-sector planning at a Seattle-based firm, offered several zoning solutions for Langley. Changing the zoning of adjacent properties could create a buffer zone around the pub to limit sound concerns, as could enclosing the porch and deck. Some of his more complex ideas include rezoning the adjacent properties to allow commercial and mixed-use development but not bars or taverns, which would allow the residents greater sale capability if they were interested. He also recommended that the city could look into a land-use decision for the pub, which apparently has not been found. Arango also cites that city records show a bar was not allowed at that location for years because of city ordinances.

Councilman Bruce Allen suggested letting the involved parties work out their problems, that the city should stay out of it, and that if musicians are too loud they should not be allowed to perform.

Several council members suggested operating hour limitations. Councilman Thomas Gill recommended an exchange between the city and the pub owners. Mo’s Pub would get more allowed live amplified music performances, but would cut back its operating hours. Closing by midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and by 10 p.m. the rest of the week — Councilwoman Robin Black’s idea — would get patrons out of the area.

Police Chief Dave Marks, who has been responding to noise complaint calls for years, shared his thoughts as well. They included not singling out Mo’s Pub in new ordinances, that the majority of complaints are civil, not criminal, and that, “elected officials should not make promises that the city does not have the authority to deliver on.”

Any public involvement will have to be in writing or in person. Councilwoman Rene Neff said the city is not interested in doing an online forum on the noise issue again, as the last time discourse quickly devolved into name-calling.