The Urbana City Council voted unanimously Monday night to amend Chapter 16 of the city’s downtown noise ordinance to allow sidewalk cafes to play music through outside speakers.

The amendment comes on the heels of three new sidewalk cafes that have received permits from the city in the past year.

Local businesses attempting to provide outside entertainment are being prodded by technicalities embedded in the present ordinance.

“We need to liven up the downtown,” said Councilwoman Lynne Barnes, Ward 7.

Urbana Public Works Director Bill Gray agreed with Barnes, saying that businesses want to attract people and that his office would deal with complaints.

Councilman Charlie Smyth, Ward 1, said he thought some technical standard should be in place.

“You could set some decibel level,” he said, adding that 75 decibels could be a good benchmark.

Barbara Stiehl, assistant to the public works director, said she attempted to test possible decibel level limits but found it difficult to differentiate between the numerous sounds in the downtown atmosphere.

The amended ordinance will also apply to live bands but several council members pointed out that heavier bands will have to apply for special event status.