WATERLOO -- Two City Council members say they'll oppose a request from the Waterloo Bucks baseball team for post-game live music at several home games at Riverfront Stadium, due to long-standing noise complaints from neighbors

Council members Eric Gunderson and Harold Getty they'll oppose the Bucks' request for 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. post-game celebrations near the stadium Party deck at nine Friday and Saturday home games this season.

The matter comes before the City Council Monday night.

Police Chief Tom Jennings recommended the music stop at 11 p.m. and be under 80 decibels, in compliance with provisions of the city noise ordinance.

At Thursday's regular meeting to review the following Monday's agenda items Gunderson and Getty said they will oppose the request.

Gunderson, a retired police officer, said when on the force several years ago, "I ran the meter when we were out at Greyhound Park when the race cars were out there," when the National Cattle Congress looked at turning the closed dog track into a stock car track. "Those race cars with no mufflers didn't break our sound guidelines. Our rules on noise are absolutely ridiculous. It's too high. Way too high."

Gunderson said he knows the Riverfront Stadium neighbors, mainly to the north along Conger Street, have had issues with stadium noise, including late-night postgame fireworks displays when a game extends into extra innings and runs late.

"I agree with Eric 100 percent," Getty said. "Any time the fireworks goes off after 10 p.m. my phone starts ringing." He noted that the neighborhood has many seniors as well as school children with working parents who are in bed by that time.

Leisure Services Director Paul Huting suggested the council could approve a few trial dates for the event - fewer than the Bucks proposed -- to see how they go. He noted the noise tends to decrease on the north side of the flood dike between the stadium and Conger.

Gunderson also questioned the wisdom of serving alcohol at the stadium up to the time the proposed concerts end, and allowing patrons to drive home.

"You can get pretty plastered between 7 p.m. (typical game time) and 11 p.m.," he said.

The Bucks' proposed Summer Music Series would feature local bands.

In other business, council members will be asked to approve a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for nonbargaining employees, including city department heads,

The raises have been included in the approved 2007-08 fiscal year budget, Human Resources Manager Bob Lincoln said in a memo to Mayor Tim Hurley and council members. He also noted the Waterloo Public Library Board of Trustees already has approved such a raise for its nonbargaining staff.

Hurley said he and Lincoln are implementing a merit-based pay plan, including job evaluations, for nonbargaining employees over the next two fiscal years. The mayor said he and Lincoln are looking at a number of models for such a plan.

Also, the council will be asked to approve:

-- An application through the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments for a state Resource Enhancement and Protection grant of up to $200,000 for the development of Mark's Park in conjunction with the Youth Pavilion addition to the Waterloo Center for the Arts along the west bank of the Cedar River.

The project would be paid for with private donations as well as grants. The Rick and Cathy Young family is donating money to create the self-contained park and playground in the plaza area adjacent to the arts center. Mark's Park will be dedicated as a permanent memorial to the Youngs' son, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2003.

--An agreement with the Iowa Department of Economic Development for a $100,000 state Community Economic Betterment Account to help finance Advanced Heat Treat's $2 million expansion at 2839 Burton Ave.

The council meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at City Hall. Council committee meetings, all in the council chambers, are: Building & Grounds, 4:50 p.m.; Public Works, 4:55 p.m.; and Finance, 5 p.m.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com