Owners of dogs making excessive noise that "unnecessarily disturbs" their human neighbors soon will face fines of $50 to $250 a day under an ordinance Chicago aldermen approved Wednesday.

Under the measure, which takes effect Nov. 17, the noise would have to occur continually for at least 10 minutes or intermittently for "a significant portion of the night." It also would have to be louder than the average conversation at a distance of 100 feet or more.

Police or animal control officials could make that determination, or three residents from different addresses could sign a complaint.

"It's not designed against the dog lovers," said sponsoring Ald. Richard Mell, 33rd. "It's against people who let their dogs sit out and bark all night or all day."

Here's how the measure defines excessive noise: "repeated or habitual barking, whining, crying, howling (and) whimpering." It's aimed at dogs but applies to any animal.

Diesel trucks limited to 3 minutes of idlingThe drivers of some diesel-powered vehicles that idle for longer than three minutes could get $250 tickets under a rewrite of the city's air pollution law aldermen approved Wednesday.

The ordinance exempts vehicles used for emergency transport, airport maintenance and government inspection, among others. Diesel truck drivers also could keep idling when it's more than 80 degrees outside or when they're unloading, loading or mixing cement.

The ordinance allows the city Environment Department, police and traffic aides to enforce the new three-minute rule.

Also Wednesday:

--The council avoided voting on requiring hotels to inform prospective guests when workers are on strike. The mayor's aides and business leaders had lobbied aldermen against the proposal, and the council voted 23-22 to send the measure back to the Finance Committee.

--The council approved the nomination of former Daley aide Terry Peterson to the Chicago Transit Authority board, where he's expected to serve as the new chairman.

--City officials said Ald. Daniel Solis, 25th, will chair the council's Zoning Committee, which had been led for the last 20 years by recently retired Ald. William J.P. Banks, 36th.

--The council confirmed Daley's appointment of John Rice to replace Banks as alderman of the 36th Ward.

from- http://www.chicagotribune.com/news