Title
Approving the application of St. George Greek Orthodox Church for the Greek Festival event sound level variance in order to present amplified sound on July 25-26, 2025 at 1111 Summit Ave - St George Greek Orthodox Church grounds.
Body
WHEREAS, Chapter 293 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code was enacted to regulate the subject of noise in the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, §293.09 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in §293.07, upon a finding by the City Council that full compliance with Chapter 293 would constitute an unreasonable hardship on the applicant, other persons or on the community; and
WHEREAS, St George Greek Orthodox Church, represented by Daniel Matuska, Permits Chair, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance, for 95 dBA at no specified distance from the sound source, to present amplified sound for the Greek Festival event at 1111 Summit Ave - St George Greek Orthodox Church grounds; and
WHEREAS, applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday July 25, 025 and from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday July 26, 2025 for the Greek Festival event; and
WHEREAS, if applicant is not granted a variance applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at 1111 Summit Ave - St George Greek Orthodox Church grounds
; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections has reviewed the application and has made recommendations regarding conditions for the variance. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby grants a variance to St George Greek Orthodox Church, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday July 25, 025 and from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday July 26, 2025 for the Greek Festival event.
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 90 dBA as measured at 50 feet from all sound sources.
3) The applicant shall monitor the decibel level from the variance approved distance of each noise source and create a report that records the general operating decibel levels within 15 minutes of the start of each performing act and at intervals no greater than 60 minutes apart thereafter. The report shall be made available for viewing by city staff, upon request during the variance or during the variance or within 30 days thereafter. Applicant shall also conduct a decibel reading during the variance upon request of city staff
4) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers or similar devices shall be turned off no later than 8:00 p.m. July 25-26, 2025, the event dates.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the July 25-26, 2025 dates may result in denial of future requests for the grant of a noise variance, in addition to any criminal citation which might issue.
Required Background Information
St George Greek Orthodox Church, represented by Daniel Matuska, has requested an exemption from the sound level limitations in Chapter 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday July 25, 025 and from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday July 26, 2025. Chapter 293.09 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in Chapter 293.07.
Was proper notice given? YES - See Attachments