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Approving the application of University of St. Thomas - Campus Life, Erin Whipkey, for a Homecoming Event, Friday, October 3, 2025, for a sound level variance in order to present live amplified sound at 2115 Summit Ave - University of St. Thomas, Lower Quad.
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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, section 293.10 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, the University of St. Thomas - Campus Life, Erin Whipkey, represented by Erin Whipkey, Assistant Director of Campus Life, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance, at a requested sound level limit of 92 dBA at 50 feet from the sound source, to present amplified sound for the Homecoming Event on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. with pre-event sound checks periodically from 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. with pre-event sound checks periodically from 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, for a Homecoming Event; and
WHEREAS, if the applicant is not granted a variance, the applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at the 2115 Summit Ave - University of St. Thomas, Lower Quad; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections has reviewed the application and has made recommendations regarding conditions for the variances. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby grants a variance to the University of St. Thomas - Campus Life, Erin Whipkey, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours of 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. with pre-event sound check for up to one hour between the hours of 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, for the Homecoming Event; and
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 91 dBA at 50 feet from any sound source on October 3, 2025; and
3) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 91 dBA as measured at 50 feet from all sound sources for the event hours of 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and shall not exceed 80 dBA as measured at 50 feet from the sound source during the up to one hour designated pre-event sound check; and.
4) 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 within 30 days thereafter. The applicant shall also conduct a decibel reading during the variance upon request of city staff; and
5) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices shall be turned off no later than 9:30 p.m. on October 3, 2025, the event date.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the October 3, 2025, event date may result in denial of future requests for the grant of a noise variance, in addition to any criminal citation which might issue.
Homecoming Event, represented by Erin Whipkey, has requested a variance from the sound limitations in Chapter 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. with pre-event sound checks periodically from 1:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025. Chapter 293.10 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in Chapter 293.07.
Was proper notice given? YES - See Attachments
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