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Approving the application of Irish Fair of Minnesota for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound on August 11, 2023, August 12, 2023, and August 13, 2023 at 200 Justus Ohage Boulevard - Harriet Island Regional Park.
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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, §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, Irish Fair of Minnesota, represented by Sarah VanSickle, Events Director, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance, for 100 dBA at 75 feet, to present amplified sound for the Irish Fair of Minnesota at 200 Justus Phage Blvd. - Harriet Island Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on August 11, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on August 12, 2023 and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 13, 2023 for the Irish Fair of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, if applicant is not granted a variance applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at 200 Justus Ohage Blvd - Harriet Island Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections has reviewed the application and has made an update recommendation regarding conditions for the variance. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby grants a variance to the Irish Fair of Minnesota, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours of 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on August 11, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on August 12, 2023, and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 13, 2023 for the Irish Fair of Minnesota.
2) Main Stage Update: All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers or similar devices used in conjunction with the event must not exceed 100 dBA at 75 feet from the sound source. Amplified sound on Main Stage must end at 10:00 p.m., per Parks Department end time Policy.
3) Pub Stage (Tent): All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers or
similar devices used in conjunction with the event must not exceed 92 dBA at 50 feet from
the sound source. Pub Stage amplified sound to end at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, August 11, and
Saturday, August 12 and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, per Parks Department end time Policy.
4) All Other Stages: All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers or
similar devices used in conjunction with the event must not exceed 90 dBA at 50 feet from
the sound source.
5) The applicant shall provide personnel and equipment who shall provide continuous sound level monitoring at each sound source during the hours of the variance.
6) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices located on the event grounds must be turned off no later than the above identified times at the specific locations on the event dates.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the August 11, 2023, August 12, 2023, and August 13, 2023 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
Irish Fair of Minnesota, represented by Events Director, Sarah VanSickle, has requested an exemption from the sound level limitations in Chapter 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on August 11, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on August 12, 2023 and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 13, 2023. 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