Title
Approving the application of Breakaway Festivals LLC for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for the Breakaway Minnesota 2026 event on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 400 Snelling Ave N - Outside of Allianz Field 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, 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, Breakaway Festivals, LLC ("Applicant"), represented by Amy Dunn, Director of Festival Operations, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance for Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, for various escalating sound level limits, as noted in the table below (attached to this Resolution), of 94 dBA at 125 feet to 103 dBA at 125 feet over a span of hours from 3:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and from 2:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, on a Main Stage, and a request for sound level limits of 92 dBA at 100 feet to 100 dBA at 100 feet over a span of hours from 3:00 p.m. until 9:10 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2026 on a Secondary Stage. Pre-event sound checks at no specified distance have been requested on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.; on Friday, June 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; and on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to present amplified sound for the Breakaway Minnesota 2026 event at 400 Snelling Ave N - Outside of Allianz Fields grounds to the north and northeast of Allianz Field; and
Breakaway Minnesota 2026 Requested Sound Level Limits and Distance:
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Main Stage |
|
|
|
Secondary Stage |
|
|
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3:00 - 4:00 pm |
94 dBA |
125 feet |
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3:00 - 4:05 pm |
92 dBA |
100 feet |
|
4:05- 4:55 pm |
96 dBA |
125 feet |
|
4:10 - 5:00 pm |
94 dBA |
100 feet |
|
5:00 - 5:50 pm |
98 dBA |
125 feet |
|
5:05 - 5:55 pm |
96 dBA |
100 feet |
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5:55 - 6:55 pm |
100 dBA |
125 feet |
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6:00 - 7:00 pm |
98 dBA |
100 feet |
|
7:00 - 8:00 pm |
101 dBA |
125 feet |
|
7:05 - 8:05 pm |
99 dBA |
100 feet |
|
8:05 - 9:05 pm |
102 dBA |
125 feet |
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8:10 - 9:10 pm |
100 dBA |
100 feet |
|
9:15 - 10:30 pm |
103 dBA |
125 feet |
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|
|
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WHEREAS, If the Applicant is not granted a variance, then the applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at 400 Snelling Ave N - outside of Allianz Field; 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 Breakaway Festivals LLC, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours from 3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and 2:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2026, with pre-event sound checks on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.; on Friday, June 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.; and on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for the Breakaway Minnesota 2026. Pre-event sound checks shall not exceed 80 dBA as measured at 50 feet from the sound source.
2) The Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) Recommended Sound Level Limits and Distance are listed in the Table Below:
|
Main Stage |
|
|
|
Secondary Stage |
|
|
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3:00 - 4:00 pm |
94 dBA |
125 feet |
|
3:00 - 4:05 pm |
92 dBA |
100 feet |
|
4:05- 4:55 pm |
96 dBA |
125 feet |
|
4:10 - 5:00 pm |
94 dBA |
100 feet |
|
5:00 - 5:50 pm |
98 dBA |
125 feet |
|
5:05 - 5:55 pm |
96 dBA |
100 feet |
|
5:55 - 6:55 pm |
100 dBA |
125 feet |
|
6:00 - 7:00 pm |
98 dBA |
100 feet |
|
7:00 - 8:00 pm |
101 dBA |
125 feet |
|
7:05 - 8:05 pm |
99 dBA |
100 feet |
|
8:05 - 9:05 pm |
102 dBA |
125 feet |
|
8:10 - 9:10 pm |
100 dBA |
100 feet |
|
9:15 - 10:30 pm |
103 dBA |
125 feet |
|
|
|
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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 within 30 days thereafter. Applicant shall conduct a decibel reading during the variance upon request of city staff.
4) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, shall not exceed 94 dBA as measured at 125 feet up to 103 dBA as measured at 125 feet from all sound sources in accordance with the above chart for the Main Stage for the event hours of 3:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. and shall not exceed 92 dBA as measured at 100 feet up to 100 dBA at 100 feet from all sound sources between the event hours of 3:00 p.m. until 9:10 p.m. in accordance with the above chart for the Secondary Stage. Electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 80 dBA as measured at 50 feet during the pre-event sound check between the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27.
5) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices shall be turned off no later than 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, the event dates.
6) The applicant must reimburse the City for up to ten (10) hours of overtime labor cost for a salary-capped DSI Inspector II who will monitor and record DSI-authorized event activities including but not limited to amplified sound levels and alcohol service, consumption, and containment. The applicant will provide the inspector a means of direct communication with on-site event management staff who will immediately address and resolve violations observed by the inspector. The cost of the inspector will not exceed $641.00.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That any violations of the conditions set forth above on June 26 and June 27, 2026 performance dates and the June 25, 26 and 27, 2026 pre-event sound check dates may result in denial of future requests for the granting of a sound level variance, in addition to any criminal citation that might issue.
Required Background Information
Breakaway Festivals LLC, represented by Amy Dunn, Director of Festival Operations, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has requested a variance from the sound level limitations in Chapter 293 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2026, with a pre-event sound check on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on June 26 and June 27. Section 293.10 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in Chapter 293.
Was proper notice given? YES - See Attachments