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Approving the application of Laura K LeFebvre, Highland Park Harmonies event, for a sound level variance in order to present live amplified sound on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Highland Park Picnic Shelter, 1227 Montreal Ave.
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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, §293.10 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, Laura K. LeFebvre, Highland Park Harmonies event, represented by Laura K LeFebvre, Event Coordinator, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance, at a requested sound level limit of 100 dBA at no specified distance, to present amplified sound for the Highland Park Harmonies event on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 10:00 a.m.; and
WHEREAS, applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025 for a Laura LeFebvre, Highland Park Harmonies event; and
WHEREAS, if applicant is not granted a variance applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at the Highland Park Picnic Shelter, 1227 Montreal Ave; 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 Laura K. LeFebvre, Highland Park Harmonies event subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the requested variance hours of 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025 for a Laura LeFebvre, Highland Park Harmonies event ; and
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 85 dBA at 50 feet from all sound sources during the October 4, 2025 event and shall not exceed 80 decibels at 50 feet for up to a specified hour during the pre-event sound check; and
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 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 6:00 p.m. on October 4, 2025, the event date.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the October 4, 2025 date may result in denial of future requests for the grant of a noise variance, in addition to any criminal citation which might issue.
Highland Park Harmonies event, represented by Laura K. LeFebvre, has requested an exemption from the sound limitations in Chapter 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 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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