Title
Approving the application of The United Hmong Family, Inc. for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for a Hmong International Freedom Festival event on June 26, 27, and 28, 2026, at 1151 Wynne Avenue - Como Regional Park.
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, The United Hmong Family, Inc. ("Applicant"), represented by Mee Vang, President, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance for a sound level limit of 120 decibels (dBA) at 50 feet from the sound source to present amplified sound at 1151 Wynne Avenue - Como Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 8:00 am to 9:00 pm on June 26, 27, and 28, 2026, with intermittent pre-event sound checks from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on event days, for the Hmong International Freedom Festival event; and
WHEREAS, If the Applicant is not granted a variance, then the Applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at 1151 Wynne Avenue - Como Regional Park; 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 The United Hmong Family, Inc., subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours of 8:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, June 26, Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, 2026, for the Hmong International Freedom Festival event, with a pre-event sound check for up to no more than two hours total between the hours of 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. on event days.
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 90 dBA at 50 feet from any stage or sound source during the event dates and shall not exceed 80 dBA at 50 feet from any sound source up to no more than two specific-hour periods between the hours of 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. on event days.
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 and within 30 days thereafter. The 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 9:00 pm on June 26, 27, and 28, 2026.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on June 26, 27, and 28, 2026, the event dates, may result in the revocation or modification of this variance, the denial of future applications for a variance, and/or the issue of any criminal citation.
Required Background Information
The United Hmong Family, Inc., represented by Mee Vang, President, has requested a variance from the sound level limitations in section 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm on June 26, 27, and 28, 2026. Section 293.10 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in section 293.07.
Was proper notice given? YES - See Attachments