Title
Approving the application of Twin Cities in Motion for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for announcements, speakers, and music on Saturday, October 4, 2025, and Sunday, October 5, 2025, during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon at the MN State Capitol Complex, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
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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 ยง 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, Twin Cities in Motion, represented by Sam Rush, Event Operations Manager, has applied for a Sound Level Variance to present amplified sound for announcements, speakers, and music at a requested sound level of up to 85 decibels (dBA) at no specified distance at the MN State Capitol Complex, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, for Saturday, October 4, 2025, and Sunday, October 5, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the applicant is seeking a variance from the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., with a pre-event sound check from 6:30 a.m. until 7:00 a.m., on Saturday, October 4, 2025, and from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., with a pre-event sound check from 7:15 a.m. until 7:30 a.m., on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the State Capitol Complex, for amplified sound for announcements, speakers, and music during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon; and
WHEREAS, if the applicant is not granted a variance, the applicant will not be able to present announcements, speakers, and music at the MN State Capitol Complex; 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 Twin Cities in Motion, subject to the following conditions:
The Variance will be for the Twin Cities in Motion, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, at 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, MN State Capitol Complex for Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2025. The variance will be for the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, and 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, with pre-event sound checks from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, and from 7:15 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, for announcements, speakers, and music.
2) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices used in conjunction with the event must not exceed 85 dBA as measured 50 feet from the sound source at the MN State Capitol Complex.
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 12:00 p.m. on October 4, 2025, and no later than 3:30 p.m. on October 5, 2025, the event dates.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the October 4, 2025, and October 5, 2025, event 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
Twin Cities in Motion, represented by Sam Rush, Event Operations Manager, has requested a variance from the sound level limitations in section 293.07 in order to present amplified sound for announcements, speakers, and music, from 7:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025 and from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., with pre-event sound checks from 6:30 a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2025, and from 7:15 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2025, at the MN State Capitol Complex, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, and other locations as indicated during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Section 293.10 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitation contained in section 293.07.
Was proper notice given? YES - See Attachments