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Approving the application of Minnesota Sports and Events for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for the Bold North Breakaway- Rice Park event starting December 26, 2025, through January 5, 2026, at Rice Park - 109 W 4th St.
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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 section 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, John Klinkenberg, Minnesota Sports and Events Executive Consultant/Chief Operating Officer, has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance for a requested sound level limit of 90 dBA measured at 50 feet from the sound source on December 26, 27, and 28, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on December 31, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. A requested sound level limit of 80 dBA at 50 feet is requested from 10:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on December 29 and 30, 2025 and January 1 through January 5, 2026 to present amplified sound at Rice Park-109 W 4th St., with daily pre-event sound checks at 10:00 a.m. on requested sound level variance dates; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 10:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., with pre-event sound checks at 10:00 a.m. from December 26, 2025 through January 5, 2026, except for December 31, 2025, with a variance request for the hours of 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. During these dates, the requested sound level limits for a variance are 90 dBA measured at 50 feet from the sound source on December 26, 27, and 28, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on December 31, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The applicant also has requested sound level limits for a variance of 80 dBA measured at 50 feet from the sound source from 10:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on December 29, 30, 2025 and from January 1 through January 5, 2026, all for the Bold North Breakaway-Rice Park event in Rice Park.
WHEREAS, if the applicant is not granted a variance, the applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at Rice Park - 109 W 4th St.; 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 Minnesota Sports and Events, subject to the following conditions:
1) The variance shall be for the hours of 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with pre-event sound checks at 10:00 a.m. on the requested sound level variance application dates of Friday, December 26, Saturday, December 27, and Sunday, December 28, 2025, and from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and from 10:30 a.m.- until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, Tuesday, December 30, and Thursday, January 1 through Monday, January 5, 2026, for the Bold North Breakaway- Rice Park event in Rice Park; and
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 90 dBA as measured at 50 feet from all sound sources on December 26, December 27, December 28, and December 31, 2025. All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 80 dBA as measured at 50 feet from all sound sources on December 29, December 30, and January 1 through January 5, 2026; 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; and
4) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices must be turned off no later than 8:00 p.m. on all requested sound level variance dates, except for December 31, 2025, when all the above-described equipment must be turned off no later than 9:30 p.m.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above between the dates of December 26, 2025, through January 5, 2026, may result in denial of future requests for the grant of a sound level variance, in addition to any criminal citation that might issue.
Required Background Information
Minnesota Sports and Events, represented by John Klinkenberg, Executive Consultant/Chief Operating Officer, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has requested an exemption from the sound level limitations in Chapter 293 in order to present amplified sound with limitations from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., except for December 31, 2025, with a requested time of 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., with a pre-event sound check daily at 10:00 a.m. on December 26, 2025, through January 5, 2026, for the Bold North Breakaway-Rice Park event in Rice Park. 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