Title
Approving the application of Podium Sports Marketing for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound on January 30, January 31, and February 1, 2025 at 214 4th Street East - Union Depot.
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, §293.09 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 Great Northern Winter Festival, represented by J. Beckett, Festival Operations Manager, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance, for 70 dBA at no specified distance, to present amplified sound for the Ice Bar at Union Depot at 214 4th Street East - Union Depot; and
WHEREAS, applicant has requested a variance for the hours from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on January 30, and January 31, 2025 and from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday February 1, 2025, with a pre-event sound check one hour before the event on event days for the Ice Bar at Union Depot; and
WHEREAS, if applicant is not granted a variance applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at 214 4th Street East - Union Depot; 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 Great Northern Winter Festival, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on January 30, and January 31, 2025 and from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday February 1, 2025, with a pre-event sound check one hour before the event on event days, for the Ice Bar at Union Depot.
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 70 dBA at 50 feet from all sound sources on January 30, January 31, and February 1, 2025.
3) The applicant shall continuously monitor the decibel level from the variance approved distance of each noise source throughout the duration of the variance and create a report that records the decibel levels at intervals no greater than 10 minutes apart. The report shall be available for viewing by city staff, upon request.
4) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers or similar devices shall be turned off no later than 9:00 p.m. January 30, January 31, and February 1, 2025.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the January 30, January 31, and February 1, 2025 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
The Great Northern Winter Festival, represented by J. Beckett, has requested an exemption from the sound level limitations in Chapter 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on January 30, and January 31, 2025 and from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday February 1, 2025, with a pre-event sound check one hour before the event on event days. Chapter 293.09 provides for the granting of variances from the sound level limitations contained in Chapter 293.07.
Was proper notice given? YES - See Attachments