Title
Approving the application of Irish Fair of MN for a sound level variance in order to present amplified sound for a Twin Cities Irish Fest event on August 7, 8, and 9, 2026, at 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd - Harriet Island 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, Irish Fair of MN ("Applicant"), represented by Sarah VanSickle, Event Manager, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance for a sound level limit of 90 dBA at fifty (50) feet from the sound source to present amplified sound at 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd - Harriet Island Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, August 7, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturday, August 8, and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Sunday, August 9, 2026, with a pre-event sound check at 8:00 am on event days, for the Twin Cities Irish Fest event; and
WHEREAS, if the Applicant is not granted a variance, then the Applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd - Harriet Island 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 Irish Fair of MN, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the hours of 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, August 7, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturday, August 8, and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sunday, August 9, 2026, with a pre-event sound check for up to no more than two specific-hour periods between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm on event days, for the Twin Cities Irish Fest event.
2) Celtic Junction/Guinness Stage (Tent): All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices used in conjunction with the event must not exceed 90 dBA at 50 feet from the sound source. Amplified sound on the Celtic Junction Stage must end at 11:00 pm on Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, and 8:00 pm on Sunday, August 9, 2026, in accordance with Parks Department end-time Policy.
3) All other stages: All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices used in conjunction with the event must not exceed 90 dBA at 50 feet from the sound source. Amplified sound on stages other than the Celtic Junction Stage must end at 10:00 pm on Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, and 8:00 pm on Sunday, August 9, 2026, in accordance with Parks Department end-time policy.
4) 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.
5) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers, or similar devices located on the event grounds must be turned off no later than the above identified times at the specific locations on the event dates.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on August 7, 8, and 9, 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
Irish Fair of MN, represented by Sarah VanSickle, Event Manager, has requested a variance from the sound level limitations in section 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, August 7, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturday, August 8, and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sunday, August 9, 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