Title
Approving the three applications of University of St Thomas (UST) for a UST Welcome Days Pep Rally on 08/27; a UST Football Game on 08/28 and a UST Welcome Days Tommie Get Together Event on 08/29/2025 for three sound level variances in order to present live amplified sound at the University of St Thomas Stadium, 2115 Summit Avenue.
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, University of St Thomas , represented by Travis Hornik, UST Assistant Athletic Director, who has been designated as the responsible person on the application, has applied for a variance, at a requested sound level limit of 92 dBA at 50 feet, to present amplified sound for the UST Welcome Days Pep Rally on 08/27; a UST Football Game on 08/28 and a UST Welcome Days Tommie Get Together Event on 08/29/2025 at the University of St Thomas Stadium, 2115 Summit Avenue; and
WHEREAS, applicant has requested a variance for the hours of 6:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m., with a pre-event sound check at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday August 27, 2025 for a UST Welcome Days Pep Rally; for the requested hours of 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., with a pre-event sound check at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025 for a UST Football Game; and for a UST Welcome Days Tommie Get Together Event on 08/29/2025 for the hours of 10:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 9:45 a.m.; and
WHEREAS, if applicant is not granted a variance applicant will not be able to present amplified sound at the University of St Thomas, University of St Thomas Stadium, 2115 Summit Avenue.; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Safety and Inspections has reviewed the application and has made recommendations regarding conditions for the variances. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby grants three variances to University of St Thomas, subject to the following conditions:
1) The Variance shall be for the requested variance hours of 6:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m., with a pre-event sound check at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday August 27, 2025 for a UST Welcome Days Pep Rally, for the requested hours of 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., with a pre-event sound check at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025 for a UST Football Game; and for a UST Welcome Days Tommie Get Together Event on 08/29/2025 for the hours of 10:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 9:45 a.m.; for the listed University of St Thomas events.
2) All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 90 dBA at 50 feet from all sound sources during the 08/27/2025 event from 6:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m.; and from 10:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, 08/29/2025. All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the event shall not exceed 92 dBA at 50 feet from all sound sources during the 08/28/2025 event from 5:00 p.m. until 9:59 p.m All electronically powered equipment used in conjunction with the events shall not exceed 80 dBA at 50 feet from all sound sources during the pre-event sound checks; 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.
4) All electronically powered equipment, PA systems, loudspeakers or similar devices shall be turned off no later than 8:15 p.m. on August 27, 2025; no later than 9:59 p.m. on August 28, 2025 and no later than 4:00 p.m. on August 29, 2025, the event dates.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any violations of the conditions set forth above on the August 27, August 28 or August 29, 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
University of St Thomas, represented by Travis Hornik, has requested an exemption from the sound level limitations in Chapter 293.07 in order to present amplified sound, with limitations, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m., with a pre-event sound check at 5:30 p.m. on August 27; from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 pm, with a pre-event sound check on August 28, and from 10:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a pre-event sound check at 9:45 a.m. on August 29, 2025. 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