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Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
St. Paul City Council may lower noise limits for Breakaway Music Festival
The city of St. Paul may yet lower the volume on a two-day electronic dance music celebration scheduled to light up the grounds outside Allianz Field in June. Days after urging the city council to approve a sound-level variance for the Breakaway Music Festival at decibel levels objected to by city staff, a key council member has had a change of heart. 'This is something we had a lot of robust conversation around last week,' explained Council Member Anika Bowie, whose political ward encompasses Allianz Field. Bowie asked the council on Wednesday to redo its 4-2 vote from a week prior and lower the decibel limits to those recommended by the city's Department of Safety and Inspections, for two reasons. First, neighbors living near Allianz Field never received notice there would be an April 16 public hearing about the sound-level variance. Following last week's council vote, 'we unfortunately recognized that the public notices had been drafted, but the all-important part of hitting send did not occur,' said DSI Director Angie Wiese, explaining the snafu to the council. As a result, the public will get a second chance to weigh in before the council during a public hearing to be held May 14. In addition to the new public hearing, Bowie on Wednesday asked the council to amend the sound-level variance resolution, reverting to an earlier version that includes lower decibel limits recommended by DSI. The amended limits will be finalized following the May 14 hearing. Bowie said she had received strong feedback from the executive director of the Union Park District Council and other concerned critics who 'shared disappointments around the process. We want to make sure we can rectify this.' The amended decibel limits and new hearing date were approved together on Wednesday, 6-0, without further discussion. Council Vice President HwaJeong Kim was absent. Organizers have said their inaugural St. Paul celebration last summer drew 24,000 fans and $2 million in ticket sales, generating as much as $6 million in spending for the region. Critics as far as Mendota Heights complained of window-rattling noise likely well above approved limits, leading organizers this year to promise sound-shielding improvements, including hourly testing of noise levels and better speakers aimed at the sports stadium instead of Cub Foods. The festival returns to the grounds outside Allianz Field on June 6 and June 7, but organizers have said they may pull out if they don't get a higher sound limit than the decibel levels recommended by DSI. The Breakaway Music Festival was approved last week for a sound-level variance 103 decibels at 125 feet from the main stage, as well as a limit of 101 decibels at 100 feet from a secondary stage. Both limits are above the noise levels associated with a typical outdoor concert, or even a construction site, DSI staff said. City staff have recommended a sound limit of 100 decibels at 100 feet from the main stage, and 99 decibels at 75 feet from the secondary stage. Housing, downtown get top billing in Carter's State of the City address St. Paul: Music festival gets higher sound level limit for Allianz Field St. Thomas wins fight on Goodrich Avenue loading drive near Binz Refectory Maria Toso: Downtown's in bad shape. But we can make it really good Letters: We need St. Paul councilors with business sense
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
St. Paul: Music festival gets higher sound level limit for Allianz Field
When the Breakaway Music Festival rolled into the lots just outside Allianz Field last year, window-rattling dance music and F-bombs from the mic followed, with noise carrying for miles away. Organizers called the event a commercial success, but ensuing noise complaints flooded St. Paul Police lines, as well as the phone lines of the city council. Music festival organizers promised the touring electronic dance music series would return to Allianz Field this year with sound-shielding improvements. On Wednesday, following an hour-long city council discussion, their sound level variance requests for June 6 and June 7 won the support of the majority of the council with a 4-2 vote, over the objections of city staff. Rather than turn down the volume, the council voted to allow the Breakaway Music Festival an even higher decibel limit than they were approved for a year ago. To mitigate the noise, the music festival plans to reorient its speakers away from Cub Foods and toward Allianz Field, and use a different speaker system, as well as an online feedback portal so organizers can assess complaints in real-time and conduct sound testing in any problem areas as the event unfolds. 'We are going to dispatch a team physically to that location,' said festival president Jarrod Fucci, addressing the city council on Wednesday. The city's Department of Safety and Inspections will maintain a staffer at the event, and festival organizers will be required to monitor the decibel levels from an approved distance from each noise source and create a report that records the general operating levels within 15 minutes of the start of each act, as well as at intervals no greater than 60 minutes apart after that. Fucci said the event might be canceled if organizers did not get their requested variances, and that they were looking for different concert venues within the capital city for future years. 'Candidly, honestly, it depends how this goes,' he told the council. 'We want to stay within the city of St. Paul.' 'It is not lost on me that our event was disruptive,' Fucci added, emphasizing that the festival has been working with the Union Park District Council and city officials to consider any neighborhood impacts, including noise. 'Dance music fans are really unique. They have a really high expectation for the execution of these events. … In order for this event to be sustainable, we want to continue to deliver an excellent audio experience.' The council was presented Wednesday with two versions of a potential sound level variance resolution, each with different decibel limits and other conditions, generating some confusion and protracted discussion. Council Member Anika Bowie, who represents the stadium area, attempted to fuse aspects of each version, drawing concerns from three fellow council members who urged her to hold off on a vote for a week. She chose to push forward anyway. Bowie said the festival organizers had been 'really transparent and honest' about past challenges and how they would mitigate those issues going forward. 'I appreciate them promoting our city. … It seemed like the organizer really took into consideration all of our concerns.' Last year, the festival asked to be allowed a sound level variance with a limit of 103 decibels at 125 feet from the main stage, but the council approved only 97 decibels at 50 feet. The festival likely operated at 103 decibels anyway, according to city staff. Festival organizers this year again requested — and were approved for — sound level variances for 103 decibels at 125 feet from the main stage, as well as a limit of 101 decibels at 100 feet from their secondary stage. Both limits are above the noise levels associated with a typical outdoor concert, or even a construction site, DSI staff said. The city's Department of Safety and Inspections had recommended a 30-minute earlier end time — 10:30 p.m. — and that the festival compensate the city up to $640 for 10 hours of staff overtime to have a DSI inspector monitoring sound on-site throughout the event. The council and festival organizers agreed to both conditions. The request for a higher decibel limit, however, was not supported by DSI, and drew probing questions from council members. Last year, 'community members literally had buildings shaking,' said Council Member Cheniqua Johnson, who voted against the sound level variance. 'If the orientation of the stage has changed, but the sound level has not, and we're recommending a higher sound level this year than what we allowed last year, is the hope that the staff presence would gain compliance? … I just want us to make sure we're being consistent with festivals, no matter what the genre.' DSI had recommended a sound limit of 100 decibels at 100 feet from the main stage, and 99 decibels at 75 feet from the secondary stage. The city council appeared poised to approve the second version of the resolution until Bowie realized that it included the lower limits recommended by DSI. She then asked for amendments joining the two versions, incorporating the higher decibel limits, the earlier end time and compensation for the DSI staffer in one resolution. Council Member Nelsie Yang joined Council President Rebecca Noecker and Johnson in urging Bowie to delay a vote for another week, which would give the council more time to consider her suggested amendments. 'It just seems like there's just a lot of back and forth right now, and I would motion for a layover,' Johnson said. Added Yang later, 'This is just an example, for me, of something that could have been done behind the scenes. It sounds like there's room for negotiation and compromise.' Bowie, after receiving reassurance from staff that a 'no' vote would still allow her to introduce the original version of the resolution if need be, pushed forward. 'It just seems like it makes sense to give them a threshold they can work with, and they're not going to be at the max of 103 (decibels) the entire time,' she said. 'I think the proper adjustments have been made.' Bowie, Yang, Saura Jost and Matt Privratsky then voted to support the amended noise variance at the 103 decibel limit, and Noecker and Johnson voted against it. Council Vice President HwaJeong Kim was absent. Fucci told the council performers will include the American DJ John Summit, Dutch DJ Tiesto, Australian DJ Alison Wonderland, and about 20 national and 60 St. Paul-area performers. Some 12,000 visitors arrived each day of the two-day festival last year, for 24,000 in total, bringing with them $2 million in ticket sales and as much as $6 million in economic impact for the area. Privratsky, who lives just north of the site, said, 'I firmly believe having more events and more things going on in the city is better for the community, and also at this site, where we put significant public dollars into building out the Allianz Field district.' Steeple fire at historic St. Paul church likely sparked by lightning Letters: Seasons rule. We need permanent standard time, not DST Bremer Bank CEO to step down after merger with Old National St. Thomas wins fight on Goodrich Avenue loading drive near Binz Refectory Maria Toso: Downtown's in bad shape. But we can make it really good
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Paul now oversees utilities, skyway access at Alliance Bank Center
Downtown St. Paul's largest property owner has abandoned the Alliance Bank Center, leaving basic management — from elevator and skyway access to security patrols — entirely to the city. In a written statement Wednesday, the St. Paul mayor's office and the city's Department of Safety and Inspections announced they are limiting but not closing skyway access through the now-vacant office building, a major skyway link that stretches from Wabasha Street, over Cedar Street and onto Minnesota Street. Interior skyway connections through the Osborn370 building and Treasure Island Center will remain open until 9 p.m. weekdays and be closed on weekends, as will access from the portions of an adjoining parking ramp operated by Interstate Parking. All other exterior connections to the Alliance Bank Center have been closed. Madison Equities, which has lost multiple downtown buildings to foreclosure, has stopped paying the utilities for the Alliance Bank Center, as well as maintenance and security. On March 10, the building's 14 remaining commercial tenants were alerted they had two days to move, though the mayor's office quickly negotiated with Xcel Energy and District Energy to keep electricity on through March 31. Under state statute, even unoccupied high-rise buildings must have functional utilities to maintain both fire suppression and fire alarm systems for the protection of first responders and neighboring properties, according to the mayor's office. Because Madison Equities is no longer the acting landlord, the city is now operating as an intermediary to ensure minimal compliance, while also assuming additional maintenance of escalators and elevators. The St. Paul Police and Fire departments will continue to patrol the Alliance Bank Center. In its written statement, the mayor's office said the decision to limit skyway access was made 'in collaboration with downtown stakeholders and business partners' and will allow the city to 'protect the integrity of the building until a future use has been determined.' Officials with the CapitolRiver Council, a downtown nonprofit, said Wednesday they've been informed the city will condemn the property. For now, Madison Equities still maintains property rights as the legal owner, and the Royal Credit Union still holds the bank note for the structure. Visitors and drivers with contract passes to the Alliance Bank Center ramp still have access from the Cedar Street entrance. The portion of ramp parking owned by Madison Equities is now cordoned off and closed to the public. Pedestrians looking to avoid the building may travel through Treasure Island Center, Securian Center, Town Square, and a short outdoor stretch between Treasure Island Center and the Lawson Building. Cue the FalconCam: Downtown peregrine falcons are starting to lay eggs Downtown St. Paul: Alliance Bank Center now vacant Folk rock trio Mumford and Sons will play St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in October Back-to-office order could be 'shot in the arm' for downtown St. Paul St. Paul downtown: Lunds, Alliance Bank retailers close up shop
