HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-15-077 - Noise Exemption - Frosh Circus - Bingemans Staff Report
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REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: August 31, 2015
SUBMITTED BY: Shayne Turner, Director of By-law Enforcement, 519-741-2200,
ext. 7753
PREPARED BY: Shayne Turner, Director of By-law Enforcement, 519-741-2200,
ext. 7753
WARD(S) INVOLVED: 1
DATE OF REPORT: August 18, 2015
REPORT NO.: CSD-15-077
SUBJECT: NOISE EXEMPTION REQUEST- FROSH CIRCUS - BINGEMANS
RECOMMENDATION:
That an exemption to Chapter 450 (Noise) of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code
be granted to the organizers of the Frosh Circus event to be held at the
Bingemans facility, on Friday September 11 and Saturday September 12, 2015,
between the hours of 3PM and 11 PM. This exemption is subject to the following
conditions, which, if not complied with, will render the noise exemption null and
void:
a) There shall be no offensive language, in the opinion of City staff, generated
from this music festival, audible in any adjacent residential neighbourhood;
b) The event organizers will ensure that there is an on-site contact person
accessible to correspond with City staff at all times during the event;
c) The event organizer will be responsible for the cost of a pay-duty Noise
Officer, to be assigned specifically to this event;
d) The event organizers agree to respond accordingly to requests from City
staff, during the event, in order to address community concerns that may
arise with regard to the impact of noise heard within adjacent residential
areas; and
e) The maximum decibel level (dba) audible at a point measured at 100 meters
in direct line of sight from the music source, shall not exceed 65 dba.
BACKGROUND:
An outdoor pool party, known as Frosh Circus, is being planned for the outdoor pool
area at the Bingemans complex on September 11th and 12th, between the hours of 3PM
and 11 PM. The event will include the playing of recorded music outside. The event on
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Friday September 11 is being provided as an all ages event and Saturday's will be a 19
years of age or older event. As such, they are requesting an exemption from Chapter
450 (Noise) of the City's Municipal Code.
It is significant to note that this same event was held last September, for 1 day, and
resulted in several complaints from the residential area on the opposite side of Victoria
Street North. As such, staff have researched an approach that is aimed to address the
concerns from last year, which is explained further in this report.
REPORT:
The outdoor music will be provided by a series of DJ's playing at alternating times. Due
to the concerns experienced last year, staff have been working with the event
organizers with regard to stage and sound equipment placement to mitigate any impact
on residential areas as much as possible. The stage and speakers are being directed
away from the residential area on the opposite side of Victoria Street.
In addition, staff have been working with the event organizer and an acoustical
engineering company to develop a sound dispersion model to establish a maximum
decibel (dba) level at a predetermined distance from the stage area. This model is
based on the intended sound output at the source, applied to a geometric spreading
calculation. By establishing this maximum level measured at a specific distance, the
model can help predict the impact on the residential area. A maximum level of 65 dba,
measured at a distance of 100 meters from the source should not have a have a
significant impact on the residential area
It should be noted that weather conditions can play a role with regard to sound
dispersion. At this point it is difficult to predict the impact of weather during the event,
however it will be closely monitored during the event.
Staff also advise that this is the first time that such dba levels will be prescribed as a
condition of the noise exemption approval. They will be monitoring the event closely in
order to help establish a basis for future models where appropriate.
Staff and the event organizers will conduct sound testing the day before or the morning
of the event to ensure that the equipment is set to produce the appropriate output to be
able to conform to the prescribed dba level
The By-law Enforcement Division will be assigning a Noise Officer to monitor this event.
The event organizers will ensure that there is an on-site contact available during the
event who will be available to By-law Enforcement staff, if required, to address any
concerns raised.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This request supports the Community Priority Quality of Life, as contained in the City's Strategic
Plan.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
It is anticipated that the cost of a pay-duty Noise Officer, for a period of 14 hours over
the 2 day event, will be approximately $600. This cost will be billed to the event
organizer.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The event organizers will be communicating the event to the community in advance of the
event.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Alain Pinard, Acting Deputy CAO, Community Services
Department
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