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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-2022-177 - Noise Exemption - Downtown Special Events Community Services Department www.kitchener.ca REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: May 16, 2022 SUBMITTED BY: Gloria MacNeil, Director of Enforcement, 519-741-2200 ext. 7952 PREPARED BY: Gloria MacNeil, Director of Enforcement, 519-741-2200 ext. 7952 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 9 & 10 DATE OF REPORT: April 26, 2022 REPORT NO.: CSD-2022-177 SUBJECT: NOISE EXEMPTION DOWNTOWN SPECIAL EVENTS RECOMMENDATION: That an exemption to Chapter 450 (Noise) of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code be CSD-2022-177. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: With the return of in-person festivals and events staff have begun organizing the events calendar for the 2022 season taking place in the downtown. Many of the scheduled events will include amplified music and/or elevated noise levels, however, all events are scheduled to end by 11pm. Events are currently scheduled from June thru December 2022, events schedule is attached BACKGROUND: The Special Events office is involved in coordinating a series of special events in and around the downtown area, including the Civic Square and Victoria Park. It is a primary focus of the City to provide events that will create urban vitality and attract more people to the downtown core. Many of the events involve amplified music or other forms of noise. Typically each year, the list of events is presented to Council, to identify those which will require a noise exemption due to the nature of the event. As such, staff have requested permission for various events taking place from June to December 2022. The list of downtown events is REPORT: With the return of major in-person festivals and events, staff are excited to welcome back a wide range of concerts, events and festivals from well-loved favourites to exciting new offerings. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. By-law Enforcement and Special Events staff have worked with groups in the past such as the Victoria Park Working Group and nearby residents over the years to discuss their concerns and to put controls in place to manage and mitigate issues that have previously arisen. As a result, we have had nominal complaints in the last few years prior to the pandemic. Staff recognize there has been a significant increase of residential condos which have been built and/or occupied in the downtown over the past two years and are proactively working to reach out to the building owners to provide their residents with information regarding these events and to notify them of dates, times and type of events that will be taking place within the downtown and Victoria Park. Special Events staff will be present at all events, which allows for a point of contact between them and By-law Enforcement staff in the event that an issue arises that needs to be addressed. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: This report supports the delivery of core services. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: N/A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The Special Events and Communications staff have developed a detailed communications plan to build awareness of these events throughout the Downtown and across the City. In addition, a vast number of volunteers and external stakeholders are involved in the wide array of events. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, General Manager Community Services Department & DCAO Appendix: Schedule A, 2022 Noise Exemptions 2022 Noise Exemptions Noise 2022 Start2022 End TimeLocation 2022 Events Exemption Witch + Wellness Market - Pride Gaukel St Fri, Jun 3 4-9pm Yes edition Downtown Yes DTK Patio Crawl Sat, Jun 4 4-9pm Gaukel St Yes DFKW Summer Dog Party Sat, Jun 4 12-8pm Victoria Park Yes Sat, Jun 4 11-10pm Tri-Pride VP Clocktower Yes Sun, Jun 5 11-4pm Prayer in the Park Gaukel Yes Sat, Jun 11 5-9pm Pre-Summer Gaukel Event King StrEATery Food Truck Market Sun, Jun 12 12-8pm Yes Festival Market Yes Sun, Jun 12 5-11pm Our World Festival of Music Musuem and King St Yes Fri, Jun 17 3-11pm TacoFest VP Clocktower Yes Fri, Jun 17 12-10pm Neighbours Day Concert Downtown 3pm-2am Summer Lights FestivalYes Sat, Jun 18 Neighbourhoods Yes Sat, Jun 18 9am-11pm Neighbours Day Downtown 12-10pm Indigenous Peoples EventYes Tue, Jun 21 Victoria Park Yes Sat, Jun 25Sun, Jun 26 12-9pm K-W Multicultural Festival City Hall Yes Fri, Jul 1 4-11pm Canada Day Celebration Victoria Park and downtown Yes Fri, Jul 8 7am - 11pm Cruising On King Street Victoria Park Yes Fri, Jul 15Sun, Jul 17 12-11pm Ribfest Victoria Park/Downtown Yes Fri, Jul 22Sat, Jul 23 12-11pm Wayback Festival Victoria Park Island Yes Sat, Jul 30 9-5pm Non-Violence Day In the Park Victoria Park/Downtown Yes Kitchener Blues Festival Thu, Aug 4Sun, Aug 7 11-11pm Carl Zehr Square Yes Middle Eastern Festival Sat, Aug 13 12-9pm Victoria Park Yes Sun, Aug 21 11am-5pm KidSpark Gaukel Yes Sat, Sep 10 12-9pm Gaukel Pop Up Market Carl Zehr Square Yes Sat, Sep 17 12-9pm Square Opening Event Belmont Village Yes Fri, Sep 16Sat, Sep 17 11-11pm Belmont Village Bestival VP Clocktower Yes Sun, Sep 18 11-6pm Terry Fox Run City Hall/Carl Zehr Square Yes Fri, Sep 23Tue, Oct 11 11-11pm Oktoberfest Gaukel Yes Sat, Oct 1 3-7pm The Beasting 2022 unveiling City Hall/Carl Zehr Square Yes Fri, Oct 7 11-3pm Oktoberfest Grillfest Events TBD Yes Sat, Oct 15 6-9pm Enchanted Forest Gaukel Witch + Wellness Halloween Market Fri, Oct 28 12-9pm Yes Gaukel Yes Howloween Pooch Party - DFKW Sun, Oct 30 12-9pm Downtown Yes Sat, Nov 26Sun, Nov 27 12-8pm Dog Friendly Market City Hall/Carl Zehr Square Yes Thu, Dec 1Sun, Dec 4 9am-9pm Christkindl Market - Dec 1-4 Victoria Park Island Yes Sat, Dec 3 3-9pm Christmas Fantasy - Opening Gaukel Yes Sat, Dec 10Sun, Dec 11 12-9pm Gaukel Christmas Market City Hall/Carl Zehr Square Yes Sat, Dec 31 6pm - 12am New Year's Eve *DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*