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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-2023-168 - Noise Exemption - Downtown Special EventsCommunity Services Department www.kitchener.ca REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: May 15, 2023 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: 9, 10 DATE OF REPORT: April 18, 2023 REPORT NO.: CSD-2023-168 SUBJECT: Noise Exemption Downtown Special Events RECOMMENDATION: That an exemption to Chapter 450 (Noise) of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code be CSD-2023-168 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: Special Events staff have begun organizing the events calendar for the 2023 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 2023, the events schedule is 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 2023. The list of downtown events is REPORT: Staff are excited to welcome back a wide range of concerts, events and festivals from well-loved favourites to exciting new offerings. By-law Enforcement and Special Events staff have worked with groups in the past such as the Victoria Park Working Group and nearby residents to discuss their concerns and to put controls *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. in place to manage and mitigate issues that have previously arisen. As a result, we have had nominal complaints. 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/property managers to provide their residents with information regarding these events and to notify them in advance 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 provides Enforcement staff a point of contact in the event 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, 2023 Noise Exemptions 2023 Noise Exemptions Noise 2023 Start2023 End TimeLocation 2023 Events Exemption Yes Gaukel Official Opening Fri, May 26 12-11pmDowntown Yes Live at Lunch - Wed Only Wed, May 31Wed, Aug 30 12-1pmCarl Zehr Square Yes Open Ears Festival Thu, June 1Sun, Jun 4 TBDDowntown Yes Witch + Wellness Market - Pride Fri, Jun 2 2pm-9pmGaukel Block Yes Afrovibes Collab KWFAMOUS Sat, June 3 3p-9pmGaukel Block Yes Cafka Art Biennial Sat, June 3Sat, Jul 22 TBDDowntown Yes Romanian Canadian Day Sun, Jun 4 12-8pmCZ Square/Rotunda Yes Coven Vegan Event Sun, Jun 4 12-9pmGaukel St Yes Prayer in the Park Sun, Jun 4 11-4pmVP Clocktower Yes Roller Disco Series - Thur Only Thu, June 8Thu, Sep 7 TBDDowntown Yes Tri Pride Event Sat, Jun 10 5-9pmVP Clocktower/Gaukel St King StrEATery Food Truck/Our World Sun, Jun 11 12-8pmMarket Yes Music Festival Yes Salsa on the Square - Wed only Wed, Jun 14Wed, Sep 27 7-9pmCarl Zehr Square Yes TacoFest Fri, Jun 16 3-11pmMusuem and King St Yes Neighbours Night Concert Sat, Jun 17 4-11pmGaukel Yes Neighbours Day Sat, Jun 17 9am-11pmNeighbourhoods Pow Wow Event11am-6pmDowntownYes Sat, Jun 24 Yes K-W Multicultural Festival Sat, Jun 24Sun, Jun 25 12-9pmVictoria Park Yes Sunset Sessions Fri, Jun 30Fri, Sep 29 7-10pmVogelsang Green Canada Day Celebration Sat, Jul 1 4-11pmCity Hall/Gaukel St/Market Yes Yes Music & Market - Wed only Wed, Jul 5Wed, Aug 30 12-9pmMarket Yes A Splash of Summer Thu, Jul 6Thu, Jul 27 3-8pmCarl Zehr Square Victoria Park and Cruising On King Street Fri, Jul 7 11am - 11pm Yes downtown Yes Summer Pooch Party - DFKW Sat, Jul 8 12-11pmGaukel Yes Ribfest Fri, Jul 14Sun, Jul 16 12-11pmVictoria Park Yes Teen Jam/Wayback Festival Sat, Jul 22 12-11pmVictoria Park/Downtown Yes Palestinian Event Sat, Jul 29 12-8pmCarl Zehr Square Yes Grand River Flamenco Fest Sat, Jul 29 12-8pmMarket Yes Kitchener Blues Festival Thu, Aug 10Sun, Aug 13 11-11pmVictoria Park/Downtown Yes Witch and Wellness Harvest Fest Fri, Aug 18 12-11pmGaukel Yes Middle Eastern Festival Sat, Aug 19 12-9pmCarl Zehr Square Yes KidSpark Sun, Aug 20 11am-5pmVictoria Park Yes Art Hop Fri, Sep 1Sat, Sep 2 9am-9pmGaukel Yes Mela Festival Sat, Sep 9 12-8pmCarl Zehr Square Yes NonViolence Festival Sat, Sep 9 12-5pmVP Clocktower Yes Coven vegan event Sun, Sep 10 12-9pmGaukel Yes March of 1000 Umbrellas Thu, Sep 14 10-4pmCarl Zehr Square Yes Take Back the Night Thu, Sep 14 4-8pmDowntown Yes Belmont Village Bestival Fri, Sep 15Sat, Sep 16 11-11pmBelmont Village Yes Fall Fair Sat, Sep 16 2-10pmMarket Yes Terry Fox Run Sun, Sep 17 11-6pmVP Clocktower Yes Impact Theatre Festival Sat, Sep 23Sun, Oct 1 TBDDowntown Yes Oktoberfest Sat, Sep 30 12-11pmMarket Yes Oktoberfest Grillfest Fri, Oct 6 11-3pmCity Hall/CZ Square Yes Oktoberfest Opening Weekend Fri, Oct 6Sun, Oct 8 9am-11pmDowntown Yes The Beasting Fri, Oct 13 TBDGaukel Yes Enchanted Forest Fri, Oct 25Sun, Oct 29 6-9pmTBD Yes Witch + Wellness Spells & Stardust Fri, Oct 27 12-10pmGaukel Yes Howloween Pooch Party - DFKW Sun, Oct 29 12-10pmGaukel Yes Halloween Movie Night Tue, Oct 31 6-9pmMarket Yes Nightmare before Christmas Sat, Nov 11Sun, Nov 26 12-9pmGaukel Yes Pawliday Festival Sat, Dec 2Sun, Dec 3 12-8pmGaukel Christkindl Market Thu, Dec 7Sun, Dec 10 9am-9pmCity Hall/Carl Zehr Square Yes Yes Christmas Fantasy - Opening Sat, Dec 9 3-9pmVictoria Park Island Yes Gaukel Christmas Market Sat, Dec 10Sun, Dec 11 12-9pmGaukel Yes Menorah Event Thu, Dec 14 3-10pmCarl Zehr Square Yes Winter Artisan Market Sat, Dec 16 7-7pmMarket Yes Coven Vegan Event Sun, Dec 17 12-8pmGaukel New Year's Eve Sun, Dec 31 3pm - 12amCity Hall/Carl Zehr Square Yes *DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*