New city regulations aimed at soothing a public backlash against decibels generated by Stampede week music tents have turned up the volume from those impacted by the partying and those opposed to the measures.
At least one city councillor says rules aimed at reducing the volume of music and its duration are excessive and do an end run on elected officials. Ward 1 Coun. Kim Tyers said in a statement the changes were made by city administrators “with zero consultation with city councillors or proper engagement with the impacted festivals.”
Residents and Organizers React
While some of those critical of the musical venues’ impact agree with tougher measures, they have doubts they’ll improve the situation. The decision could damage Calgary’s reputation as a music host and cost jobs in the sector, added Tyers.
Stampede week kicks off July 3. The rules were changed after the city received more than 200 noise complaints from the public, 125 of them originating from the Cowboys tent that operated for the first time at the site, formerly called Millennium Park, in the west end of downtown.
New Decibel Limits
A June 15 letter from the city to festival venue operators states that because of the impact on surrounding residences, event noise must not exceed 65 A-weighted decibels after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. On weeknights, noise levels from concerts must not exceed 50 A-weighted decibels between midnight and 12:30 a.m. to allow for the quiet egress of festival goers. Speakers must be turned off by 12:30 a.m.
Sound levels must be monitored at all times and regulated accordingly to ensure noise is managed appropriately, states the letter, which was signed off by the city’s chief bylaw officer, Ryan Pleckaitis. Violations of the rules could lead to the withholding of permits for future applications, said an administration letter.
Organizer Concerns
In an opinion piece published by Postmedia, Paul Vickers, CEO of Penny Lane Entertainment which owns Cowboys Dance Hall, said his company made the move to the site aware that the city wanted to revitalize the downtown west end and inked a 10-year sponsorship agreement to do so. The new decibel rules, he said, are grossly inconsistent with what customers expect from a live music venue and ignore other outdoor performance venues in different parts of the year.
“For context, the permitted noise levels are comparable to those found in a busy office,” said Vickers, who also said the shorter performance time means eliminating some scheduled acts. The measures, he said, will mean Cowboys will axe more than 200 seasonal jobs, while other operators will likely be forced to do the same, at a time when summer jobs for young people are at a premium.
