St. Paul council approves Breakaway Music Festival sound-variance with conditions after residents raise noise concerns

The St. Paul City Council approved a sound-level variance for the Breakaway Music Festival to be held June 6–7 at Allianz Field, adopting a compromise version of the variance after weeks of discussion and public testimony and a 5–2 roll-call vote.

The council acted on a revised “version 3” of the variance, which included modest reductions in some peak decibel allowances, earlier end times on portions of the schedule, commitments on speaker orientation toward Allianz Field, and enhanced monitoring and enforcement. Council members voted 5 in favor, 2 opposed; Council Member Johnson and Council President Naker voted no.

The vote followed a public hearing in which Jared Fucci, president of Breakaway Music Festival, described changes the festival has made since its 2024 debut, including relocating the main stage, staged ramp-up of volume, on-site monitoring funded by the promoter and a plan to provide 15-minute sound-level reports. “These are not promises. These are actions,” Fucci said, urging approval so the festival can continue contributing to the city’s economy and cultural profile.

Allianz Field’s director of event operations, Zachary Lutzoweth, said the venue supports Breakaway and that the organizers have worked with city departments, law enforcement and neighborhood groups to reduce impacts. Mark Morrow, co-chair of the Union Park District Council economic development committee, said residents reported rattling windows and transmission of lyrics to neighborhoods as far as Lilydale last year and asked the council to require perimeter monitoring and a quick-response complaint line.

Council members debated whether the approved peak levels were consistent with prior festival approvals and staff recommendations. Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) deputy director Dan Majel told the council that last year the council had approved 97 dB at 50 feet, DSI recommended 100 dB at 100 feet for 2025, and the applicant requested 103 dB at 125 feet. After discussion the council approved an amendment to move the allowable limit closer to DSI’s recommendation in some slots, but ultimately adopted the variance with the version 3 language moved from the table and with the amendment. The roll-call on final adoption recorded: Kim—Aye; Bui—Yes; Johnson—No; Joost—Yes; Provodzsky—Yes; Yang—Aye; Council President Naker—No.

Council members who opposed the measure said they support festivals generally but were not comfortable approving peak levels that closely matched the levels that drew hundreds of complaints last year. Supporters cited changes in speaker orientation, shortened event days, added on-site compliance staff and the economic benefits of the event.

The council required enhanced monitoring, a publicly accessible feedback line and faster enforcement procedures as part of the variance conditions. The resolution directs DSI to report enforcement activity and monitoring results and makes on-site compliance funding and perimeter monitoring explicit in the event documentation.

With the variance approved, Breakaway organizers can proceed under the amended conditions and city staff will monitor compliance and report any violations back to the council as required by the variance language.