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Mayor backs more Irvine Bowl events but says city must limit noise and protect neighbors
Summary
Mayor Alex Runagi said the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee will consider two event requests that would exceed the 2020 decibel limits, discuss management of structures on Festival of Arts grounds, and weigh greater public use while minimizing neighborhood impacts.
Mayor Alex Runagi said he supports increasing public use of the Irvine Bowl but emphasized limits to protect nearby residents.
Runagi described the committee that reviews Irvine Bowl activities as the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee, a four‑member panel created under a long‑term lease between the city and the Festival of Arts. "It includes two council members ... and then two festival of the arts board members," he said, naming himself and Councilmember Kemp as the city representatives.
Runagi told host Tom Johnson that two event applications on the committee’s agenda would exceed the decibel limits set by the city’s 2020 policy and that the committee will hear public comment before deciding. He said the lease gives the Festival of Arts "exclusive use from May 1 to August 31," with the remainder of the calendar subject to committee oversight.
To reduce noise impacts while increasing usage, Runagi said the committee has discussed requiring an approved third‑party sound vendor so groups would not bring their own, potentially louder equipment. "We think there's win‑win solutions where we've increased utilization while still being cognizant of how we mitigate the impacts on neighbors," he said.
Tom Johnson said the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee will meet Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. to review the applications and policy questions; Runagi said he expects to hear public comment before the committee issues any approvals.
