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Consents & Variances
Sikh Cultural Society
WHEREAS, the Sikh Cultural Society wants to organize a street festival on Madison Avenue between 23rd and 26th Streets, on Saturday April 26th 2008; and
WHEREAS, The applicant will apply to the Parks Department for a permit to use Madison Square Park and for this year we will not ask them to return to our Board for a separate approval; and
WHEREAS, The event is organized in conjunction with the Sikh Cultural Society parade; and
WHEREAS, The applicant wants to install a stage occupying ½ of the block between 23rd and 24th Street with amplified sound; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to set up no sooner than 10am, and
WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to hiring a private sanitation contractor to bag and dispose of garbage during the event as well as the end, and the applicant has agreed to extend the radius of its sanitation workers to also dispose of garbage on the side streets, including 23rd Street, and the applicant has agreed to lift garbage bags rather than dragging them to avoid spillage; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to
- limit the use of its amplified sound system to a maximum of 2 ½ hours, (from 3pm to 5.30pm),
- to reduce the sound level compared to the previous years, and
- to explore the possibility to use multiple smaller speakers rather than 2 large ones as a way to lessen the noise impact; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to increase the number of volunteers handling the security of the event and the applicant has agreed to place volunteers to monitor the use of the playground to avoid improper use (prohibiting use of the playground by children older that 12 years old); and
WHEREAS, the applicant uses no vendors for his event; and
WHEREAS, the applicant commits to not blocking access to the dog run in Madison Square Park; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed not to discriminate against any group that wishes to participate to this even;, and
WHEREAS, the applicant has specifically notified Community Board Five of its desire to find an alternate venue for the event; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five recognizes that the event is drawing a larger number of people each year, which taxes the capacity of this location, and encourages the applicant to start looking for an alternate venue, and furthermore Community Board Five urges SAPO, Parks Department and NYPD to help applicant identify an alternate venue; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the Sikh Cultural Society Street Activity permit.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 29 in favor; 2 opposed; 1 abstaining.