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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from Magnetic Collaborative LLC for “GE Brilliant Machines,” a musical event powered by three GE robots in the North Plaza of Union Square Park on Tuesday, November 12
At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, November 14, 2013, the following resolution passed with a unanimous vote of 39 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, Magnetic Collaborative LLC ("Applicant") has submitted a permit application to hold "GE Brilliant Machines," a musical event powered by three GE robots in the North Plaza of Union Square Park on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, Set-up will commence at 7:00 a.m., sound check will take place no earlier than 9:30 a.m., and breakdown will be completed by 9:00 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, The event will feature three robots playing classic rock music on three actual instruments in two sets per hour, with music lasting no more than 20 minutes per hour of the event, with the robots to be housed in a container that runs 40 feet wide; as well as four charging stations where members of the public can temporarily charge their phones; and
WHEREAS, The event is part of a promotion to highlight power technology developed by GE, although no specific products are being promoted, and Applicant is not distributing materials or samplings of any kind; and
WHEREAS, Signage is limited to two GE logos measuring approximately 5' x 5' each on the container housing the robots; however, the committee did not feel the logo was excessive or inappropriate, and
WHEREAS, There will be no sanitation impact from the event whatsoever; and
WHEREAS, Applicant will restrict the amplified sound by not using a subwoofer, will have four speakers directed inwards towards the event, and has agreed to work with the Union Square Partnership on the day of the event to ensure that noise levels are not excessive; and
WHEREAS, Although Applicant will be filming portions of the event for possible future web promotions, cameras being used are small, handheld cameras which will be filming the robots only, with members of the public in attendance not permitted to be filmed; and in response to concerns from the Committee, Applicant agreed to limit filming to under two hours in total, with those two hours not taking place during either the morning or evening rush; and
WHEREAS, The Union Square Partnership has been presented with the plans for the event and has raised no objection; and
WHEREAS, The event is free of charge and open to the public, with no obstruction to walkways through the North Plaza; and
WHEREAS, Applicant adjusted their application in response to several concerns of the Committee, including reducing the size of signage, reducing the duration of the event by several hours, using fewer and smaller speakers, limiting volume levels, providing a contact person for the day of the event, and making a donation to the Union Square Partnership; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application from the Magnetic Collaborative LLC for "GE Brilliant Machines," a musical event powered by three GE robots in the North Plaza of Union Square Park on Tuesday, November 12.