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• • • WS – Item 1 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item 1 Date: November 22, 2010 To: City Council From: Mary Divine Re: Motorsports Facility Noise Study Background At the last City Council work session staff was asked to report back on the potential for completing a noise analysis report prior to the motorsports facility developers beginning a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Council received a Preliminary Noise Evaluation and a Noise Control Concepts report from IMEDC's noise consultant in their weekly update on November 5. Staff has consulted with a firm specializing in indoor and outdoor noise and vibration monitoring, modeling, mitigation and design. An environmental and acoustical noise analysis begins by monitoring existing sound levels through the placement of receptors at various locations around the proposed site. The anticipated activity level of the track, including the track itself, sound systems, parking and tailgating activities, and estimated traffic increases to and from the facility would be estimated at "worst case" scenario. The level of accuracy depends on the level of specificity of the base information. At this point, the developers have provided only general information about the location, size and design of the facility and the additional infrastructure that would be required to support it. An EIS would be necessary to begin to reach that level of specificity. A base analysis of a noise study would cost in the range of $20- $30,000. Additional analysis, at additional cost, could provide more information such as: 1. Audioscape planning— simulates the sound that could be heard at different locations and types of events. 2. Low frequency noise analysis— studies the octave bands in a lower range, which is a more difficult frequency to measure. Low frequency noise can seem more like a vibration than noise. This is not currently regulated by Minnesota Noise Standards.