Kitchener mayor says Ever After could face $10K fine if they disregard council decision

If the Ever After music festival is still going past the Sunday night at 9:00pm, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic says organizers could pay a hefty price.

Vrbanovic was on The Mike Farwell Show Monday, responding to comments made last week to 570 NEWS by organizer Gabriel Mattacchione.

The organizer says he will run the show as previously planned, despite city council ordering him to wrap up two hours earlier than the 11:00pm threshold seen in previous years.

Vrbanovic says he was caught off-guard by the comments and challenging the decision could make way for a fine up to $10,000 if they go the summary conviction route.

“That would be a decision made by our by-law staff, in conjunction with our city solicitors,” he said.

Council also approved the allowable noise level from the venue will be 55 decibels (db), a reduction from 65db.

All of this is in response to the skyrocketing number of noise complaints during last June’s event at Bingemans.

The noise level decision doesn’t seem to be a problem with organizers, who have said new technology should make for a quieter festival.

But the decision to cut the festival short is a big sticking point, as Mattacchione says it’ll rob the thousands of concert goers of the best possible experience for the show largely dependent on visual displays.

Vrbanovic says he hopes organizers follow the by-law or it’ll be difficult for future councils to deal with the noise exemption issue.

He adds it’ll be hard for enforcement staff that’ll have to deal with the issue if faced with it too.

Vrbanovic also points out the Friday and Saturday portions of the festival will still end at 11:00pm.

When it comes to Mattacchione’s comments on electronic dance music being singled out, Vrbanovic says the reality is EDM music will generate more complaints just based on the deep base sound it generates.

Vrbanovic says they aren’t singling out the genre whatsoever.

“As a city, we want to events and festivals that offer a wide variety of musical genres that appeal to diverse audiences, young and old…country, EDM, rock and roll, it’s part of what makes a vibrant community,” he said.

“But at the same time, as a city, we need to strike that balance between what comes with that vibrancy — including economic and social benefits — while also making sure we balance it with the impact on residents quality of life.”

Vrbanovic says he hopes the Ever After officials look at 2018 as a re-building year after skyrocketing noise complaints, a point he says he noted at a council meeting.

By doing so, the Mayor says he hopes to see an improvement and they can look at further tweaks to make future editions of the festival better for everyone.

He says based on the comments, he will be getting in touch with Mattacchione and will issue a reminder of the EDM festival’s obligations to the city.

“I’m hopeful that this stance they took on Friday isn’t just being used as a way to generate some free attention for the festival and getting some earned media that also promotes the festival and ticket sales.”

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