Entertainment Commission approves Portola Music Festival permit with added sound‑mitigation conditions

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted April 16 to grant Goldenvoice a conditional one‑time outdoor event permit for Portola Music Festival at Pier 80, slated for Saturday, Sept. 28 (1 p.m.–11 p.m.) and Sunday, Sept. 29. Staff recommended approval after reviewing last year’s complaints and Goldenvoice’s updated mitigation plan.

Goldenvoice told commissioners the two‑day festival expects about 40,000 attendees, all 21 and older, and will feature four stages with pop, indie, electronic and dance acts. Director of festivals Tim Lay said the promoter has added monitoring, outreach and operational changes based on prior feedback: “We are personally reading every single email, listening to all of the feedback and analyzing all of the data to continue improving the experience for our guests and the community,” he said.

Staff summarized last year’s complaint data: 32 complaints from San Francisco and 203 from Alameda, most concentrated on the final set Sunday evening. Goldenvoice’s mitigation package for 2024 includes five stationary decibel monitors (three in San Francisco, two in Alameda), a dedicated roaming monitor for hot spots, a call center/hotline with increased staffing during sound checks and event days, staged end times on Sunday (outdoor amplified sound no later than 10:45 p.m.), and a plan to set site‑specific sound limits after pre‑event testing.

The City of Alameda’s communications director, Sarah Henry, described the impact that noise had on Alameda residents last year: “We heard from some residents that the noise and specifically the vibrations caused headaches, migraines, and nausea, and the windows vibrating and shaking made it difficult for some people to sleep,” she said, and asked the commission to require an earlier end time on Sunday. Goldenvoice said it has lowered dB limits in some locations, adjusted stage orientation and expanded outreach; the company also said a 15‑minute earlier end on Sunday is part of their adjustments this year.

Commissioners debated the balance between neighborhood impacts and the festival’s cultural and economic benefits; multiple commissioners praised Goldenvoice’s outreach and operational changes. After discussion, a motion to approve the permit with the staff‑recommended conditions passed with the attending commissioners voting in the affirmative. The permit is subject to finalization of the draft sound plan and issuance of the Port’s special event license before the final permit is issued.

Next steps: Goldenvoice must finalize the festival’s sound plan and security plan and coordinate with the Port of San Francisco and city inspectors on pre‑event sound testing and monitor placement. The commission noted staff will monitor complaints and mitigation results and may revisit conditions for future permits.