Saloonfest 2 Decision Postponed By Common Council

BROOKFIELD, WI—The City of Brookfield Common Council delayed a decision on a temporary use permit request by Dave Dayler, owner of The Saloon on Calhoun, to hold Saloonfest 2, a 10-day live music event, this summer.

The council sent the request to the plan commission for further review. The plan review board last reviewed the request on April 22 and put it on Tuesday's Common Council agenda.

Alderman Gary Mahkorn said the request will go to the plan commission for "additional vetting." A final decision will be made at the May 18 Common Council meeting.

Alderman Bill Carnell said there needs to be greater clarification of the proposal. "It's been given to us in a broad brush," he said. "I'd like the details of this event painted in so we know more about security, parking, who could cancel the event."

The event was slated for June 24 through July 3 at The Saloon on Calhoun, 17000 W. Capitol Drive. Live music will be performed both inside the venue and on an outdoor stage, according to city documents. (The first Saloonfest took place in 2020 inside the saloon and didn't require a permit.)

• Anticipated attendance is 200 to 800 each day.
• Parking is available in the saloon's lot and the adjoining property.
• The owner has an agreement with that property owner for overflow parking.
• Restrooms will be available in the main building, with three portable restrooms in the parking lot.
• A temporary fence will be placed around the stage area and the hill. Access to the area will come from the building only.
• The stage faces the hill to the southwest of the saloon and will be used as a seating area for customers.

Two Brookfield residents spoke against the permit request at Tuesday's Common Council meeting.

A resident, who identified herself as Mary, said she heard about the proposal from Patch. She said noise from the saloon has affected her neighborhood, especially during the evening.

"On Saturday nights, I could actually feel the bass in my bedroom while I was trying to fall asleep," she said. "So I have a lot of concerns about the noise level. I have concerns about cars possibly even being parked on the street because people will park where they will, whether they're directed to or not. I'm concerned about litter. ... And most importantly, I'm concerned about safety."

She said she felt "disrespected" that no effort was made to communicate to residents about the event, other than finding "the article that appeared in the Patch yesterday that this event was going to take place."

Another resident had concerns about increased traffic on the busy street.

Josh Foster spoke on behalf of The Saloon on Calhoun, wearing a hat and shirt with its logo. "We presented a well-thought out plan to the City of Brookfield," he said.

Everyone will be kept safe, and there will be "sound reinforcement aimed toward the intersection of Calhoun and Capitol so it won't be impacting the neighborhood behind the restaurant and bar," he said. Added revenue for the business will help make up "a dismal fiscal quarter from last year," he added.

"There's a lot of people that are supportive of it, understand what we're trying to do, which isn't to disrupt the community but actually as the world's coming back to life get everyone to come together and have a good time," Foster said.

Patch reached out to Dayler, who released the following statement:

"We run live music 4-days-a-week, and in 10 years never received a citation for noise violation, or been informed of any formal complaint. We respect and love our neighbors, and consider their best interests in our planning. We are surrounded by commercial properties and high berms. This is a big help to noise reduction.

"When approved, we completely intend to invite all the surrounding neighbors. There was never a question about that. What happened this week is the city inadvertently put on the agenda Saloonfest, rather than our permit request for outside patio dining during the summer. Because of that error, it was put out in your paper, and a few (2) neighbors showed up to complain about something that had already been approved by the common council.

"Now, we are limbo, don't have any answers from the city, and are liable for over 40k in contracts already signed for equipment and musicians. It's not a good place for a small business to find themselves. Especially in the city that they have been supporting for the last decade."

Alderman Mike Hallquist disputed Dayler's characterization that the event had already been approved. The event requires approval from both the plan review board and the Common Council, not just the board. He added that, because the scope of the proposed event is different from last year's event, it requires a new permit.