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CALL TO ORDER

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:08 P.M.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane called the Roll. 

 

Present at the meeting were Commissioners Jim Meko, Terrance Alan, Audrey Joseph, John Newlin and Justin Roja.

 

Absent at the time of roll call were:  Jordan Shlain and Jim Meko.

 

Staff present was, Jocelyn Kane, Vajra Granelli and Crystal Stewart.

 

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

 

 

Chair Joseph read Commissioner Shlain submitted his resignation letter effected May 8, 2009. 

 

1. Public Comment

 

No public comment.

 

2. Review and Approve the Minutes ofMarch 17, 2009.

 

Commissioner Alan moved to approve the minutes of March 17, 2009 Commissioner Newlin second the motion

VOTE:

AYES - Commissioner Roja, Commissioner Alan, Commissioner Joseph and Commissioner Newlin

NOES- None

Abstain Commissioner Pred

Absent - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Meko

 

3. Sound Technician Vajra Granelli report on recent venue sound inspections and report.  

 

Inspector Granelli stated he did the night walk on Geary between Mason and Van Ness with DPW of restaurants and bars and lounges and few citations were written most of the bars and lounges under the Commission’s prevue were doing well by keeping their sidewalks clean and provided a good designated smoking section. He added the hit Broadway and they were in a constant need of being reminded about open doors windows and sound and they were in compliance and no one was sited that night.  He added this last week he has been working in Ingleside Police station regarding a few problem venues and clubs in the area for the sound ordinances.   He added the Son’s of Italy have been doing more parties and less birthday and events and last Saturday they had an event for SF State Fraternity party that packed in almost 500 people that went south and seven units were called and no arrest were made.   He added he has been working with Ingleside Police station permit on the issues and will determine from the information they collect whether they should be brought before the Commission for a suspension.

 

Commissioner Alan suggested that staff call a meeting of all of the venues in the area and request an update of their security plan or have a meeting with a representative of SFPD and the Health Department so they did not have to be reacted to as a result of a problem.

 

Deputy Director Kane read letter’s of appreciation from residents in San Francisco thanking the Director for coming to their neighborhoods regarding neighborhood concerns.

 

Commissioner Alan urged Commissioners to take time to go out with Director Davis to meetings it gives and the Commission a chance to update themselves on neighborhood concerns.  

 

4. Report from the President.

 

a) Review of the Entertainment Commission and Business Commission Town Hall Summit.

 

Chair Joseph stated the Entertainment Commission and the Small Business Commission held a town hall summit on March 30, 2009 and the subject was Survive and Thrive. She added the entertainment community was suffering.  She added they wanted to impart how important the entertainment industry was a valued economy in San Francisco and Assemblyman Mark Leno was in attendance.  She added there would be another summit in the future.  She added the MTA had a meeting tonight to extend parking meters to 10:00 P.M. seven days a week and it would hurt the industry and the residents.  there would be a second meeting on April 10, 2009 and urged people to attend.    She added

 

5. Hearing and Possible Action regarding applications for permits under the jurisdiction of the entertainment commission.

 

a) Chapin-Rienzo, Demetirus, dba Taverna Aventine, 582 Washington Street, Place of Entertainment.

 

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane stated the applicants applied for a permit on March 3, 2009 to add entertainment to their restaurant and bar and plan to provide happy hour and evening entertainment in the form of DJ’s using their in-house sound system.   She added they had a type 47 liquor license and Central recommended approval with some conditions that include the Good Neighbor Policy.   She added the operators own some other venues in the city and have experience and staff recommends approval.

 

Demetrius Chapin-Reinzo stated they opened six months ago and have had a positive experience despite the economy and they hoped to draw more people into happy hour and early evening private events by being able to provide a DJ’s occasional and they would like to have some small cultural events included salsa night and flamingo night.

 

Commissioner Alan stated the neighborhood had limited parking and how would he accommodate his patrons.

John Paul Victor stated the building owner would be putting in white-zones.

 

Public Comment

None

 

Commissioner Roja moved to approve Commissioner Alan second the motion

 

VOTE:

AYES - Commissioner Roja, Commissioner Alan, Commissioner Joseph Commissioner Pred and Commissioner Newlin

NOES- None

Absent - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Meko

 

b) Choy, Timmy, dba Rockit Room, 406 Clement Street, Place of Entertainment/Billiard Parlor (1 table)/Mechanical Amusement Devices.

 

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane stated it was the second time the applicants had been before the Commission.  She added they intend to do the same thing the previous owner did with DJ’s and bars they have one pool table at the moment and two video games.  She added she did not get a recommendation from Richmond station

 

Chair Joseph asked was the sound system different from the previous owners system.

 

Timmy Choy stated the sound system was the same.

 

Commissioner Alan stated Scharod’s law which was the general description of the changes the Place of Entertainment which called for a security plan laid out a minimum 1 security guard per 100 Patrons and he noted in his security plan the applicant’s occupancy of over 200 but he only referenced two security guards. He added during his normal operations should his occupancy increase over 200 he would have to add an additional security guard so his security plan met the letter of the law.

 

Public Comment

No public comment.

 

Commissioner Alan move to approve with the applicant presenting an updated security plan to staff Commissioner Newlin second the motion. 

VOTE:

AYES - Commissioner Roja, Commissioner Alan, Commissioner Joseph Commissioner Pred and Commissioner Newlin

NOES- None

Absent - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Meko

 

c)      Fegan, Cassidy, and Chang, Daniel, dba Sloane, 1525 Mission Street, Place of Entertainment/Ext. Hours Premises

 

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane stated the applicant requested the item be continued to the April 21, 2009 meeting do to construction delays.

 

Commissioner Alan moved to continue the item to the next Commission meeting Commissioner Pred second the motion.

 

VOTE:

AYES - Commissioner Roja, Commissioner Alan, Commissioner Joseph Commissioner Pred and Commissioner Newlin

NOES- None

Absent - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Meko

 

6. Report update from the Adhoc Committee on Policy and Direction to help new Place of Entertainment owners in transition during period between transfers of ownership.

 

Commissioner Alan requested an extension the item to prepare the report.

 

7. L’Amour CafePlaceof Entertainment Permit located at 600 Jackson StreetSan Francisco, CA. 94133.Review existing conditions and recommendations for new conditions.

 

Chair Joseph advised the Commission that they should not comment or give advice of any kind in case the item was brought forward for a suspension hearing.

 

Sound Technician Vajra Granelli stated there was a list of the dates and violation numbers they received from the Fired Department and SFPD the date and incident numbers for the assault that resulted in a shooting that Captain Dudley reported to the Commission previously.  He added they were still currently gathering information and staff was still in the gathering stage.  He added staff has received a large documentation from Central Police Station so they can have a complete picture to present to the Commission in case they decide to go forward with a suspension.  He added they were also working with the City Attorney and getting their advice and guidance to do a detailed job.

 

 

Chair Joseph asked was there a ruling from the Fire Department on whether there was occupancy load of 49 needed to be posted.

 

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane stated it always had to be posted.

 

Tris Pham with L’Amour Cafeupdated the Commission on the violations they had fixed in their venue.  She added all the violations they received from the Fire Department were fixed and the last item they were still working on was the occupancy permit.   She added contracted the civil engineering firm Chang & Associates and drawings were done and applied for the permit and were waiting for the place of assembly.    She added they received a letter from the Fire Department from inspector James on February 24, 2009 stating if they posted the occupancy load side maximum 49 occupancy it would be fine and they have posted the occupancy.  She added they were working closely with Lt. Joe Cuff with the Fire Department and she spoke with him and informed him about the occupancy permit and when it was completed he would come out and inspect the premises in about two weeks.

 

Public Comment

No public comment.

 

Sound Technician Vajra Granelli stated there were five conditions:  1) The fire door exit shall have a panic bar and alarm 2) A uniform security guard shall be present during business hours 3) a security camera shall be installed and utilized   during business hours 4) the entry way should be repainted in a light color preferably white a wide angle security mirror shall be installed to observe activity in the entry way from the sidewalk level 5) the entry way shall be illuminated during business hours.

 

Chair Joseph asked had the applicant met the conditions.

 

Sound Technician Vajra Granelli stated the fire door and the panic alarm he could not testify to as far as the uniform security guard he had yet to see one on site and he had not personally seen the security camera. He added the entrance way has been repainted but to his knowledge no mirror has been installed and the entrance was illuminated during business hours when he was present.

 

Chair Joseph stated at the prior meeting she asked Ms. Pham to submit a security plan to the Commission.

 

Ms. Pham stated she did had not completed the security plan since she was busy getting the other violations corrected.

 

Captain Dudley stated he would challenge condition No.1 here was not fire exit in the establishment.    He added they had a door that says “exit” that went into a hallway that went into a separate business.  He added you could not exit onto the street and doubted that any Fire Marshall would certify it as a fire exit.   door will call Joe Cuff with SFPD to inquire about it.    He added condition No. 2 there was no security, however when they did have promotions they had an individual sitting on a stool taking money for entry.   He added he had a memo submitted to him by Sgt. Vanderbilt dated January 19, 2009 shortly before the shooting incident that indicated serious concerns with several hundred guests in the establishment. He added he would resubmit the letter to Vajra Granelli.

 

Chair Joseph stated she was open to suggestions and was not clear how to move forward since the applicant made a concerted effort to correct many of the violations.

 

Commissioner Alan stated since the Fire Department took precedent in the matter and they were viewing the violations as non life threatening and have emergency closure ability they have not exercised and felt the Commission should not overstep their bounds and call for a suspension.  He added he did think the Commission should make the responsibility for providing the Commission documentation of clearance of the violations and put the responsibility onto the permit holder and make it condition at the next hearing.

 

Chair Joseph stated she was hoping to get a determination by the next meeting on the second door and if it was not a fire exit maybe it should be closed at all times.   She thought Captain Dudley’s concerns were people exited out and went into other businesses but she was not clear. 

 

Commissioner Pred stated from his understanding of the 49 or less occupancy they only needed one door and a Fire Marshall would need to determine whether it was germane whether it was labeled as an exit.

 

Commissioner Alan proposed the applicant is to provide from the Fire Department

Notice of clearing violations and/or notice of extension of time from the Fire Department

Fire Department to clear the violations and a security plan should be submitted prior to the Commissions next hearing or suspension process will begin. Commissioner Newlin second the motion.

 

VOTE:

AYES - Commissioner Roja, Commissioner Alan, Commissioner Joseph Commissioner Pred and Commissioner Newlin

NOES- None

Absent - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Meko

 

8. Report from the Adhoc Bylaws Committee.

 

Chair Joseph abolished the old by laws committee and included Executive Director Robert Davis, Commissioner Alan and Commissioner Pred.  She added she would   extend the report to the first meeting in May.

 

9. Police Department Comments & Questions. (This item allows any member of the SFPD to address the Commission regarding matters related to nightlife and public safety).

 

None.

 

10. Entertainment promotion in San Francisco. (This item allows commissioners to suggest and discuss ways in which the Commission could improve promotion of entertainment in San Francisco).

 

Commissioner Rojasuggested using Face book as a means of communicating with the public.

 

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane stated the Commission would have to do proper notice that would not violate the Sunshine Act which required a 14 days notice.

 

Chair Joseph stated she was part of the GAYVN awards, event was well attended and the event was sold out.

 

Commissioner Alan stated the Sister’s of Perpetual Indulgence was having a grand opening at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on this Friday.  He added the relative success of the entertainment industry in San Francisco and the Commission’s standing on doing its job hinged 99 percent on security.  He added they did not have a plan to bring an upgrade to the on staff security training and the actual on staff interaction with the patrons with security and the police department and how they could get the item talked about to give the club owner the requisite tools.   He added the Commission had to implement the security requirements.

 

Commissioner Pred stated while he was in Stockholm Sweden he participated in a pilot program that will be used nationwide in Sweden.  He added he participated in two of their three programs which was their version of LEAD which was a 16 hour class which included conflict resolution with trained conflict mediators that act as drunk and hostile patrons that demanded drinks and a lot of interactive training.  He added there were training films to help security and they currently had a pilot program working with four clubs to develop a core partnership for venues, security and SFPD.  

He added he would have more details and a presentation at the next meeting.

 

11. Commissioner’s Comments & Questions.

 

Commissioner Newlin stated it would be beneficial to have the SFPD moved up on the agenda.

 

12. New Business Requests for Future Agenda Items. (This item is to allow Commissioners to introduce agenda items for future consideration).

 

Commissioner Pred stated he would present a report on his participation on Sweden’s security at the next Commission meeting on April 21, 2009

 

Adjourned at 6:33P.M.