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CALL TO ORDER

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 5: 15 P.M.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Executive Director Robert Davis called the Roll. 

 

Present at the meeting were Commissioners Jim Meko, Terrance Alan and Audrey Joseph.

 

Absent at the time of roll call were:  Jordan Shlain, John Newlin and Joseph Pred.

 

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

 

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

 

1. Public Comment

 

Members of the public may address the Commission on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission.  With respect to agenda items, members of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes at the time such item is called.

No public comment.

 

Public Comment

None

2. Review and Approve Minutes ofJanuary 6, 2009.

 

Commissioner Alan moved to approve the minutes of January 6, 2009 with one minor correction Commissioner Roja second the motion

 

VOTE:

 

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

NOES- None

ABSENT - Commissioner Shlain, Commissioner Newlin and Commissioner Pred (absent at the time of the vote)

 

3. Report from the Executive Director. Status of 1060 and 1070 legislation, neighborhood issues, Mission, North Beach, Fourth Street, South of Market and the Nightlife Summit. Vajra Granelli report on recent venue sound inspections and report of activities by staff.

 

Executive Director Robert Davis stated the legislation would be forwarded to the Commission for review.  Neighborhood issues would be addressed by officer Anzore.  He added there was a report issued to staff by Suede indicating they hired security through Carnes Security and new security plan that addressed the concerns and will be turned over to Central Police station.  He added the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice will be contacting the Commission to hold another summit to be presented by March 2009.

 

Sound Technician Vajra Granelli stated over the last few weeks there was a small rise of violence incidents in clubs from minor battery to s little more serious incidents in the area of Mission Central and Southern station where there were a high level of clubs. He added there were some complaints about Bubble Lounge in North Beach and they were monitoring the venue and made contact with management on their operational procedures and mediate issues with the neighbors.  He added there was an incident at King Ty Noodle a small restaurant.  The venue had been doing One Night Event Permits for sometime and that night their was a fight and the party was shut down and the venue was being monitored.  He added Club 181 continued to be an issue with violence and sound and they were hit by ABC (Alcohol Beverage and Control) and their ABC license was suspended and documentation from the ABC was pending.  He added there was a new venue open called Infusion Lounge a site inspection was done and they were a nice addition to the area.   He added the Cigar Bar and Mecca had open cases regarding sound complaints from neighbors in the area and the venue was being monitored.

 

Commissioner Meko asked if there were any new updates on Club Six.

 

Sound Technician Vajra Granelli stated there were reports of sound complaints but there were some incidents around the area recently and the police report was pending.

 

Commissioner Pred arrived at 5:26 P.M.

 

4. Report from the President.

 

a) State of the night time entertainment economy.

Chair Joseph stated she has been contacted by a number of venues on how their they were not able to make ends meet in their businesses and she has contacted the president of the Small Business Commission and they plan to hold a town hall summit that will address the economic woes of nighttime entertainment and report back to the Board of Supervisors. She added one of the mandates for the Entertainment Commission was to make sure the industry did not suffer she added their report would be announced to the public.

 

 

Commissioner Alan stated tonight’s presentation was to give an overview to the Commission and solicit specific questions form the public or members of the Commission.   He added the purpose of the Music and Culture and Sustainability Policy was to create for the first time a overview of how music and culture activities need to be incorporated into the overall planning for the city of San Francisco.  He added it was felt that a general policy statement was required and the primary focus was the streamlining of permits and revisions of city codes amendments. He added there were complaints from public that the steps were not clear on applying for permits and that notifications were not received in a timely fashion.  He added the Planning Department agreed it would hold hearings for minor housekeeping code changes they way after hour uses are treated so that the public and neighbors could better understand what was allowed in their neighborhood.   

 

Public Comment

None

5. Police Department Comments & Questions.

(This item allows any member of the SFPD to address the Commission regarding matters related to nightlife and public safety.

 

Sgt. Anzore with Central Police station representing Captain Dudley stated Club Lamoure have been holding hip hop parties and they do not have permit.

 

Director Robert Davis stated they he spoke with Sgt.  Anzore and they do not have a place o f entertainment Commission and they were now on the radar.  

 

Chair Joseph stated staff will look into the matter.

 

Sgt. Anzore Broadway dramatic change since Club 443 is gone and he didn’t see the fights and bookings and arrest in the logs the following morning and they were happy with the results.

 

Officer Nicole Brukert stated it was a violent weekend in the SOMA there was a violent incident at Club Six and there was a stabbing outside of Etiquette Lounge.  She added Hotel Milano was a headache, the promoter for the hotel hired out a second promoter who was throwing One Night Event parties.  He added they were throwing parties for about a month without a permit.  She spoke to the promoter for the hotel and they said they would get their permit.    She added they granted five permits and the sixth event there was a huge fight at closing time.  She added the last event was not granted and the party was given and there was a huge fight in the street.  She added word from their website they would be applying for a Place of Entertainment.   She added Southern Police station was opposed to the permit due to the numerous times they told they should not have a party but proceeded to have one.   She added Fat City had an event for 18 and older but believed there were 14 year olds in attendance and older.  She added one of the juveniles were drunks and was sent to the hospital due to over intoxication and the report was pending.

 

Commissioner Meko stated he and Commissioner Newlin meet with ICON and they seemed to have taken positive steps.

 

Officer Nicole Bruckert stated ICON has taken some positive steps they were using the metal detectors and they had the security uniforms and emailed her regarding events.  She added they saw progress with the venue.

 

Commissioner Alan asked for details of the incident at Club Six.

 

Officer Nicole Bruckert stated there was a police report of an aggregated assault that started inside the venue and moved outside.

 

Commissioner moved to Bifurcated the permits Commissioner second the motion

VOTE:

 

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

NOES- None

ABSENT - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Newlin

 

6. Hearing and Possible Actionregarding applications for permits under the jurisdiction of the entertainment commission.

 

Chair Joseph stated they would bifurcate the Place of Entertainment and extended hours permit.

 

Commissioner Alan moved to bifurcate the permits Commissioner Roja seconded the motion.

VOTE:

 

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

NOES- None

ABSENT - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Newlin

 

 

Deputy Jocelyn Kane stated the applicants came to the office in mid December 2008 to occupy the space that was previously permitted by the Commission called Frisson as a new restaurant and lounge.  She added there were some concerns from neighbors about potential problems and there were some emails sent and the applicants were asked to give conditions.  She added Central Police station opposed the extended hours.

 

Applicant Steve Chen stated he was one of the owners of the venue.  He added they had a meeting with the neighbors after meeting with them they decided to withdraw their extended hours permit.

 

Commissioner Meko asked were there any problems of sound from the neighbors

 

Applicant Steve Chen stated speaking with some of the neighbors they had some issues with the extended hours.  He added the previous venue had live music.

 

Commissioner Alan stated the applicant to be aware of their security plan since there were five exits at the venue and what were the applicant’s plans for parking.

 

Applicant Steve Chen stated they would use valet parking and two white zones and front of the venue.

 

Public comment

 

Dave Barnett had concerns about the patrons of Frisson relieving themselves and doing drugs in the surrounding area.  He added they wanted to make sure they did not have a situation like Frisson repeated.

 

Fred Alerdice president of the Eureka Theatre Company stated their kiosk glass was broken and believed it happened during the Frisson events.  He added they watched the decline of Broadway and was cautious of that type of activity in the area.  

 

Larry Lloyd represent 350 Jackson Street, stated he was delighted the applicant was dropping the afterhours permit.  He added he hoped they would operate on the level of most of the other high end restaurants in the area he added parking was terrible in the area and hoped the applicant would contract with a parking lot.

 

Public comment closed.

 

Commissioner Meko commended the neighbors and the applicant for arriving at a mutual agreement.

 

Chair Joseph stated the Commission could not assume facts that were not in evidence there was no evidence that the business that has never operated before would be rowdy or act badly afterhours. 

 

Commissioner Alan moved to approve the Place of Entertainment Permit with the standard Good Neighbor Policy Commissioner Roja second the motion

 

VOTE:

 

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

NOES- None

ABSENT - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Newlin

 

b. O'Brien, Dylan, dba The Bloodhound, 1145 Folsom, Billiard Parlor (1 table).

Deputy Director Jocelyn Kane stated there was approval from Southern Police station the applicant was not present and staff recommended approval.

 

Commissioner Alan move to approve Commissioner Pred second the motion

VOTE:

 

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

NOES- None

ABSENT - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Newlin

 

7. 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).

 

No suggestions were made.

 

8. Suede Nightclub review existing conditions and recommendations for new conditions.

 

Chair Joseph stated she relieved Club Suede’s safety plan and moved to continue the item to the February 3, 3009 commission meeting.

 

Commissioner Alan moved to continue the item with the caveat the Commissioners review the security plan Commissioner Pred second the motion.

VOTE:

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

NOES- None

ABSENT - Commissioner Shlain and Commissioner Newlin

 

9. Commissioner’s Comments & Questions.

Commissioner Alan urged the Commissioners to read the Music and Culture Sustainability prior to next weeks hearing to have an informed discussion and it will hopefully affect the commission and their interactions with other City Departments in a positive way for the years to come.  He added the Commission had an opportunity to help the Commission and staff implements that through a greater understanding what’s in the policy.   He added in times of stress on businesses the one thing that that businesses screamed for was a level of certainty and absent the level of certainty it was difficult to make plans.    He added the Music Culture Sustainability policy attempts to bring more certainty into both the economics of the employees and the economics of the business environment.

 

Commissioner Meko stated the 5:00 P.M. meetings were not convenient for his schedule and suggested to the Commission the meetings start at 5:30P.M.

 

Chair Joseph stated she agreed with Commission Alan on the fact that entertainment and the nighttime economy and the cultural businesses in the city were hurting by excessive fees and limitations on their ability to operate.  She added a city was not a vibrate city without entertainment economy.

 

Commissioner Alan asked to be removed from the bylaws committee.

 

10. New Business Requestsfor Future Agenda Items.

(This item is to allow Commissioners to introduce agenda items for future consideration).

 

No new business was discussed.

 

Adjournment. 6:33 P.M.