Entertainment Commission    

City and County of San Francisco

 

Meeting Minutes

 

Room 416, City Hall

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA. 94102

 

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

5:30 P.M.

Regular Meeting

                               

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dori Caminong (Vice President), Steven Lee, Laura Thomas, Dave Falzon

 

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Ben Bleiman, Bryant Tan, Al Perez

 

STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Executive Director, Maggie Weiland; Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo; Senior Analyst, Dylan Rice;  Senior Inspector, Jordan Roberts; Commission Aide, Crystal Stewart-Kennedy

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY VICE PRESIDENT CAMINONG AT 5:38 PM

 

SPEAKER KEY:      

 

+ indicates a speaker in support of an item;

-  indicates a speaker in opposition of an item; and

= indicates a neutral speaker or a speaker who did not indicate support or opposition

 

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL       

 

1. General Public Comment -- None

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. 

 

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes.  Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the July 16, 2019, Commission meeting. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]

MOTION: Commissioner Thomas moved to approve the July 16, 2019 minutes, Commissioner Falzon seconded the motion.

 

ACTION: Approved Minutes for July 16, 2019

 

AYES: Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Falzon, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner, Commissioner Lee

 

NAYS: None

 

ABSENT: Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Perez

 

3. Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: Update on BOS File No. 181211 re: Health, Planning, and Police Codes - Small Business Permit Streamlining, and Update on BOS File No. 190689 re: Interim Zoning Control - Conditional Use Authorization Required for a Change of Use from Nighttime Entertainment to Another Use Allowed in the Defined South of Market Area; Staff and Office Update: Director Weiland Facilitated Discussion Among Large Sized Venue Operators at the Department of Emergency Management’s Extended Power Outage Workshop; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: nothing to report; Corrective Actions: nothing to report. [Discussion Item]

4. Report from Deputy Director: Deputy Director Kaitlyn Azevedo reports on recent venue inspections and activities. [Discussion item] 

 

Regular Agenda:	El Trebol	3131 22nd St	No Permit	El Trebol Bar is yet again having loud live music that you can listen from a block away. DO THEY HAVE A PERMIT FOR THIS?! Why aren't they required to have their windows and doors closed. This is getting insane. ACTION:  Inspector Savino visited El Trebol the following Thursday and Saturday. On Saturday there was a DJ playing. Inspector Savino spoke with the manager and told him that this is not permitted. Deputy Director Azevedo issued a Citation and reminded the manager about the permitting process. This premises is only zoned for an LLP, not a POE.
Fri 7/19/2019 13:13 PM	Arena SF	2565 Mission St	POE	Phone complaint from neighbor that the bass from Arena SF is really disrupting to him, so much that he doesn't stay at his apartment Thursday through Saturday. ACTION:  Deputy Director Azevedo emailed the owners to share the concerns and gave them the complainant’s contact information with his permission. Both Inspectors followed up with sound readings that weekend, and both took sound measurements that showed the venue lowering the volume as soon as they saw the inspector enter the venue. Deputy Director Azevedo spoke with a manager about this, who said he would reach out to the neighbor, and also said they would not play music through the speaker hanging by the front door. EC staff issued revised permit with sound limit measured from downstairs on the dance floor. We did not receive any sound complaints the following weekend after management installed a second limiter and unplugged the speakers by the front door.
Sat 7/27/2019  4:14 PM	10 SVN	10 South Van Ness	OTOEEP	Noise from rooftop party at SVN rattling windows. ACTION:  Inspector Savino responded to 311 complaints. Spoke with managers and had sound engineer turn the volume down. Director Weiland sent complaints to permit holder, and EC will set a specific sound limit for future rooftop events.
Sun 7/28/2019  3:06 PM	Virgin Hotel	240 4th St	POE	Heavy bass noise coming from the rooftop bar at the Virgin Hotel. I live a block away and it is like living next to a night club. Goes on every Sunday now starting at 2pm until they close. Absolutely terrible for the people in the surrounding apartment buildings. ACTION:  Inspector Savino responded to 311 complaint. Made sound measurement and found music levels to be in compliance. Deputy Director spoke with new management team about permit conditions. Gave a verbal warning for having amplified music on the roof after 10:00 PM. Inspector Savino will go set sound limit for Funny Library to bring all spaces into compliance.
Fri 8/2/2019  1:54 AM	Club 26 Mix	3024 Mission St	POE	Every night patrons make noise upon leaving this bar and awake the neighbors. Yelling, whistling, sometimes even fighting. This happens like clockwork and the owner does nothing to stop them. ACTION:  Inspector Fiorentino went to the venue Friday night. He observed the patrons exiting very loudly and not leaving the premises. He spoke with the manager about the sound complaints regarding patron's activity. Deputy Director Azevedo will follow up with owners about permit conditions.

 

5. Report from the Senior Analyst: Dylan Rice shares an update on event producer education initiatives and efforts to streamline the One Time Event permit application process.  [Discussion Item]
 

Education & Networking Initiative

Report back of SF Outdoor Events Network mixer at Jolene’s on July 22^nd

• Topic was “Success Through Vendor Management” – presentation and panel featured speakers from Event Hub (moderator), La Cocina, and Eat Drink SF.
• 34 total attendees
• Attendees included organizers from festivals and venues such as Fillmore Street Fair, The Midway, Union Square BID, Holi Festival, Castro Street Fair. A rep from the Dept. of Environment also attended and connected with producers on Zero Waste rules and training.
• Several producers commented on how much they appreciated the presentation content and the part where all the producers introduce themselves to the room.

 

One Time Event Permit Application – Digital Enhancement

• Dylan Rice and Crystal Stewart observed user testing of the new Screendoor application for the One Time Indoor Entertainment (OTIE) Permit.
• Included in your binders are the near-final drafts of:
  • The introductory page for applicants to read before they start filling out the OTIE application form
  • The OTIE application form on Screendoor
  • The submission “Success” page text
• We plan on making the new OTIE application live by this month

 

6. Police Department Comments & Questions. This item allows any member of the SFPD to address the Commission regarding matters related to nightlife and public safety. [Discussion Item]

 

SPEAKERS: None

7. Hearing and Possible Action regarding applications for permits under the jurisdiction of the Entertainment Commission. [Discussion and Possible Action Item] 

 

Regular Agenda:

1. EC-1533 – Seamus Naughten and Jennifer Hunt of SF Event Space, LLC, The Hibernia, 1 Jones St., Place of Entertainment permit.

 

Place of Entertainment - The Hibernia, located at 1 Jones Street. The owners have restored the old Hibernia Bank to its original state, and plan to use it as a venue for a wide variety of events, such as seminars, fashion shows, fundraisers, private parties, and live performances. The Hibernia has 4 levels: the basement, ground floor, second floor, and the penthouse. In addition to indoor entertainment, they would like to have amplified sound on the outdoor deck of the penthouse level daily between 9am and midnight. MPC 1060.16(b)(1) states, unless otherwise permitted by the Entertainment Commission, hours of operation of outdoor Amplified Sound Equipment shall be no earlier than 9:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. The applicants are requesting the Commission to condition them otherwise, and permit amplified sound on the outdoor deck of the penthouse daily until midnight. There was no opposition to this permit application, and the owners received 4 letters of support which are included in your file. Tenderloin Station approves this permit with two recommended conditions listed below.

Staff recommendation:

 

• Approval with Good Neighbor Policy,
• Request staff to set a sound limit for the outdoor patio,
• Entertainment is permitted on the outdoor patio of the penthouse daily between 9am and midnight, and
• SFPD Northern Station’s recommended conditions:

 

1. The permit holder shall email a monthly calendar of events to the SFPD Tenderloin Station and the Entertainment Commission one week prior to the beginning of each month.
2. 2) The permit holder shall install 4 surveillance cameras on the exterior of the building, covering the entrance/exit of the venue and views of both McAllister and Jones Street adjacent to the property. The permit holder shall retain video surveillance footage for a minimum of 30 days, and shall provide footage to SFPD upon request within 48 hours, regardless of whether an incident has occurred or not.

 

SPEAKERS:  = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

+ Attorney Mark Rennie

+ Jerri Tassan, The Hibernia

 

MOTION: Commissioner Lee moved to approve with the Good Neighbor Policy, staff recommendations, and SFPD Tenderloin Station recommendations.  Commissioner Falzon seconded the motion.

ACTION: The Place of Entertainment Permit was conditionally granted to the applicant.

AYES: Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon

ABSENT: Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Perez

 

10. Commissioner Comments & Questions. [Announcements]

Vice Chair Caminong adjourned the meeting in honor of the lives lost and injured in Dayton, Ohio, El Paso, Texas, the Gilroy Garlic Festival and a Brooklyn block party to gun violence at the hands of mass shooters. She said: Our hearts and prayers are with you, your families and loved ones. This year, our country has experienced 255 mass shootings in 2019. As public servants, we take the duty very seriously. Our call to action is to do something. We are here to serve, protect and promote safe, affirming and inclusive nightlife, entertainment and outdoor events for all across our city. We stand and fight against hate, violence and terrorism and stand with love and solidarity with those impacted by this unbelievable violence.   

ADJOURNMENT 6:39 PM