ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION

City and County of San Francisco

 

ACTION MINUTES OF THE 

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 HEARING

City Hall, Hearing Room 416

Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA  94102

 

 

 

COMMISSIONERS

 

Present

 

Bryant Tan

Laura Thomas

Dori Caminong

Steven Lee

 

 

STAFF

 

Present

 

Executive Director, Jocelyn Kane

Deputy Director, Maggie Weiland

Senior Sound Inspector, Sean Burke

Senior Analyst, Community & Cultural Events, Dylan Rice

Commission Aide, Crystal Stewart 

 

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting came to order at 5:35PM.

 

ROLL CALL 

 

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.

 

Absent were: Commissioner Frost, Commissioner Perez and Commissioner Blemian

 

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL       

 

1. General 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 was made. 

 

Chair Tan moved item No. 9 to after item No. 5

 

3. Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: Staff and Office Update:; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: Nothing to Report; Corrective Actions: Update on Suspension for Public Safety (insert verbiage from Agenda)[Discussion Item]

 

No public comment. 

 

4. Report from Sound Inspector: Inspector Sean Burke reports on recent venue inspections and activities. [Discussion Item] 

 

NEW COMPLAINTS                                                       

6/15/17 311 The Connection 5740 Mission Karaoke with door open.

6/16/17 311 Corner Spot 1288 15th Ave.   Loud patrons loitering.

 

RESOLVED COMPLAINTS                                             

Revolution Café 3248 22nd St. No complaints since last hearing.

Encore Karaoke 1550 California Back door found open 6/11. Operator admonished. No complaints since.

 

ONGOING COMPLAINTS                                              

Original: 3/10/15  Hawthorn 46 Geary Additional complaint: 6/9/17 - Never found to be in excess of conditioned sound limit.

Original: 11/14/16 Halcyon 314 11th St.
Additional complaints: 6/11 & 18/17 - Found in excess of conditioned internal sound limit 1x since last hearing.

Original: 1/15/17 Codeword 917 Folsom
Additional complaint: 6/9, 10, 11, 16/17 - Never found to be in excess of conditioned sound limit.

 

UNPAID CITATIONS                                                      

Issued: 5/15&23/17 Halcyon 314 11th St. $1,000 in outstanding unpaid/un- appealed citations.

Issued: 5/23/17 Audio 316 11th St. $100 outstanding unpaid/un-appealed citation.

 

SFPD ACTIVITY                                                

6/16/17 500 blk 4th St. Armed robbery in parking lot at Brannan and 4th. Under investigation.

 

6/18/17 2:00A 1500 blk Folsom Homicide on Folsom St. between 11th and 12th St. Under investigation.

 

SOUND TEST                                                    

6/9/17 The Armory 1800 Mission Additional soundproofing allowed for increase in internal sound limit.

 

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes.  Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of June 6, 2017 Commission meetings. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]

 

Commissioner Thomas arrived at 5:50PM

 

No public comments were made.

 

Commissioner  Lee  moved to approve the minutes of June 6, 2017 with the changes to vote on Previous hearing on changing conditions to EC-1377, Place of Entertainment, Extended Hours Permit for Halcyon the vote was as follows Commissioner Frost, no, Commissioner Lee no, VP Thomas yes, Commissioner Bleiman yes, Commissioner, Commissioner Perez no, Commissioner Tan yes, Commissioner Caminong second the motion  

 

Vote:

Yeas – Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Lee & Commissioner Tan

Noes - None 

 

 

 

Senior Analyst Dylan Rice stated since he presented the report on fostering and sustaining and promoting outdoor events in San Francisco.  He added the rest of the year has been about implementation of the recommendations.  He added to increase transparency, reduce complexity and to think of ways to reduce the burden on outdoor events in terms of socioeconomic pressures.   He added the ideas were to improve interagency coordination and customer experience.  He added he was in conversations with DEM and they were in the process of reaching out to the Mayor’s office to create a strategy to create a hub and spoke model.

 

No public comment.

 

 

6. Discussion and possible action to adopt the written comments and/or recommendations already submitted to the planning department and/or DBI regarding noise issues

 

a) 1601-1637 Market Street, Discussion and possible action to adopt the written comments and/or recommendations regarding noise issues for the proposed residential project.

 

b) 1196 Columbus Avenue, Discussion and possible action to adopt the written comments and/or recommendations regarding noise issues.

 

Public comment

 

Commissioner Tan moved to approve items a & b with the written standard recommendations to the Planning Department Commissioner Thomas second the motion

 

Vote:

Yeas - Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Tan and Commissioner Lee

Noes – none 

 

7. 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]

 

No comments were made. 

 

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

 

Regular Agenda:

 

a) ECLSP-5733 – Fennell, Tyra, dba Imprint City, Arts, Science and Music Festival, Egbert Street between 3rd Street & Jennings, 7/15/2017, 3PM – 12AM, Loudspeaker Permit.

Tyra Fennell with Imprint City stated she was requesting a two hour extension.  She added last year it ended at 10PM but because the nature of the art involved fire and lights.  She added they would have several fire art sculptures and DJ’s.  She added it was a family friendly event.

 

Public comment

No public comment was made.

 

Commissioner Lee moved to approve Commissioner Caminong

second the motion

Vote:

Yeas - Commissioner Lee Commissioner Thomas, Commission Caminong and Commissioner Tan

Noes - none

 

9. Discussion and Possible Action to change the conditions on #EC-1180 Place of Entertainment pert, dba the SF Armory located at 1800 Mission Street.

 

Audrey Joseph was present to request some of their current conditions be modified on the Place of Entertainment Permit for the Armory.   She added the Armory was granted their permit a year ago and the Commission placed very specific conditions on the Armory and the Armory took them very seriously.   She added over the past year the Armory has painstakingly done a massive amount construction to their landmark building.  She added they did it to not only improve the venue but to also for the comfort of the neighbors and surrounding buildings.   She added the Armory has improved sound proofing for more than 1.8 million dollars in sound proofing with the help of Salter & Associates.  She added they have publicly published newsletters for upcoming public events distributing to neighbors who have signed up to receive them as well as various city officials as well as published phone number for noise complaints.  She added they have worked very hard to improve their venue and prove that they can be trusted.  She added it was important for her to be able to accommodate her customers if she could.

 

Public comment

 

Tim Meeks stated he lived on the Duboce end and was in support of the venue and what it adds to the community.    He added he was impressed with the sound proofing.  He had issues with the all age’s events when the kids were let out the kids party on the street all night long.   He added he was glad Audrey was on board and looked forward to working with her.

 

Female speaker stated she added more eyes on the street created more safety however she heard that Audrey wants to turn the venue into the No. 1 live music venue in the city to rival Bill Graham Civic Center.  She made a sound complaint to SFPD that she could feel the music in her home and feels that the venue will not just be corporate events but more large events.  

 

Brian Woody stated he was a neighbor stated he agreed with the condition adding three events annually until 4AM the condition extending hours until 2AM every night was a significant matter and evaluations should be done to monitor sound impacts for events to see if neighbors complain about noise levels.

 

Public comment closed. 

 

Chair Tan feels the applicant has proven that she can contain her sound and has done a lot with the soundproofing.  He added he felt prepared to let the Armory operate 6 times a year with extended hours a week until 2AM limited the radius from 200 feet to 100 feet to allow more entertainment throughout the week. 

 

Commissioner Lee agreed with the change to the 100 foot limit unfortunately insurance companies and workers comp is beyond their distance and it’s a danger to the employee and a lot of times they will not cover the operator.   He added Audrey and the Armory have done a lot.   He suggested a three month trail for 12 midnight and see how it goes.

 

Commissioner Caminong stated they should extend it to 1AM from Sunday to Thursday for three months and then decide if they should increase it to 2AM. 

 

Commissioner Thomas suggested to extend it through Thursday.

 

9) Commissioner Thomas moved to amend the permit from 3 extended hours a year to 6 and to amend the condition from 200 ft to 100 ft., Entertainment to be restricted Sundays to Thursdays until 1AM Commissioner Caminong second the motion

Vote:

Yeas - Commissioner Lee Commissioner Thomas, Commission Caminong and Commissioner Tan 

Noes – none 

 

10) Review and possible actions to change the condition EC-1377 Place of Entertainment and Extended hours Premises Halcyon located at 314 11th Street.

 

 

Gina Milano stated at the last hearing the Commission limited her after hours to one per month   until the sound proofing could be completed and a sound proofing ethnicity could be tested.  She added on June 9th the additional sound materials were put into the sound wall and on June 14th Salter & Associates conducted a sound test.  She added at that time it was proven that venue was compliant at 1.18db.  She added she has done tons of work and would like it to be completed tonight.  She added it came to her attention that the neighbors complained the past Saturday night and it was said they wanted to shut her down.  She asked for the Commission to honor her efforts and lift the conditions that have been placed on her license. 

 

Commissioner Lee stated he did not see indication on the letter that he tested at.  He added until the Entertainment Commission sound tech has to establish the new sound setting. He added it would go away when she abide by the city’s setting.

 

Commissioner Thomas stated she was concerned about the violations and unpaid violations.

 

Gina Milano stated they had concerns about the way the sound test were done and was protesting the citation but will pay her fine this coming Friday.

 

Public comment

 

Male speaker read his issues regarding sound complaints

 

Tony Vu spoke on his issues regarding sound complaints from Halcyon.

 

Public comment closed.

 

Commissioner Lee moved to the increase the internal sound level DB level to 116. Commissioner Caminong seconded the motion.

 

11. Commissioner Comments and Questions

 

July 28, 2017 mixer at the Stud for outdoor event producers

Next commission 

 

Adjourned at 8:10 PM