ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION

DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
 

City and County of San Francisco

 

ACTION MINUTES OF THE 

Tuesday, October 16, 2018 HEARING

City Hall, Hearing Room 416

Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA  94102

 

 

 

COMMISSIONERS

 

Present

Ben Bleiman

Dori Caminong

Bryant Tan

Laura Thomas

Al Perez

Steven Lee

Dave Falzon

 

 

STAFF

 

Present

 

Executive 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 5:33PM.

 

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.  

 

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.

 

Commissioner Thomas arrived at 5:34PM

 

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes.  Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of October 2, 2018 Commission meetings. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]

Public comment

No public comment was made. 

 

Commissioner Caminong moved to approve the minutes of October 2, 2018 Commissioner Perez, second the motion        

Vote:

Yeas - Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Thomas Commissioner Perez  

. 

3. Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: Nothing to Report; Staff and Office Update: Holiday Party Save the Date; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: Nothing to Report; Corrective Actions: Nothing to Report. [Discussion Item]

 

Executive Director Maggie Weiland informed the Commissioners and staff that the Entertainment Commission’s Holiday Party would be on Monday December 10, 2018 at August Hall and will be putting out a notice on save the date.    She added she will have an update soon about the hiring of a new Deputy Director. 

 

No public comment was made. 

 

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

 

NEW COMPLAINTS                                                               10/5/18 10:30 PM   

Verdi Club 2424 Mariposa POE "Loud bass shaking building, coming from the Verdi Club" - inspected 10/7 (see below)

10/5/18 10:30 PM SPiN Social Club 690 Folsom POE 3 complaints over the course of 1 evening. Visited in real time (see below)

10/8/18 9:30 PM Voodoo Lounge 1400 Lombard NA   "The voodoo lounge plays music at max volume every single night of the week. It vibrates the rooms upstairs." - attempting to determine whether or not there is entertainment hosted at this establishment. Will be visiting weekend of 10/19-21

 

10/13/18 9:45 PM   

Taylor/Monroe Salon 476 Grove NA "Very loud music has been playing since 19:00 (which can be heard from a mile office) and the Doors of the Salon have been open. People said they won't turn down music. Nobody in the neighborhood can't sleep."- verbally warned upon 1st contact. Issued NOV on 2nd visit same night.

 

10/13/18 10:30 PM Bix 56 Gold St POE  

"Loud party outside of Bix restaurant" - visited in real time (see below)

10/14/18 12:00 AM 

 

Bar Fluxus  

447 Bush POE "Continuous, nightly noise reaching 90db from outdoor patrons and indoor music. Bar is not permitted for patio, but patrons congregate loudly in the alley. Contacting bar owner is futile, he is not cooperative." - visited in real time (see below)

10/14/18 9:00 PM Midway 900 Marin POE EHP "...always seem to hear the bass from events at the Midway over the weekend.  I can't say that I'm 100% sure that it's coming from, but it does match up with the event schedule that they post on their website." - anonymous complaint, will monitor establishment.

                                                                           

SITE INSPECTIONS                                                                        

10/6/18 3:00 AM Halcyon 314 11th St POE EHP Doors closed. In compliance with internal sound limit.

10/6/18 9:00 PM Atlas 415 10th St NA Inspection after receiving sound complaint via email. PA on site, but no active entertainment. Will work towards bringing establishment into compliance.

10/7/18 3:25 PM 

Verdi Club 2424 Mariposa   POE        Following up on email complaint regarding Sunday morning service with live band. Regular manager was out of town, and will ensure things are kept under control.

10/13/18 12:45 AM Marrakech Magic Theater 419 O'Farrell POE Visited in response to a complaint via 311. Was verbally warned to keep door closed.

10/13/18 10:00 PM          

Regency Ballroom 1300 Van Ness   POE Spoke with operations manager regarding bus noise and instructed them to utilize shore power instead of generators.

10/13/18 11:30 PM Bix 56 Gold St POE Visited in response to a 311 complaint of people talking loudly outside. Spoke with security and was assured that they would encourage voices be kept to a minimum.

10/14/18 12:35 AM Bar Fluxus 

447 Bush POE Visited in response to a 311 complaint regarding noise from people and music. Instructed operator to close rear doors and encourage patrons to keep voices low.

10/14/18 2:00 AM Malibu 3395 Mission POE Observed security presence. Found to be in compliance.

                                                                           

NOTICES OF VIOLATION                                                             

10/6/18 12:15 PM SPiN Social Club 690 Folsom POE In response to a 311 complaint, an NOV was issued for operating with open doors and utilizing an outdoor speaker without a permit.

10/13/18 10:45 PM Salon  

448 Grove NA In response to a 311 complaint, an NOV was issued for operating without a permit.

                                                                           

ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION                                                                     

10/13/18 1:30 AM Halcyon 

314 11th POE EHP Administrative Citation issued for operating in excess of 116dBC sound limit.

                                                                           

INCIDENT                                                                    

10/7/18 2:20 AM Malibu 

3395 Mission POE Assault within 50 feet of club involving patrons just after closing. Meeting with operator and Ingleside Station scheduled for Wednesday 10/17/18.

                                                                           

ONGOING COMPLAINTS                                                             

Original:                                                                       Since last hearing:

11/14/16 Halcyon 314 11th St 

POE EHP 

10/13/18 @ 12:58am: "fluctuating volume… super loud"

9/29/17 Double Dutch 3192 16th St. POE Complaint via email on 10/10/18 @ 11:39pm

8/15/18 El Trebol 

3149 22nd St NA No complaints since last hearing.

 

Commissioner Tan asked how much Halcyon was over their sound limit.

 

Commissioner Caminong asked had there been similar events of violence at Malibu.

 

Senior Sound Inspector Burke stated from his research there was an assault in 2015.

 

No public comment. 

 

5. Report from the Senior Analyst: Dylan Rice shares an update on current projects to support the vitality of community and cultural outdoor events. [Discussion Item]

 

Senior Analyst Dylan Rice stated he has been working on initiatives and one of them will be an a couple of engagements coming up will be the SF Outdoor Events Network mixer that will be on Tuesday, November 7, 2018 at El Rio.  He added 

the theme of the event would be how producers can leverage technology to increase their revenue and improve customer experience.  He added there would be a few tech companies one called Tour Tech one of the nation’s leading tech companies who provide Wi-Fi info structure for a lot of high profile events and Guide Book a company that creates tools for event producers to create an app.  He added they will be doing presentations and will be on the panel He added the first training for the Outdoor Events Guide would be a webinar on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 11AM to broaden the reach of the guide.   He added that webinars were the wave of the future.  He added the master calendar of special events to have a centralized and transparent shared calendar of events citywide on calendar is finished and he was finalizing who would be receiving the calendar and editing the calendar.  He added he was working on a Halloween list that will go out this week.  

 

Chair Bleiman asked if the commission could be included on the master list.

 

No public comment was made.

 

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]

 

No comments were made. 

 

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

 

Consent Calendar:

All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the Entertainment Commission, and will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission.  There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission, the public, or staff so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing.

 

Chair Bleiman stated he would recuse himself on item b of the regularly agenda because he is on the advisory board.

 

Consent Agenda:

 

a) EC-1464 – Einselen, Richard, Mission Street Sports Bar SF, 2565 Mission St., Billiard Parlor and Mechanical Amusement Device Permits.

 

Public comment

No public comment was made. 

 

Commissioner Thomas move to approve agenda item A Commissioner Lee second the motion

Vote:

Yeas - Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Thomas Commissioner Perez  

 

Chair Bleiman recused himself from item B.

 

Regular Agenda:

 

b) EC-1463 – Yekutiel, Emanuel, Manny’s, 3092 16th Street, Limited Live 

Performance Permit.

 

Executive Director Maggie stated there were no issues with the application it could have been on the consent calendar but she felt it was a really exciting project and thought the commission should hear from the owner about his business. 

 

Emanuel Yekutiel stated he was the son of Afghan and polish immigrants and it was on their backs that he stood present today.  He added his father came on a boat from Afghanistan and saved enough money to open up his own restaurant in Vancouver.  He added it was a very personal endeavor for him.  He added he came from the world of politics and activism.  He added after the 2016 election people asked him how they could get more involved and do more. 

He added when they asked him he didn’t know where to send them to go to become more involved citizens.  He added that is when he decided to build a physical space in San Francisco were people know to go to become better citizens.  He added the space would combine a restaurant, a book shop and a civic gathering space.   He added the idea was people will come in for food, drink and enjoyment and notice there was bookshop where they can learn and read up on all the various fights that have been fought and are being fought now.  He added it will give them opportunity to engage in activity from activist, social justice and documentary screenings and non-profit executives and people who work in public service.   He added he was combining civic work with a social space. 

 

Commissioner Thomas stated it sounded like a great project. 

 

Commissioner Tan asked did he have a program manager and how he would curate.  He added it was great project.  He added the fact that he wanted to curate and support and engage non-profits in San Francisco was fantastic. 

 

Emanuel Yekutiel stated most of the events will be done by other organizations that are doing civic work in some way to do their events.  He added the events will happen after work hours from 6PM-10PM. 

 

Commissioner Perez stated he was inspired by his project and asked about his community outreach.   He asked how he would handle noise complaints.  

 

Emanuel Yekutiel stated before he signed the lease he reached out to several people and had letters of support.  He stated he would inform anyone renting the space that it was a community space.  

 

Commissioner Falzon moved to approve Commissioner Thomas second the motion

 

Vote:

Yeas - Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Thomas Commissioner Perez  

 

8. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Protocol for Honoring and Celebrating Nightlife Businesses in San Francisco. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]

 

Chair Bleiman stated the item was something he wanted to but on the calendar a long time ago and the idea was discussed with the former Director Jocelyn Kane and was brought up briefly at the recent commission retreat.  He added the idea was to honor some of their more legendary music venues with an official honor from the Entertainment Commission.  He added 

It would give the Commission something to do that was not regulatory or punitive.  He added the idea was quarterly choose a venue and present them with an award that looked like a concert poster and welcomed any ideas from the staff and commissioners.   He added it was a small thing that would be really meaningful to the people receiving it. 

 

Commissioner Thomas though it was a great idea.

 

Commissioner Falzon stated it was a great idea as a Commission proclamation. 

 

Commissioner Tan thought it was great idea. He added he would want to honor diversity whether it was the size of the venue and days and year in the business and ethnic and gender.   

 

Chair Bleiman suggested they set up a working group for those who were interested and had suggestions and email Director Weiland with the ideas and criteria. 

 

Commissioner Falzon stated he has been appearing for the commission since its conception and this was the most exciting thing he has heard.   He added he meant it sincerely and it brought a lot of credibility to the Commission that it has involved to a point where not only the commission was bringing the idea forward but the recipients would actually want it and value it and feel honored. 

Commissioner Thomas stated they discussed at the retreat was to possibly update the Commissioner photos and descriptions on the Entertainment Commission webpage to have photos of the Commissioners in front of their entertainment venues and state what they like about the venue.  She added or something to highlight their personal connections to entertainment nightlife. 

 

Public comment 

No public comment was made. 

 

9. Commissioner Comments & Questions. [Announcements]

 

Commissioner Perez stated October is the officially “Filipino month” and invited staff and commissioners to the reception Friday, October 19, 2018 at City Hall Rotunda 5:30PM-7:30PM.  He added the National Rodeo this coming Friday was first responders Friday at 7:30PM at the Cow Palace.  

 

Commissioner Falzon attended the TNDC Celebrity Pool Toss an exceptional event that he recommended everyone to try to attend.  He added it was an awesome fundraiser for 240 plus kids in the Tenderloin.  He added Commander David Lazar was tossed in the pool and it was commendable that he raised over $20,000.00. 

 

Adjourned at 6:27 PM