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, June 18, 2019, 
5:30 P.M.
Regular Meeting

 

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ben Bleiman (President), Dori Caminong (Vice President), Bryant Tan, Steven Lee, Al Perez, Dave Falzon

 

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Laura Thomas

 

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

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT BLEIMAN AT 5:34PM

 

President Bleiman opened the meeting in honor of Mike Leon the co-owner of the Eagle Bar.

 

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 June 4, 2019, Commission meeting. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]

MOTION: Commissioner Caminong moved to approve the June 4, 2019 minutes, Commissioner Falzon second the motion.

ACTION: Approved Minutes for June 4, 2019

AYES: Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Falzon, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Lee

NAYS: None

ABESENT: Laura Thomas

Absent at the time of the vote: Bryant Tan

3. Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: Update on June 13, 2019 “Save Mezzanine” press conference and related legislative announcements, and possible update on BOS File No. 181211 re: Health, Planning, and Police Codes - Small Business Permit Streamlining; Staff and Office Update: Presentation of Entertainment Commission Annual Report FY 16-17 & 17-18, update on Mayor London Breed’s beINVINCIBLE Women’s Summit on June 14, 2019, and possible update on Senior Inspector hiring process; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: nothing to report; Corrective Actions: nothing to report. [Discussion Item]

 

Commissioner Tan arrived at 5:44PM

 

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

 

New Complaints

Sat 6/8/2019  7:37:36 PM	Orson's Belly	1737 BALBOA ST	Applied for LLP	Orsons Belly continues to operate after they are supposed to be closed. They continue to serve alcohol so it gets really loud really late. ACTION: Deputy Director met with the owner of Orson's Belly on Wednesday, June 12th for an LLP intake meeting. They are eager to get a permit and be in compliance. This complaint was anonymous and made at 7:37 pm on Saturday night. The business is open until 10 pm Wednesday-Sunday, and their liquor license (type 41) allows the sale of alcohol until 10pm. Deputy Director forwarded the complaint to the owners, who said they closed at 7pm that night. Inspector Fiorentino will stop by the next time he is in the field.
Fri 6/7/2019  11:40:04 PM	Raven	1151 Folsom St	POE	Inspector Fiorentino went to the venue because Director Weiland received notification from Honey Mahogany (legislative aide to D6 Supervisor Haney) that a resident of D6 had been experiencing problems with bar patrons obstructing the bike lane in front of the bars on Folsom St. The resident has asked patrons to move and has inadvertently hit people on his bike trying to ride home. Inspector Fiorentino spoke to the Raven manager who said he is aware of bike lane safety, they hired extra security, and blamed another bar in the area for the patrons. However, Inspector Fiorentino saw multiple patrons of Raven come out of the bar and stand in the bike lane while he was there. The manager and security asked patrons to move while Inspector Fiorentino was onsite.
Sat 6/8/2019  12:47:04 AM	Arena SF	2565 Mission St	POE	Inspector Fiorentino responded to sound complaint he received from a neighbor who contacted him directly. He took two sound readings inside the venue and found them peaking at 112.7dBC. Their sound limit is 97dBA/100dBC. They were issued an NOV for being in violation of their sound limit.

 

Sat 6/8/2019  8:56:05 PM	Valencia Room	647 Valencia	POE / Temp	Inspector Fiorentino brought a copy of the Elbo Room POE to the manager. The Valencia Room is operating on a temporary permit under the Elbo Room's permit conditions; their sound limit was 80dBA. The Valencia Room is required to abide by Elbo Room's sound limit until their are issued their own. When Inspector Fiorentino took a sound reading, they were operating above 80dBA. Deputy Director called the owner but was unable to get them on the phone; sent a verbal warning via email.
Sat 6/8/2019  10:43:40 PM	The Roc	2801 Leavenworth	POE	Inspector Fiorentino visited the venue per Director Weiland's request because a fight occurred outside of the premises the weekend prior. Director Weiland and Deputy Director Azevedo sat down with the venue managers and head of security on Thursday, June 13, and discussed the incident and their security operations. It was determined that during the incident, they followed their security protocol and did their best to prevent an altercation. The meeting was positive, and they will continue to adhere to their security plan.
Fri 6/14/2019  11:58:48 PM	Arena SF	2565 Mission St	POE	Inspector Fiorentino responded to 311 complaint from neighbor the night before. When he approached the building, he could hear the music from outside. The manager saw him when he entered and Inspector Fiorentino heard the music turn down considerably as he was taking a sound reading. The sound data shows the significant drop in their volume while he took the reading. He reminded the DJ and manager to not exceed their sound limit.
Fri 6/14/2019  11:58:03 PM	Kells	530 Jackson St	LLP	Inspector Savino responded to 311 complaint made prior in the week. He met the manager and explained why he was there. The venue had their door open and a DJ playing past 10 pm. He gave them a verbal warning (in person and sent a follow up email) for operating past their LLP permit conditions.
Sat 6/15/2019  1:20:24 PM	Juneteenth	Fillmore between Geary Blvd. & Golden Gate	OTOEP	Inspector Savino's notes from this event: Street festival, four sound sources with one main stage, lots of bbq and great food, car show, ponys. Cowboy on horse rode down the street to Geary and his hat flew off, police everywhere with smiles. Mayor London Breed greeting folks. Awesome.

 

 

5. Report from the Senior Analyst: Dylan Rice shares an update on digital enhancements for permitting events, and industry education initiatives. [Discussion Item]

 

Digital Enhancements for Permitting Events

Transitioning permits apps to Screendoor:

One Time Outdoor Event Permits

• New Screendoor platform launched on May 1st and we have issued 40 permits using the new platform.
• Customer feedback has been positive in terms of efficiency and clarity of the new tool.

One Time Indoor Event Permits & Sound Truck Permits

• Currently refining the draft of the Screendoor permit apps.
• We will do a soft launch and user testing in the next few weeks.
• Goal is to launch these new apps on our website by the end of June.

Transitioning EC website to SF.gov:

These services pages will be live on SF.gov by the end of June

• “Get an entertainment permit for your outdoor event” (see screenshot in Google drive/binder)
• “Report a venue or event for a sound issue” (see screenshot in Google drive/binder)

These new pages will be cross linked with our current sfgov.org site until the entire website has been transitioned to SF.gov

Currently developing service pages for “Get a permit for an indoor event” and “Get a permit for a sound truck” with Digital Services Dept.

Industry Education Initiatives

Next SF Outdoor Events Network event:

Mon July 22
@ Jolene’s, 2700 16^th St.
5:30pm-8:00pm
Panel topic: “Success Through Vendor Management”
Will include a short presentation by Michael Bleu of EventHub. He will also moderate a small panel of 2 event producers that manage complex vendor-heavy events (TBD).
Jolene’s is going to provide a DJ that night to encourage people to stay and network.

 

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]   

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.

1. EC-1528 –Tom Whalen, Richard Wentworth, and Chris Broccoli of Brooklyn Rose, LLC, Ha-Ra Club, 875 Geary St., Billiard Parlor Permit.

 

SPEAKERS:  = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

MOTION: Commissioner Tan moved to approve the consent agenda, Commissioner Falzon   seconded the motion.

ACTION: The Billiard Parlor Permit was conditionally granted to the applicant.

AYES: Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Laura Thomas

Regular Agenda:

2. EC-1520 – Derek Parker of 1700 Dimples Inc., Dimples Cocktail Lounge, 1700 Post St., Place of Entertainment Permit – Change in Ownership.

SPEAKERS:  = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

MOTION: Commissioner Tan moved to continue the item, Dimples Cocktail Lounge, Place of Entertainment Permit, Change in Ownership to the July 16, 2019 hearing, Commissioner Falzon second the motion.

ACTION: The Place of Entertainment Permit – Change in Ownership for Dimples Cocktail Lounge was continued to the July 16, 2019 hearing.

AYES: Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon.

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Laura Thomas

3. EC-126 – San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SFMOMA, 151 3^rd St., Place of Entertainment Permit – Major Amendment.

SPEAKERS:  = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

                   = Noah Bartlett, Director of Operations, Facilities & Security

MOTION: Commissioner Lee moved to approve the Place of Entertainment Permit- Major Amendment, with the Good Neighbor Policy and SFPD Southern Station’s recommended conditions 1-8, Commissioner Tan second the motion.

 

ACTION: Place of Entertainment-Major Amendment Permit was conditionally granted to the applicant.

AYES: Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Laura Thomas

4. EC-003 – Michelle Delaney, Alex Kivelstadt, and David Mabry of 111 Minna Gallery, LLC, 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna St., Place of Entertainment Permit – Major Amendment.

 

SPEAKERS:  = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

                    =  Michelle Delaney, Owner of 111 Minna Gallery

= Alex Kivelstadt, Owner of 111 Minna Gallery   

= Noah Bartlett Director of Operations, Facilities & Security of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SFMOMA said 111 Minna Gallery is a keystone establishment in the neighborhood and they would love to see it continue.

MOTION: Commissioner Falzon moved to approve the Place of Entertainment Permit- Major Amendment, with the Good Neighbor Policy and SFPD Southern Station’s recommended conditions 6, 7, and 8. Commissioner Caminong second the motion. 

 

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

AYES: Commissioner Perez, Commissioner Caminong, Commissioner Bleiman, Commissioner Tan, Commissioner Lee, Commissioner Falzon

NAYS: None

 

ABSENT: Laura Thomas

 

9. Commissioner Comments & Questions. [Announcements]

ADJOURNMENT 6:30PM