Entertainment Commission
City and County of San Francisco

 

Meeting was held remotely

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

5:30 P.M.

Regular Meeting

 

                               

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:  Ben Bleiman, (President), Dori Caminong, (Vice President) Al Perez, Steven Lee, Laura Thomas, Dave Falzon, Cyn Wang

 

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:

 

STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Executive Director Maggie Weiland; Deputy Director Kaitlyn Azevedo; Senior Analyst Dylan Rice; Commission Aide Crystal Kennedy

 

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT BLEIMAN AT 5:32 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  

 

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. 

 

Public Comment: Arya Zarrinkelk stated he is representing all of the small and medium size bands in the San Francisco and bay area, great deal of them have found success and resources such as the Bay Bridge, Balance Breakfast Music Industry Meet Up and Music City San Francisco to play various venues and he feels if they do not use public events to test before the rainy season, artists will be forced to wait until spring of 2021.  He added he supports the entertainment commission in reopening the performing arts industry safely.

 

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes.  Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2020 Commission meeting. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
 

Public Comment: None

MOTION: Commissioner Caminong moved to approve the August 4, 2020 minutes, Commissioner Falzon seconded the motion.

 

ACTION: Approved Minutes for August 4, 2020.

 

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

 

NAYS: None

 

ABSENT: None

3. Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: Update on the City and County of San Francisco’s response to COVID-19 as it relates to the work of the Entertainment Commission; Staff and Office Update: none; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: none; Corrective Actions: none. [Discussion Item]

Public Comment:

= Jen Tait

= SAFEhouse Arts

= Albert G.

= Naomi Judy Sintomi 

= Lisa Gromiano 

= Sasha Higby 

= Gustillo By

= Mythili Kumar

= Nola Mariano

= NKechi Neuberg 

= Matthew Keefe

= Andrew Wood

= Zoom Chat Jo Kreiter 

= Kevin Nelson

4. Update on the state of San Francisco’s independent music venues: San Francisco’s Independent Venue Alliance provides an update on the state of San Francisco’s independent music venues during COVID-19. [Discussion Item]  

Fred Barnes, the General Manger of the Chapel on Valencia Street and the president of the San Francisco Independent Venue Alliance which is a group that represents over 20 Independent venues in San Francisco.They have done some webathons to manage a raise public donation for business venues.The purpose of the group is to come together and have a vocal point to fundraising activity and they are waiting on what measures will be given for venues to reopen safely and need clear guideline on how to conduct outdoor performances.

 

Public comment:

= Nkechi Neuberg

 

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

Regular Agenda: 

Regular Agenda:

 

1. EC-1582 – Emily Truong and Victor Duan of EVG Bar Management, Inc dba Recovery Room, 4528 Mission St, Limited Live Performance Permit.

SPEAKERS: = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

+ Jay, Manager, Recovery Room

PUBLIC COMMENT:  

= Steven Bird

= Lance

= Nkechi Neuberg

 

MOTION: Commissioner Lee moved to approve the dba Recovery Room’s Limited Live Performance permit with the staff recommendations, Commissioner Thomas seconded the motion.

Staff recommendation: Approval with Good Neighbor Policy and SFPD Ingleside Station’s    

recommended condition:

1. Notify (via email) the Ingleside Station Permits Officer and the Entertainment Commission of special events for situational awareness.

ACTION: THE Limited Live Performance permit was conditionally granted to the applicant. 

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

NAYS: None

2.  EC-277 – SOMArts Cultural Center, dba SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St, Place of Entertainment – Major Amendment to add outdoor entertainment 

SPEAKERS: = Deputy Director, Kaitlyn Azevedo, staff report

                              + Alex Lukas, Director of Site Operations, SOMArts Cultural Center        

PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment.   

MOTION: Commissioner Falzon moved to approve the SOMArts Cultural Center POE major amendment to include outdoor entertainment with the staff recommendations, Commissioner Wang seconded the motion.

Staff recommendation: Approval with Good Neighbor Policy and Southern Station’s recommended   conditions:

1. Permit holder shall be responsible for the management of outside promoters, special events, and the patrons inside and on the perimeter of the venue.
2. Notify (via email) the Southern Station Permits Officer, Southern Station Events Supervisors, and the Entertainment Commission of their calendar of events, highlighting any event where amplified sound and/or entertainment sound will occur between 10pm-2am.

ACTION: Approved the POE Major Amendment with staff recommendations to include outdoor entertainment

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

NAYS: None

6. Commissioner Comments & Questions.  

ADJOURNMENT 7:52PM