City and County of San Francisco

Entertainment Commission

 

MINUTES

Meeting was held remotely

 

 Tuesday, December 1, 2020

5:30 P.M.

Regular Meeting

 

                               

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

 

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

 

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

No public comment.

 

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes.  Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the November 17, 2020 Commission meeting. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
 

Public Comment: None

MOTION: Commissioner Lee moved to approve the November 17, 2020 minutes, Commissioner Wang seconded the motion.

 

ACTION: Approved Minutes for November 17, 2020.

 

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

 

NAYS: None

3. Report from Executive Director: [Legislative/Policy Update: Update on the City and County of San Francisco’s Just Add Music (JAM) Permit and Health Order Update; Staff and Office Update: none; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: none; Corrective Actions: none. [Discussion Item]

Public Comment: None

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

Public Comment: None

 

5. Update on Final Recommendations from San Francisco’s Economic Recovery Task Force: Presentation by and discussion with City Administrator Naomi Kelly and Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu regarding final recommendations from San Francisco’s Economic Recovery Task Force, specifically in regards to the arts, culture, hospitality, and entertainment sector. [Discussion Item]]

 

SPEAKERS:

                    +  Carmen Chu, Assessor-Recorder

Public Comment:

+ Mr. Foodie Village – They are in a spot in San Francisco that is a great location residential it is the largest type of facility, residential Park Merced next to San Francisco State and they are activating live entertainment on a limited but regular basis and supports the Economic Recovery Task Force.

 

+ Samuel Morse, resident of the Mission and advocates for giving assistance to live music venues and supports entertainment in San Francisco.  

 

+ Michelle Delaney, 111 Minna Gallery, urged the Commission to support the Emergency Financial Relief for San Francisco Venues and appreciates the presentation and that they are thinking about how the effects on the streets affects businesses which is a challenge.

 

Public comment closed.

 

6. Discussion and possible action to support the San Francisco Venue Coalition and the Independent Venue Alliance’s proposed relief package and policy solutions: As requested at the November 17, 2020 hearing, the Entertainment Commission will discuss the San Francisco Venue Coalition and the Independent Venue Alliance’s proposed relief package and policy solutions and potentially act to formally support the proposal. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]

 

SPEAKERS:

              + Ben Bleiman, President Entertainment Commission

Public comment: 

 

+ Chat comment – Piano Pipe Productions asked besides live performance venues what other venues are able to open and what capacity.

 

+ Michelle Delany - It’s been very frustrating for small businesses downtown and those of a reasonable size.  The grants have all been for businesses of 2.5 million or less.  It’s great that smaller businesses are getting help but small businesses are greater than 2.5 million are still being impacted grossly by the pandemic and they can’t get any grants.

 

+ Briana Bonett lives in San Francisco and entertainment venues are near and dear to her heart.  She added she is a hobby performer, a live music goer, theatre patron and believes that venues keep the heartbeat of the city.

 

+ Chat Public comment urged the Commission to support the Emergency Financial Relief Fund.

 

Public comment closed.

7. Commissioner Comments & Questions.  

ADJOURNMENT 7:16PM - The meeting was adjourned in honor of World AIDS Day.