there any positive? director kane: i have been digging around on the internet. it is hard to do because it is not in english. >> i have a french interpreter for you. director kane: you do? excellent. maybe we should call someone over there or engage somebody over there. i cannot speak french. >> i suggest you get a hold of buck. very fluent in french. among six other languages, i think. he speaks impeccable french, at least, to me he does. >> and do you understand him? >> no. director kane: that is right. i have to do my last item, not a very positive one. i have to report that we have

had some struggle at rocket room. as of april 6, it is voluntarily suspending their entertainment for one month per an agreement made between the operator and the entertainment commission staff. we have in the office a letter stipulating to the action. you know, talking at length about a plan to improve operations, to change the venue name, to reprogram the venue. we are in that right now. we have had one week and of quiet. we are hopeful that this intervention, which, to my mind, was an immediate way to intervene in a public safety issue, will do the trick, and hopefully bring that into compliance without a more formal

hearing process. we will wait and see. i will let the commission know. that concludes my report. >> i have -- maybe this is apropos to you as well. on the towing, i was wondering if we could work through our liaison. i notice he is not here tonight from central station. see what, maybe on a monthly count, how much of the volume has diminished? i would like to see that ultimately done away with. director kane: we get to that news letter, i think, weekly. it is not by weekly -- biweekly. it has the toll numbers in yet -- twow numbers in it. we will be happy to share that with you. those tows are recorded the

time. >> right. in my other life as a hearing officer, i see families, they are just up there, just good citizens wanting a nice dinner come either from the city, or visiting, and are not expecting toad-away -- tow-away at the bizarre hours for no apparent reason. there are people coming in having the cars towed or not come anybody that lends themselves to activity on broadway, which we are not favorable with -- it is, from my perspective, not working if it is supposed to control problems. thank you for getting that produced. we will see where it goes from here. >> good evening. in your books, you will see my report. i just want to touch on a few issues. in the past few weeks, there was a meeting on "st. -- polk

street. basically, as we discussed in this commission in the past, we really have seen folks thriving. the area is much busier than it was before the last few years. there are more people out. businesses are doing better. it is great. what comes with that, there are issues with crowd control. we are not seeing violence, but it is more crowd control and sound. what we did is be less reactive and more -- kind of get in there. we have this meeting. we discussed a little bit of education of what the law was, what their responsibilities were, and how they could better work together. i thought it was a pretty positive meeting. we are continuing to watch polk street three closely. that seems to be going really well. also, we had two issues in the

mission. one was 190 capp street. this commission has heard about it in the past. it is a location, a warehouse, that was doing unpermited events. we have, basically -- the building owners and tenants, we have pretty much been able to get agreement from everyone involved that there would be no more events. the city attorney stepped in and let them know that if they continued, they would be taken to court. it was one of those situations where the city attorney and the entertainment commit -- entertainment commission staff for working together. the next one is 3248 17th street. in this situation, i have to give this particular gentleman credit. he took a basement, bill bob

barr, opened his bars, without a single permit in the world, and opened a nightclub. he invited the staff in. ready for business. the entrepreneurship is out there. >> where is this located? >> 17th street. we are working with the owners, mission station, and it looks like the city attorney will step in. we have gotten on top of that very quickly. i don't see any further issue. you never know. i was surprised to see what they did. moving on, real quickly -- there was a whole new host of conditions placed on one group by the commission. we are not seeing a lot of change. we did fight them recently for a permit condition violation. they have not done what was

asked of them. we are continuing to watch them very closely. if things are not -- do not change, we have a -- we may have to do the next up and bring them back before you. also, just to bring up something that relates to the legislation and parking garage, we had a pretty bad battery in the last two weeks. it really shows accurately that this legislation for parking garages is important. it can have a lot of them packed around the venues. -- impact of around the venues. those are the highlights right now, unless there are questions. >> i have a question. what did you cite them for? >> open door. they were blasting sound into the community. >> ok. on polk street, so, we have

these formally -- partially blighted neighborhoods coming back. they're coming back colt -- all over san francisco because they're more affordable. we can look at valencia street and see it happening. they're beginning to repave mission street. it is happening on polk street as well. it is not that we want to discourage business. i am really glad that neighborhood is thriving. a thriving neighborhood does away with a lot of drugs, prostitution, and other things. was there any solution suggested? i have been hearing the neighbors forever talking about how upset they are that it is doing well, because it creates noise for them. has there been anything suggested that could mediate this situation, so businesses can exist, and the neighbors are

not totally flipping out about it? the neighbors there are mostly long time neighbors. >> i don't think the neighbors are flipping out. we don't see the level of complaints that we do in other parts of town at different times at all. you are right that this is a significant change that has happened over time, and there are a few neighbors that are very upset, and make themselves known, but i would not suggest that an upper prescription is to say the neighborhood is up in arms. they are not. we just wanted to be proactive. we did it eight months ago or so to make sure that the businesses have everything that they need prepared, ready to go, they know the rules. that is it. everyone has to live together, as you know. i think we are doing the right thing. i think the clubs understood we were not coming down on them.

the poll we certainly were not, either. it was very clear that we were on the same side of the table trying to make sure the businesses were more successful and kept their t's crossed and i's dotted so we could maintain order among a growing success, so they do not become their own worst enemy. >> some of the comments we heard from club owners were, we have to deal with lines we have never had to deal with before. we have people lining up. that is new to them. they're realizing they have to put security on the street to watch the lines. they never had to do that before. that is part of the issue. a lot of it was education. this is what the rules are. this is what is expected of you. here are some of the things that will help you and the neighborhood get along better. crowd control. director kane: right. it was saying to them, you used to be may be a bar, and now you

are really doing it. you have to think of yourselves almost more of a nightclub when it begins to look like that. manage it. that does it. >> very good. thank you. >> i was just wondering if there was any discussion about getting the bar owners together on communication, like, real time communication, so that, similar to the castro and broadway -- >> that was one of the topics discussed. one of the things that we encouraged them was to be, like broadway, meeting amongst themselves. that is something they were looking at seriously. there already is some level of communication between security because of proximity of some locations. we stressed the importance of that. they were looking into it on their own. >> i was wondering if there was discussion on party bosses -- buses.

>> i am not aware that anyone -- >> some places do on polk street. that was another discussion. some places were like, we have never had to deal with party buses. we don't have policies because we have never had them before. we were able to talk about that as well. >> i have one question. did assemblyman gil's office ever get back to you on the party bus legislation? director kane: i think commissioner hidyde has been working on it. >> i believe hill's legislation was passed out of public safety, but not passed through the full assembly. i have been talking with tom's

office, who said that once we come up with some legislation that does not just deal with minors and drinking, likely hill legislation, it would maybe offer some helpful legislations. he would be happy to work with us and move forward. he is hoping to get some guidance. >> legislation that deals with something other or in addition? >> in addition to. >> miners and drinking is not enough? >> i think he realizes that the problem is not necessarily that the miners -- minors is not them getting on the bus. you end up with people completely inebriated and of using whatever neighborhood they get dropped off on. they get dropped off in several neighborhoods. that is a lot of the problems.

these people are not guided across -- for example, on folsom st., icy buses unload -- i see buses dropping off people who are dodging traffic. >> if they could not drink on the bus to begin with, would that solve the problem? >> there are lobbying groups. i think some sort of regulations on how the alcohol is served -- but, i think may be further discussion, or a discussion group, might be a good idea. >> thank you. >> thank you. anybody else? ok. any public comment to respond to the report of the director? >> commissioners, obviously, you covered quite a few things in that report. regarding broadway and parking

issues, the signs are up. i think baby steps might be appropriate at this time to earn the trust without compromising safety. i would like to see the cars returned to the street, or even a different approach could be where all cars are off the street and it is a walking street, where people have that. that has been tossed around. the bottom line is it was something that was vetted in the community. the chamber of conference -- chamber of commerce weighed in. all the merchant grips, the residential groups, i think the police handled it very well. we move forward in this legislation and it passed because it was a collaborative effort with everybody involved. it is kind of a success. regarding polk street, we actually got televised on channel 2. there were residents and

merchants at a community leadership alliance meeting at the library. some of the points were how to manage the club and externally, adding more security oxide. also, cell phone numbers were exchanged. rather than pointing fingers are taking the defense of position, the meeting was really productive. the meeting set timetables on a monthly basis to check the progress. the bottom line is, both groups were apologetic on how they handled the situation. once the media got involved and height of the situation, and then it got people into a situation where people got kind of defensive. they have calmed down and come back to the table to work toward a solution, and not blame each other. i am really happy with how that went. thank you. >> thank you. ok. no further comment.

we go on to item four, police department comments and questions. anybody here from the police department like to address the commission? going once? ok. all right. public comment on the lack of response from the police department? [laughter] all right. item number five. hearing a possible action regarding applications for permits under the jurisdiction of the entertainment commission. ferrucci, andrea, dba the dark horse inn. 942 geneva. limited live performance permit. >> good evening. it is a 49-person occupancy full-service restaurant. it serves food seven days a week. it is open until 10:30 during the week. this would allow them to have acoustic music performances.

we recommend approval. >> ok. is there anybody here from the applicant? i understand i butchered your name. i apologize. welcome. >> thank you. we would just like to say that we have got a lot of scared -- a lot of community support. all of our regular, the community, the surrounding businesses we have spoken to have supported marketing the permit. we have a petition signed by over 100 people who have come in and supported us. >> ok. commissioners come any questions? ok. any public comment on the application? yes, sir?

>> good evening. buzz brooks. i am a night driver. i have been driving at night for 30 years. i am well aware of the nighttime problems around the city. as you know, the geneva avenue carter has been somewhat belated for the last how many decades. -- blighted for the last how many tickets. we have some business is raising the quality of the neighborhood. among them are the dark horse. it attracts a mature come older crowd. they are not rowdy. i'm a little prejudiced because i am a musician. however, i can tell you with all certainty that any time you put live music into a mature crowd, you're going to elevate the quality of that neighborhood. thank you very much. >> how old is mature?

over 21? over 51? >> people who are not obnoxious and do not misbehave, and know how to hold their liquor without upsetting other people around them. >> thank you. >> commissioner joseph and i will be out there. [laughter] ok. no further public comment. the item is with the commission. >> to make a motion to approve. >> all the items recommended are from the law. >> that will be provided? >> a monthly calendar of performances. the operator is in agreement with that condition? >> my motion stands.

i move to approve. >> i second it. commissioner hyde: i am wondering if we are adding 8 to it. friendly amendment? commissioner joseph: aye. commissioner hyde: aye. commissioner tan: aye. commissioner lee: aye. >> modi, rakesh, dba omg!. >> it is an upscale lounge and nightclub. it is just south of market street with an emphasis on hollywood and barack obama music -- bongo music.

i think we will entertain a request to continue it. with someone, and correct me? >> we have got some of these -- we have everybody lining up. >> good evening, commissioners. at this time, i would like to request a continuance. that is based on the fact that the current security plan is inadequate. i would like your paternity to meet with mr. -- i would like the opportunity to meet with mr. modi. >> is he in agreement for amendments? >> we can talk to them. >> ok. commissioners? >> can i ask you what you found inadequate? >> number one, he does not have

-- the name of the company picked out. there is no mention of lighting, security cameras, patrons upon exiting the establishment, safety protocol for them upon leaving, and hours of the security guards. director kane: ok. thank you. >> ok. do what the club owners -- yes, sir? >> my name is rakesh modi. we just -- we're ok with having the hearing at another date and working with sfpd.

i would like to point out that we have provided all the security plans to the entertainment commission, including the exit strategies, and the lighting, and the cameras. everything is provided. we will definitely make sure that another copy is provided to dfp -- sfpd. we will work with them to focus on their requirements. >> all right. ok. commissioner joseph: i just -- the fact -- the security plan you provided is fine, if, in fact, you hire your own security guards. if you are going to hire an outside security company, they may have a different protocol. therefore, your security plan would no longer be the security plan. it would be theirs. you have to come to a decision on whether you are going to hire security guards or whether

you're going to hire an outside company. i think that we don't necessarily require that you identify that company in order to get a conditional grant. >> we -- since we have submitted the application, we have a company in mind. monarch on 6th and mission has been using johnson security. we plan to use the same security company. we have not entered into any kind of contract or negotiations with them. we do plan to use the same security company. >> ok. thank you. >> make sure you coordinate before we reschedule you. the officer from southern station and with the staff, we can have everything and everybody in agreement before we come here. >> thank you so much. >> thank you. >> someone has to move. >> we need a motion to continue.

>> one more comment. the applicants -- southern station is actually pretty open. if you're going to hire the security company, you should have a meeting and see if you can work things out. i don't think there's a big problem. what you have here is fine. you should get together with everybody. >> thank you. >> i will suggest you talk to monarch's about the outreach they did in the neighborhood. i know they have a positive experience talking to that nonprofits. you have done some. they are, like, business associations, not necessarily neighborhood associations. it is only a suggestion that will maybe help you in the neighborhood. i know monarch's found it helpful. i wanted to suggest that you possibly do something like that.

i would like to move a for a continuance. >> until? >> i want to make a friendly amendment. you want to move to the continuance at the request of san francisco pd. >> until? >> to the next meeting. that is my friendly amendment. >> accepted. >> i second that. commissioner hyde: aye. commissioner joseph: aye. commissioner tan: aye. commissioner lee: aye. >> all right. thank you. 5c, luu duc. >> i have to recuse myself on these items because i have common interests with the applicant. it is going to be this one and probably the next one as well. so, i will see you later.

>> all right. [laughter] >> call me later. >> space 550 is a dance club located in an industrial area. in bayview. the venue has been there since 1995. the application is speak for -- is the force because of a change of ownership. it would like to continue operating as a dance club. this is a hearing of two permits, extended hours and place of entertainment. >> ok. chair newlin, commissioners, my name is mark. i have a few things to hand out. pictures. not sure if you've all got

these, but there are a couple of letters that came. i would like to pass the mouth. a -- them out. i am here tonight with the "owner and applicant linda, who is with us -- security had [inaudible] we also have the former owner of space 550 and now the head of operations. he has been a client of mine for over 20 years, probably the most successful gay promoter in california for over 22 years. he has been the owner