for hosting entertainment without a permit. they didn't submit any neighborhood outreach to the staff, but we also did not receive any direct opposition. northern station approves this permit with one added condition, which as listed below on your memo, and the owner is here to tell you more. >> hello, i am johnny, thank you for listening to us. i recently took over blue light a couple of months ago as part of the group that bought it. they left that business. since i have been back, first of all, i want to address the one incident. that was against my better judgement, i guess. i made a mistake and i do take full responsibility for it. we did think it was not against

the permit to have a hidden d.j. where they can make playlists and try to not have our ipad behind the bar controlling the music that somewhere out of the distractions of bartenders, as well as we didn't want to have -- we did not want any customers to see that we were doing that. it was a mistake. i called and as soon as i got the e-mail and she explained to me why it was a mistake. we will not do it again. since we did take over the blue light, we did make quite a few changes. blue light has been a busy place for a long time. right away we have applied for a permit, as well. we reached out to about every neighbor and there have not been any issues as -- at all. i gave the bartenders my cell phone numbers. i probably have ten neighbors with my cell phone number. any issues they have they can contact me. i have contacted them about this hearing as well. i feel like i am in a pretty

good relationship with everybody i have quite a few happy fourth of july weekend his from quite a few of them as well. they tell us they are pretty appreciative of all the work we have done it? have turned on the speakers because that is where most of the issues were. i have met with the caption of the district and i have met with the 850 bryant street with michael in the cbc liaison. we have gone through issues in the past and there is no d.j.s at all at 10:00 p.m., but what we would like to do here is -- i am a big fan of acoustic music and acoustic shows. i have quite a few friends over the years who play acoustic guitar. somebody could come in and sing and they could do something similar with their shows. that places a great place to go to. live music has been dying out,

especially acoustic music. i can even tell you a good place to go and listen to it. we want to see if we can bring that back. it would be before 10:00 p.m. and hopefully we can increase our early hours and hopefully we can bring some pretty good talents and have some nice shows we did, after a lot of neighborhood outreach, we did something on the street. i have quite a few signatures of support as well as -- while i was doing that, quite a few people got my cell phone. if they have any problems or issues that all they can contact me. i respond to everybody. he is also on quite a few of these chains as well. our goal is to be good neighbors and hopefully we will have a new and nice element into the industry versus anything else

that could cause troubles. >> we have known each other for many years. >> yes, we have. >> if anybody would know the rules, you would, because i remember your old places back when the police had your permit. i am glad you own up to it, and whatever it is, having a d.j. in the backroom, you know, it is not a good message, so i question to staff is, you know, because i live -- before buchanan and silver street, i was there when they owned the bar, and to didn't have a full entertainment p.o.e.? he used to play there. is that allowed now? >> it is not allowed. the limited live was actually restricted to extend to 11:00 p.m. within the union street and c.d.

that was lifted two years ago, so they actually could apply to go to 11 after a year of good behaviour or lack of complaints given our office and police department. no p.o.e. allowed. >> are you going to be on-site mac when the music is going on most of the timer will you have a manager on duty? >> it will be a manager or myself. i live right there. >> at 10:00, turning off the music at 10:00 p.m., we have been in the industry so long, we just get the party started and then we have to shut it down. you are all okay with -- all okay with that. >> there is a skylight in the back which i think that is where most of any kind of sounding

with the pool taper is -- pool table is. i thank you have customers interacting. we put quite a bit of soundproofing and we put five pains of soundproof fabric to help. >> and you plan to have your musicians more in the middle? >> in the front. >> so to have enough ventilation to keep that door shut? because that is part of it. >> we have a full ventilation system. >> keep the doors shut while the music is playing. >> yes. >> okay. so you read the whole good neighbor policy? >> oh, yeah. we posted it. >> it is quite a bit different from before. >> sure, things are changing i enjoyed it. this commission is easier to work with. >> i saw that coming. >> i have known you before, and i have known you. >> i know you are a great operator.

i will give you that. thank you. >> i am done. >> you are saying a fan of acoustic music and that is what you want, but the complaint and the incident with the d.j., that is not acoustic music. so what is -- what do you think is the type of invoice -- the type of music that will be played most frequently? >> i will reach out to quite a few musicians. it is not that big of a space and we can't do anything big. but if we do the two or three piece -- if there is a d.j., i don't want them the d.j. to play something fun. we serve for venues as well. it is like a dinner business going on.

i don't want to scare that away. the goal -- i've had nothing more then a two-piece acoustic band and a singer that would be phenomenal, or a d.j. that is playing for fun and a sing-along you could use it like that. >> okay. thanks. >> good evening. more of just a comment. i just want to say i really hope your sincere about bringing in some live music because something this commission has been very passionate about is finding homes for these people, like you said earlier, it is almost impossible to even tell people where to go, especially when it comes to jazz and stuff, so i hope you are sincere about that because there's a lot of talent out there looking for places to work. >> there is. i know quite a few. >> and some really good talents. >> i went to a club up to the redwoods and we watch them play. >> i'm up there, too. [laughter]

>> thank you. >> thank you. >> i have a question for staff. we don't usually see billiards -- we don't see many billiard parlor permits, and i think it was the planning department's who recommended up to two. is there a need for a limit to billiard tables? >> it comes -- it becomes more than ten. billiard par lures, you don't even need a permit if you only have one. >> we only have room for one. >> right. it looks like there's only one on the map. >> okay. >> i am just kind of curious because -- >> whatever, we just went through this last week because both caitlin and i were confused so planning is trying to restrict them to two pool tables >> -- >> i have never seen that before >> it is a recommended approval,

up to two billiard tables permitted. i'm not sure what is up, but it doesn't matter because you can only fit one anyway. >> it was an interpretation from a commission in 1998. must have been from a previous. >> okay. i would hate for the code to even care how many billiard tables are at any given place, but anyway, i trust my colleague here who has worked with you for 25 years. i have not worked with you that long, but i think that -- >> hopefully we will be. >> yeah,. but i think we are always supportive of more spaces that run -- that are run by good operators. i want to take the commissioner 's word for it and i'm supportive of this proposal. thank you. >> thank you. >> all right, i don't have any questions or comments. you can have a seat and we will

take it to public comment. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> i have worked for johnny -- i started when he first opened the bar and then it switched over for a while, and i still work for him, and i also work in the music industry, so i have been wanting him to get live music and entertainment for a while. we have a lot of bands in my day job, and the bar affords me to work my day job, so i definitely am passionate about that. that is something that we definitely want to do. >> thank you for sharing. is there any public comment on this agenda item? seeing none, public comment is closed. >> the blue light has been around for so long and, you know , he has been an icon, and it is good at least an experienced operator is taking over, you know, i'm disappointed about the d.j. in the back room, though, but the problem now is

union union street is dying. when boss was around, it was a lot more entertainment stuff that was going on, but now it seems like union street is on the down again. i'm hoping that the blue light and you bringing in more live music to the neighborhood, which they love, will work and keep this bar alive. i am in support of the permit and moved to approve with the good neighborhood policy. and please share the good neighborhood policy with your staff if you are not there. >> did you want to add the northern station recommendation? just emitting the calendar to the commission and the station? >> in the request would be to differentiate between the e.c. staff's recommendation, and our interpretation of the northern station's conditions. >> i was going with your interpretation. >> great. >> that is fine. >> i will second.

[roll call] >> congratulations. your permit has been granted. please follow up with our deputy director as soon as you can for your next steps. thank you. >> all right, last but not least , our final permit on the agenda this evening is for a limited live performance permit for orson's belly. it is a small neighborhood café and tap us bar. they are family owned and operated at her coming into compliance by applying for the l.l.p. permit. if granted, they hope to continue having live entertainment for the guests to enjoy. the reason they are on the regular calendar and not consent is because we have received some sound complaints, however, upon investigation of the complaints, the inspector has waited that most of them were made while the business was closed.

they received 186 signatures of support from neighbors and patrons and no opposition with -- was submitted. richman station approve this permit with one condition which was lifted below on the staff memo. here to tell you more is the owner. >> hello, everybody. i will speak from the heart because i don't know howells to speak. when we have had orson's belly for almost three years now and we are located on balboa between 18th and 19th avenue, right by quan. when we chose that location, everyone said, are you kidding me, you are not going to do anything over there, that place is dead, there is no one there, and that is why we chose it because that area needed something. there is no place for people to gather, no place for people to congregate, talk, have a good

time. i feel like we have been that spot for central balboa, for central richmond, you know, we have everyone from the parents and kids coming over, u.s.f., we have state students coming over, old-timers, p.d., fd, everybody.

i want to grow my business with all of my heart and my effort until the last day comes, that is going to be with a permit. please consider it. >> i just want to know where the name othe orson's belly came fr. >> orson well's belly. it is another thing with our performances, so a couple weeks ago we had the culture night. there were as lot of brazilians.

i will not have them come back any time soon. a couple days ago we showed a 1933 movie and a local jazz musician was doing sounds with it. it was so quiet we were hearing the bus pass by. sometimes it is loud, sometimes it is quiet. i am willing to work with people. i don't want to get on anybody's wrong side. in that neighborhood they will kick your ass. that is why we are here right now. i don't want to mess with anybody so that is it. >> i appreciate your candor and it sounds like a fantastic place to hang out. >> thank you. >> good evening, i want to comment you on acknowledging some of the complaints were legitimate. that is honorable.

for clarity you operate from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. you don't go later than 10:00? >> when we started we were doing coffee, lunch, some beer and wine. it is not suggestion sustainable for us any more. my wife and i we are the only people there. we don't have employees. we usually do 9:00 to 9:00 or 10:00. we want to change it to noon to 10:00. we have been trying to change the hours. i think it is the same three one one caller. abc is reluctant to grant us that. we are doing 9:00 to 9:00. >> it is your abc conditions. >> we are in the middle of modifying it. >> you do understand the abc only regulates sales and consumption of alcohol.

they don't preclude you from staying open. >> they gave us the noise complaint. the only reason i would say no to your modification is the noise complaints. >> bear with me a second. i want to comment on giving up on the bureaucracy. i was hoping you listened to the executive director earlier. there are people working hard to make it better for you. number one. abc regulates sales, service and consumption of alcohol. your sales are limited from 8:0. that doesn't preclude you from staying open. you can stay open, you just can't serve alcohol. plenty of businesses do it. it is not ideal. i would work towards ex standing the hours.

the other thing is if it is just verbally wouldn't accept that. make application and go through the process. what is critical is to get the neighbors behind you. ultimately it is you and your neighbors. abc is a possessing agency. you are in a position to navigate. i don't see you not getting your hours extended. >> hopefully, for this permit we collected about 200 signatures. that is nothing. we got double. we can get more people if you need it. >> bear with me. >> abc doesn't look at support. they look at opposition. that is why it is important to work with the neighbors. i would suggest that you try to do it in steps. don't shoot straight for 2:00 a.m. right now. maybe if you are 9:00 or 10:00,

think 11:00. do it in baby steps. >> if i did 11:00 then do 10:00? i am doing 11:00. >> i encourage you to work with your neighbors.