Draft Minutes
Meeting was held in-person and can be observed virtually on Microsoft Teams
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
5:30 P.M.
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ben Bleiman (President), Cyn Wang (Vice President), Maria Davis, Lt. Leonard Poggio, Anthony Schlander, and Laura Thomas
COMMISSIONERS EXCUSED: None
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Executive Director Maggie Weiland; Deputy Director Kaitlyn Azevedo; Projects and Communications Manager Dylan Rice; Commission Secretary May Liang; Senior Inspector Andrew Zverina
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 AT 5:31 PM
- 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 Comments: None - Approval of Meeting Minutes: Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2026 Commission meetings. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Explanatory Document:
https://www.sf.gov/sf-entertainment-commission-minutes-for-august-4-2026
Motion: Vice President Wang made a motion to approve the meeting minutes; Commissioner Davis seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the minutes of the August 4, 2026 Commission meetings.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comments: None - Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: none; Staff and Office Update: none; Update on Board of Appeals Actions: none; Corrective Actions: none. [Discussion Item]
Public Comments: None - Report from Senior Inspector: Senior Inspector Andrew Zverina reports on recent enforcement activities. The Commission may vote to direct staff to take enforcement actions. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Public Comments: None - Hearing and Possible Action regarding applications for permits under the jurisdiction of the Entertainment Commission. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Consent Agenda: None
Regular Agenda:
*6c. Motion: Commissioner Davis made a motion to continue item 6c to a future hearing; Commissioner Thomas seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved to continue the permit application to a future hearing.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
*6d. Motion: Vice President Wang made a motion to continue item 6d to a future hearing; Commissioner Davis seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved to continue the permit application to a future hearing.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
a. EC-1944 - Edmond Chang of BLOOM VIBE INC, dba Space, 500 Beach St Suite 118, Place of Entertainment & Extended Hours Premises
Motion: Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Vice President Wang seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit application with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
b. EC-1951 - Travis Andrews and Andrew Meyerson of THE LIVING EARTH SHOW, dba Roar Shack, 34 7th St, Place of Entertainment
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Vice President Wang seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
*c. EC-1954 – Andrew Wasilewski of FOLSOM FOUNDRY MUSIC LLC, dba Folsom Foundry, 1425 Folsom St, Place of Entertainment with outdoor amplified sound change in ownership
Postponed for a future hearing due to needing more time to engage with the community.
*d. EC-1957 - Jorge Ramirez of TWO GOLD STARS LLC, dba Incendio, 518 S Van Ness Ave, Place of Entertainment & Billiard Parlor
Postponed for a future hearing due to needing approval for entertainment activities from their landlord.
e. EC-1959 - Leticia Luna of LML RESTAURANTS INC, dba Queridos Lounge, 2575 Mission St, Place of Entertainment with outdoor amplified sound
Motion: Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations and with amendments to add a calendaring condition to send a monthly calendar of events to the Entertainment Commission and any interested neighbors at the beginning of the month and to direct EC staff to set internal sound limit in accordance with MPC Article 29; Commissioner Thomas seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations and with amendments to add a calendaring condition to send a monthly calendar of events to the Entertainment Commission and any interested neighbors at the beginning of the month and to direct EC staff to set internal sound limit in accordance with MPC Article 29.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment:
(-) Bradley Dunn, a neighbor of 2575 Mission, opposes the permit application because the applicant broke earlier promises about operating as a quiet piano bar closing at 10 PM. The venue now seeks to stay open until 2 AM with expanded activities, creating major noise concerns for his home, which shares a wall/floor with the space. He also reports poor communication, construction issues, and no notice of the hearing despite previously offering support based on commitments that were not kept.
(-) Hieronymus Buiks, a resident of the 140‑unit Vida building across from the lounge, opposes the venue’s permit application to play low‑level ambient music. He argues that even quiet music will travel across the street, intruding into about 30 nearby apartments, especially at night when ambient noise drops. He emphasizes that the high‑density residential setting should require stricter noise standards and urges the board to deny this part of the application.
(-) Mayara Sa, neighbor who shares a bedroom wall with the bar, supports activating the formerly vacant space but is deeply concerned about noise and extended operating hours. They were originally told it would be a piano bar closing at 10 PM, which seemed reasonable given the shared wall. They say requests about soundproofing were not adequately addressed and note they never received required notice of the hearing, learning about it only through neighbors. Overall, they are worried about late night noise, the lack of communication from the applicants, and how the process has been handled.
(=/-) Claire Rossi, a resident of the Cedar Building less than 100 feet from the business, appreciates the applicant’s communication but remains concerned about outdoor noise. Her bedroom and living room face the site, and because she has a baby, works from home, and already experiences noise sensitivity, she worries outdoor music would be highly disruptive. She does not oppose the permit overall—only the outdoor sound element. She asks that outdoor noise be limited to Thursday–Saturday nights and that decibel measurements be taken during quiet weeknight evenings to reflect the area’s low ambient noise.
f. EC-1960 - Guma Fassil of DIASPORA RESTAURANT GROUP LLC, dba Meski, 1000 Larkin St, Place of Entertainment
Motion: Vice President Wang made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Commissioner Schlander seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
g. EC-1962 – MeeSun Boice and Parke Ulrich of WE R HOME RESTAURANTS, LLC, dba Mersea, 699 Avenue of the Palms, Limited Live Performance with outdoor entertainment & amplified sound
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Commissioner Poggio seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment:
(+) Ginger Robyn commented that they enjoy visiting Treasure Island and appreciate the restaurant there.
h. EC-1961 – Andrew Hart, Rebecca Woods and Zak Kennedy of A - Z HOSPITALITY LLC OF SAN FRANCISCO, dba Next Door, 570 Green Street, Limited Live Performance with outdoor entertainment & amplified sound
Motion: Commissioner Poggio made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Vice President Wang seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
*7 and 8. Motion: Vice President Wang made a motion to continue items 7 and 8 to a future hearing; Commissioner Thomas seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved to continue items 7 and 8 to a future hearing.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None - *Appeal of Limited Suspension by the Director of Place of Entertainment and Extended Hours Premises permits for EC-1895, dba 81 Social Galerie, located at 81 Cedar Street: Mr. Awadalla of 81 Social Galerie is appealing the Limited Suspension issued by the Director on July 9, 2026 for Place of Entertainment and Extended Hours Premises permits for EC-1895, dba 81 Social Galerie, 81 Cedar Street. The Limited Suspension was scheduled to be in effect from July 18, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. through July 25, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. The Commission may affirm, overturn, or modify the Director's order as part of this item. When the Commission affirms or modifies the Director's order, the order takes effect the day following the day of the hearing at which the Commission made its determination. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Postponed to a future hearing due to current appeals with the Controller’s Office. - *Discussion and Possible Action to Amend the Permit Conditions of Place of Entertainment and Extended Hours Premises permits for EC-1895, dba 81 Social Galerie, located at 81 Cedar Street. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Postponed to a future hearing due to current appeals with the Controller’s Office. - Commissioner Comments & Questions; New Business Request for Future Agenda Items: This item is to allow Commissioners to introduce agenda items for future consideration, and to make announcements. [Discussion Item]
Public Comments: None - ADJOURNMENT at 7:00 PM