Draft Minutes
Meeting was held in-person and can be observed virtually on Microsoft Teams
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
5:30 P.M.
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ben Bleiman (President), Cyn Wang (Vice President), Maria Davis, Lt. Leonard Poggio, Anthony Schlander, Laura Thomas, and Jordan Wilson
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 5:35 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:
Jim Kelly, a longtime resident near 24th and Mission, reported that amplified preaching in the area has become excessively loud and constant, especially on weekends and some evenings. He stated that the noise, often coming from unpermitted amplified sound, is so extreme that it can be heard inside homes with windows closed and is harming residents’ quality of life as well as local businesses. He noted that repeated calls to police result in little enforcement and asked how the noise ordinance will be enforced and whom he can contact moving forward. - Approval of Meeting Minutes: Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2026 Commission meetings. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Explanatory Document:
https://www.sf.gov/sf-entertainment-commission-minutes-for-may-19-2026
Motion: Vice President Wang made a motion to approve the meeting minutes; Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the minutes of the May 19, 2026 Commission meetings.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, Commissioner Thomas, and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comments: None - Discussion and possible action regarding BOS File 260361 – Smoke-Free Places legislation: The Entertainment Commission will discuss the Smoke-Free Places legislation (BOS File 260361) and potentially act to formally support or oppose the legislation. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Motion: President Bleiman made a motion to continue the item to the call of the Chair; Commissioner Thomas seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved to continue the item to the call of the Chair.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commission Schlander, Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comments:
(-) Stephen Torres, nightlife worker, thanked the Commission for placing and continuing the agenda item but expressed strong concerns about a proposed ordinance affecting nightlife venues. They argued the ordinance would harm the nightlife industry, lacks a workable enforcement mechanism, and unfairly places responsibility and penalties on workers. They also contend that shifting smoking from patios to sidewalks would not reduce workers’ exposure to secondhand smoke and that the ordinance appears more symbolic than effective. The speaker urged the Commission to prioritize issues that genuinely support worker safety and well being.
(+) Bob Gordon, a District 8 resident, gay community member, and volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer and Cancer Action Network, spoke in support of the clean air ordinance. He recalled moving to San Francisco in 1993, when restaurants and later bars transitioned to smoke free environments despite initial industry fears that never materialized. He argued that smoke free patios would likewise not harm nightlife businesses and would instead create a healthier, more equitable environment for patrons and workers. He emphasized that many California cities already had similar policies and stated that harmful chemicals and discriminatory exposure to smoke should no longer be allowed on patios.
(+) Brian Davis, a volunteer co-chair of the San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition and retired director of LGBTQ Minus Tobacco, spoke about the severe health harms of tobacco and secondhand smoke. He noted decades of research showing that smoke free laws did not harm businesses and cited examples from San Francisco, New York City, San Jose, Oakland, and hundreds of other jurisdictions. He referenced survey data indicating that most patrons would visit bars as often or more often if patios were smoke free, and shared testimonials from community members and former bar workers describing the health impacts of secondhand smoke and the challenges of quitting in smoky environments. He stated that several local bar patio workers had expressed support for smoke free policies and emphasized that saving even one life would make the ordinance worthwhile, especially since businesses would not be harmed. - Report from Executive Director: Legislative/Policy Update: none; Staff and Office Update: Review of 16th Annual Nightlife and Entertainment Summit; 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. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Public Comments: None - Updates on Nightlife Business Assistance: Ben Van Houten, Director of Nightlife Initiatives, Nightlife and Entertainment Sector with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, provides an update on nightlife business assistance. [Discussion 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:
a. EC-1925 – Michael Nolan of SF EVENTS AND PRODUCTIONS LLC, dba The Howard House, 847 Howard St, Place of Entertainment
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to continue the permit application for a future meeting; Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved to continue the permit application for a future meeting.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
b. EC-1931 – Osilio & Sal Florese of STEPS OF ROME LLC, dba Steps of Rome Trattoria, 401 Columbus, Limited Live Performance that includes outdoor amplified sound
Motion: Commissioner Poggio 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, Commissioner Schlander, Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
c. EC-1932 - Sean Coyne of TWOSIDESOFACOYNE LLC, dba Sacred Taco, 1875 Union St, Limited Live Performance
Motion: Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations with an amendment to limit the number of days of indoor entertainment to Fridays-Mondays; President Bleiman seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations with an amendment to limit the number of days of indoor entertainment to Fridays-Mondays.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comment:
(-) Robert Sayegh, resident on the 2800 block of Laguna St., formally protested the Limited Live Performance (LLP) permit application for Sacred Taco at 1875 Union Street. He argued that the venue’s patio was more than four times larger than the legal 200 square foot limit for LLPs, that the business had publicly advertised entertainment extending past the required curfew, and that its promotional materials showed it operating as a nightclub rather than a restaurant with incidental entertainment. He stated that the operator was effectively using the LLP application as a back door attempt to run a full entertainment venue in a structure not suited to contain sound.
d. EC-1937 – Colin O'Malley and Brendan O'Brien of CBTW INC, dba Sunset Cantina, 3414 Judah St, Limited Live Performance that includes outdoor amplified sound
Vice President Wang recused herself from this item.
Motion: Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comment:
(-) Joe Ko, neighbor, spoke on behalf of himself and his father to oppose outdoor amplified sound at the venue. He stated that the neighborhood was a quiet residential area with no precedent for amplified live music and described a recent event during Bay to Breakers where the sound was extremely loud even with all his newly installed double pane windows closed. He explained that the noise negatively affected residents’ ability to live comfortably in their homes and showed that amplified outdoor sound was incompatible with the area. He requested that the Commission deny the permit or, at minimum, impose strict conditions ensuring that amplified sound would not be audible inside nearby homes.
(-) Pavel Molodetskiy, neighbor, described the area as a historically quiet part of the Outer Sunset. They explained that outdoor music began during the restaurant’s construction and later expanded after pandemic‑era outdoor seating was introduced. They stated that a speaker placed outside created ongoing noise—from midday until late evening—that made it difficult to open windows or enjoy their home, even though the volume was not extremely loud. While they acknowledged that general crowd noise was manageable, the constant presence of amplified music was not. They asked that the outdoor speaker be silenced or kept at a very low volume, noting that the restaurant had ample indoor space for music if desired.
Vice President Wang returned to the meeting.
e. EC-1939 - Alka Patel of CHAMBERS TL, LLC, dba Chambers Eat & Drink and Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy St – Place of Entertainment that includes outdoor entertainment & amplified sound change in ownership
Commissioner Schlander recused himself from this item.
Motion: President Bleiman made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations with an amendment to include that permit holder shall send their calendar of events to SFPD Tenderloin Station, the Entertainment Commission, and any interested neighbor on a monthly basis; Commissioner Davis seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations with an amendment to include that permit holder shall send their calendar of events to SFPD Tenderloin Station, the Entertainment Commission, and any interested neighbor on a monthly basis.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Vice President Wang, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Wilson
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
Commissioner Schlander returned to the meeting. - 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 7:27 PM