Draft Minutes
Meeting was held in-person and can be observed virtually on Microsoft Teams
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
5:30 P.M.
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ben Bleiman (President), Maria Davis, Lt. Leonard Poggio, Anthony Schlander, and Laura Thomas
COMMISSIONERS EXCUSED: Cyn Wang (Vice President)
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Deputy Director Kaitlyn Azevedo; Projects and Communications Manager Dylan Rice; Commission Secretary May Liang
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 5:32 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:
Jessica Pessecow, resident from District 10, asked for more events and better transit access in District 10, wanted clarification on late bar hours and drink rules, and urged improved price transparency from venues. - Approval of Meeting Minutes: Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the October 6, 2026 Commission meetings. [Discussion and Possible Action Item]
Explanatory Document:
https://www.sf.gov/sf-entertainment-commission-minutes-for-october-6-2026
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to approve the meeting minutes; Commissioner Davis seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the minutes of the October 6, 2026 Commission meetings.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comments: None - Report from Acting 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]
Commissioners will discuss and may vote to approve the permits listed below.
Consent Calendar:
All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the Entertainment Commission, and will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission, the public, or staff so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing.
Consent Agenda:
a. EC-1972 - Zahra Saleh, dba Café International, 508 Haight St, Limited Live Performance
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to move the item to the regular agenda; Commissioner Schlander seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved to move the item to the regular agenda.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment:
(+) Katie Haverkamp (emailed public comment), customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Andres Salerno (emailed public comment), customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Sam Wesley, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Rohan Mathur, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Eli Edelman, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Candy Smallwood, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Joe Penn, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Gerald Bryant, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
(+) Jessica Pessecow, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
Regular Agenda:
a. EC-1972 - Zahra Saleh, dba Café International, 508 Haight St, Limited Live Performance
Motion: Commissioner Thomas made a motion to approve the permit with staff recommendations; Commissioner Davis seconded the motion.
Action: The Commission approved the permit with staff recommendations.
Ayes: President Bleiman, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
b. EC-1965 - Abdullah "Mike" Awadalla of MARS BAR SF, LLC, dba Mars Bar, 798 Brannan St, Limited Live Performance that includes outdoor amplified sound and entertainment change in ownership
Motion: Commissioner Davis 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, Commissioner Davis, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment:
(+) Jessica Pessecow, customer of the business, commented in support of the permit application.
c. EC-1975 - Maria Davis of SAINT DAVIS LLC, dba The St Mary’s Pub, 3845 Mission St, Place of Entertainment
Commissioner Davis recused herself from this item.
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, Commissioner Poggio, Commissioner Schlander, and Commissioner Thomas
Nays: None
Public Comment: None
Commissioner Davis returned to the meeting after this item. - 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 6:15 PM