Rules Committee amends and continues proposal to create Union Street entertainment zone
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Summary
The Rules Committee accepted two amendments to a proposed ordinance creating an entertainment zone on Union Street, including expansion to parts of Fillmore Street and removal of a cap on events, then continued the item for one week to allow finalized language to return on Sept. 15.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on a September morning accepted two amendments to a proposed ordinance that would create an entertainment zone on Union Street and then continued the item to the committee's next meeting for a final vote.
The ordinance would create the "Union Street Entertainment Zone" on Union Street between Gough and Steiner streets, with activities governed by a management plan and coordination with local businesses and residents. Lorenza Rosas, speaking on behalf of Supervisor Sherrill, told the committee the office had engaged the Union Street Merchant Association, corridor businesses and neighbors and proposed two specific amendments: expand the zone to include "both sides of Fillmore Street between Union Street and Greenwich Street" and remove a subsection that placed a hard cap on the number of entertainment-zone events per calendar year.
Rosas said the office did not intend to arbitrarily limit events given First Amendment considerations and that merchant associations would continue to coordinate on an event-management plan. President Rafael Mandelman moved to accept the proposed amendments.
The committee voted unanimously to accept the amendments and then unanimously voted to continue the amended ordinance for one week to the Rules Committee meeting on Sept. 15 so the revised language and management plan can be finalized and returned to committee. Chair Shamann Walton and supervisors on the panel cast "aye" votes on both motions.
Why it matters The entertainment zone would change the regulatory framework for how alcohol-serving establishments, restaurants and other venues along Union Street and parts of Fillmore Street can operate during planned events. Expanding the zone and removing a numeric cap may increase the number of events that can make use of relaxed street-activity rules; the committee emphasized that a management plan and coordination with businesses and neighbors will guide implementation.
What was decided - Motion to amend the ordinance to expand the zone to include both sides of Fillmore between Union and Greenwich and to delete a hard cap on the number of events per calendar year: passed, unanimous. - Motion to continue the amended ordinance to the Sept. 15 Rules Committee meeting for final consideration: passed, unanimous.
Next steps The committee will consider the finalized ordinance language and the associated management plan at its Sept. 15 meeting. If approved by the Rules Committee, the ordinance and committee report will be transmitted to the full Board of Supervisors for further action and any required California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determinations.
Quotes "In short, this ordinance creates an entertainment zone along Union Street so that bars and restaurants can better benefit from the planned events along the corridor," Lorenza Rosas said. "We do not want to arbitrarily constrict the number of events that could take advantage of the entertainment zone."
"I would like to make the motion to accept the amendments, as proposed," President Rafael Mandelman said before the committee voted.
The committee recorded no public speakers on the item during the hearing; merchant and resident input was described as having informed the proposed amendments.
