Board tightens loudspeaker-fee waiver rules, sends entertainment-commission notice language back to committee

Supervisor Aaron Peskin and Supervisor Weiner led discussion on an ordinance to amend the Police Code to clarify when the Entertainment Commission may waive loudspeaker fees, update noticing provisions, and revise procedures for limited live-performance permits.

Supervisor Wiener said the measure ‘‘clarifies how and under what circumstances the entertainment commission can waive loudspeaker fees’’ and noted waivers had previously been granted with no clear criteria. Wiener offered a targeted amendment to change the waiver language to cover events ‘‘filed by an entity that has received city funds specifically for the event that is the subject of the permit application.’’ That amendment was seconded by Supervisor Peskin and passed without objection.

Wiener also proposed one procedural approach to the text of the ordinance: to duplicate the file, send the duplicate back to committee to refine the noticing language, and in the version before the board strike the portion of the ordinance dealing with noticing (section 1060.5(b), page 2–4). The board approved sending the duplicated file back to committee and, in the present file, voting to strike the noticing section. Those steps were recorded on the floor as unanimous by ‘‘same house, same call’’ routine action. Wiener asked for colleagues’ support and the board passed the remainder of the ordinance as amended unanimously on first reading.

The effect of the board’s floor actions: (1) the ordinance clarifies criteria for loudspeaker-fee waivers and tightens the language about what constitutes a qualifying recipient of city funds; (2) the sitting board approved the ordinance except for the noticing provisions; and (3) the duplicated file containing the struck noticing language will return to committee for further work before being returned to the full board.