Entertainment Commission updates industry relief work, approves consent permit and minutes
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Summary
At its June 30 remote meeting the Entertainment Commission heard staff updates on COVID-19 industry outreach and the CERT compliance team, received an OEWD briefing on nightlife assistance, approved a billiard-parlor permit on consent and approved March minutes.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission used its June 30 remote meeting to highlight staff and Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) efforts to support nightlife businesses during the COVID-19 emergency and to complete routine business including approval of minutes and one consent permit.
Executive Director Wyland told commissioners the commission shifted from permitting toward amplifying changing health orders, producing guidance and building an online hub at sf.gov/nightliferelief. Wyland said staff surveyed more than 170 industry workers and established a Community Education and Response Team (CERT) staffed with disaster-service workers and inspectors to triage complaints and provide outreach.
Ben Van Houten, OEWD Business Development Manager for the nightlife and entertainment sector, said OEWD has provided one-on-one assistance, administered grant and loan relief programs, supported the commercial-eviction moratorium and helped interpret reopening guidance. He described OEWD participation in a multi-agency shared-spaces program and the economic recovery task force and urged businesses to use OEWD and Arts Commission resources.
Votes at a glance: The commission approved minutes from the March 3, 2020 meeting, and unanimously approved a consent-item accessory-use billiard-parlor permit for '26 Mix' after staff reported no public opposition. The more substantive action of the evening concerned the 1560 Folsom project, where the commission adopted staff noise-mitigation conditions and a tenant-protocol (see separate article).
What commissioners asked: Commissioners requested more advance notice for webinars to improve attendance, pressed for clarity about worker resources and nonprofit support, and discussed strategies to ensure residents and operators coexist in dense entertainment areas.
Next scheduled steps: Staff will continue outreach, publish resources on the city hub, and follow up on the 1560 Folsom conditions in the project's entitlement process.
