Entertainment Commission previews Feb. 26 summit and launches streamlined event permit webpages

Acting Director Maggie Wyland told the San Francisco Entertainment Commission that the commission’s annual summit will be held Feb. 26, with programming starting at 1 p.m. and running into the late afternoon. The summit will include a presentation on security planning and active‑shooter response by SFPD’s tactical unit, remarks from the Department of Emergency Management and the chief of police, a session on cannabis permitting with the city’s Office of Cannabis, and a harm‑reduction panel. Commissioner Perez was singled out for assisting with the event website and promotional collateral.

Wyland and Dylan Rice, senior analyst for community and cultural events, demonstrated a redesigned public website intended to make rules and applications easier to find. Rice showed a new “Get a permit” landing page organized by permit type (brick‑and‑mortar, one‑time outdoor entertainment, outdoor amplified sound, soundtrack and one‑time indoor entertainment), a consolidated fee matrix and an updated fee‑waiver explanation for community groups and applicants with financial hardship. The site also adds an Outdoor Events page with an eventual industry guide, archived industry bulletins and a reports page for data and studies relevant to outdoor activation.

Wyland said the changes reflect recently passed legislative updates and aim to reduce public confusion and incoming calls. Rice said applicants can apply via fillable PDFs or a “Smart PDF” online form and that the office has clarified which permit type replaces older loudspeaker or one‑time event categories. The commission did not take any formal action on the website itself; staff advised commissioners the changes are live and available for review.