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Inspectors report recurring noise and crowd issues; staff review 19 applicants for sound inspector role
Summary
City sound inspectors reported a series of neighborhood noise complaints (Royale, Barbarossa Lounge, Love and Propaganda and a sidewalk musician at Cumbre 515 Valencia), said many complaints come anonymously via 311, and outlined enforcement steps including a notice of violation and coordination with Mission PD and public health. Staff also reported 19 qualified applicants for an open inspector position.
Sound inspectors told the San Francisco Entertainment Commission they are tracking recurring neighborhood complaints and have a mix of enforcement steps and monitoring planned.
A staff member reported the recruitment status for an open permanent inspector slot: 19 applicants met minimum qualifications, staff completed supplemental‑question scoring and forwarded top scorers to the Department of Human Resources; testing and interviews are expected in the next three to four weeks.
An inspector described a persistent complainant contacting staff about the Royale and said interior noise testing is being scheduled to accommodate the resident. At Barbarossa Lounge the inspector said a reported noise issue "had subsided" after follow‑up. The inspector also said management at Love and Propaganda appeared cooperative and the venue's issues seemed resolved following staff contact.
Inspector John Burke reported on crowd‑control and security problems observed at another venue, saying staff observed insufficient outward security and problems dispersing patrons; Burke said he issued a notice of violation that cited police code and good‑neighbor policy violations and scheduled a meeting with venue staff and city staff to review permit stipulations. "I did issue a notice of violation outlining a couple of police code violations and good neighbor policy violations," Burke said.
The inspectors described a recurring sidewalk musician at Cumbre 515 Valencia who plugged an amplifier into a business electrical outlet. Inspectors said they spoke to the taqueria's management and the musician and that the gathering has not recurred recently; staff will continue to monitor, notify Mission PD and involve public health or trained officers with sound meters if necessary.
Commissioners asked how inspectors record incidents labeled "inaudible"; the inspector explained that "inaudible" often means intermittent noise or situations not requiring an in‑depth investigation, and that many recent complaints arrive anonymously through 311, which limits the ability to re‑create the complainant's experience when inspectors arrive alone.
The meeting record shows the commission will continue to rely on coordination with Mission PD and other city units for enforcement and that staff will follow up on venues with notices or reminders of permit stipulations; no additional regulatory action was taken at the meeting.
Key follow‑ups include testing and interviews for the inspector vacancy, scheduled interior noise testing for the Royale complaint, a planned meeting with the venue issued a notice of violation, and continued monitoring of the sidewalk musician case.
