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Committee advances ordinance to create 'entertainment zones' and designates Front Street as first pilot
Summary
OEWD presented an ordinance implementing state SB 76 to allow Board-designated entertainment zones (outdoor on-premise consumption during permitted events); Front Street between California and Sacramento was proposed as the first zone and the committee forwarded the item with co-sponsors and a unanimous recommendation.
The Rules Committee on June 10 advanced an ordinance implementing state SB 76 that would authorize the Board of Supervisors to designate local "entertainment zones" where adjacent licensed restaurants and bars can sell open, non-glass beverages for outdoor consumption during ABC-permitted events.
OEWD staff said the ordinance would authorize the department to adopt a management plan for each zone and designated Front Street (between California and Sacramento Streets) as the city’s first pilot. OEWD explained that only restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries may sell to-go beverages for consumption in the zone; containers must be non-glass and event-specific identification processes (wristbands, stamps) would be required. The office described the step as a tool to reactivate downtown commerce and noted precedents in other states.
Business owners and industry groups spoke in support. Ben Bridal, a Front Street bar owner who said he worked on the statewide legislation, called the proposal an opportunity to create positive foot traffic and said Front Street has few nearby residents and is an appropriate first location. Laurie Thomas of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and nearby operators described the measure as a way to level the playing field for brick-and-mortar hospitality businesses.
Supervisors asked about permitting, frequency and who would administer recurring street-closure permits; OEWD said businesses working with a downtown stakeholder group expect to seek recurring shared-spaces/roadway permits and ABC special-event permits for specific programming. The committee voted to forward the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation and added supervisors as cosponsors.
