Commission Meetings - July 10, 2017 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
July 10, 2017 - 5:30pm
Location: 
Related Meeting Content:
Supporting DocumentsAgenda

PDF: 2017.07.10_OSB meeting minutes_approved.pdf

SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
 
Monday, July 10, 2017
5:30 P.M.
City Hall, Room 400
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
 
SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS
Mark Dwight, President
Stephen Adams, Vice President
Kathleen Dooley, William Ortiz-Cartagena
Irene Yee Riley, Paul Tour-Sarkissian, Miriam Zouzounis
 
  1. Call to order and roll call.
The meeting was called to order at 5:31 PM.
Commissioners Adams, Dooley, Dwight, Tour-Sarkissian, Yee Riley (arrived at 5:36 PM), and Zouzounis were present.
Commissioner Ortiz-Cartagena was absent.
Staff in attendance: Regina Dick-Endrizzi (Executive Director), Menaka Mahajan (Senior Policy Analyst), and Richard Kurylo (Program Manager, Legacy Business Program).
 
  1. General Public Comment. (Discussion Item)
No members of the public requested to speak.
 
  1. Approval of Legacy Business Registry Applications and Resolutions. (Discussion and Action Item)
    1. Analytical Psychology Club (Application No.: LBR-2016-17-079)
    2. Izzy's Steaks and Chops (Application No.: LBR-2016-17-089)
    3. Rooky Ricardo's Records (Application No.: LBR-2016-17-067)
 
Richard Kurylo (Program Manager, Legacy Business Program) informed the Commission that the applications met the criteria for the Legacy Business Registry, and all of the applications received positive recommendations from the Historic Preservation Commission. Mr. Kurylo recommended that the Small Business Commission adopt 3 resolutions to include the following 3 applicants in the Legacy Business Registry as Legacy Businesses under Administrative Code Section 2A.242: Analytical Psychology Club; Izzy’s Steaks and Chops; Rooky Ricardo’s Records.
 
Public Comment:
Jana Hutcheson spoke in support of Analytical Psychology Club.
Richard Vivian spoke in support of Rooky Ricardo’s Records.
 
Commissioner Adams spoke in support of Rooky Ricardo’s Records and Izzy’s Steaks and Chops. Commissioner Dooley spoke in support of Analytical Psychology Club.
 
Motion: Commissioner Dwight motioned to adopt 3 resolutions to include the following 3 applicants in the Legacy Business Registry as Legacy Businesses under Administrative Code Section 2A.242: Analytical Psychology Club; Izzy’s Steaks and Chops; Rooky Ricardo’s Records.
2nd: Commissioner Dooley.
Aye: Commissioners Adams, Dooley, Dwight, Tour-Sarkissian, Yee Riley, and Zouzounis.
Nay: None.
Absent: Commissioner Ortiz-Cartagena.
Motion passed 6-0, 1 absent.
 
 
  1. Board of Supervisors File No. 170516 – Planning Code – Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in Supervisorial District 11. (Discussion and Possible Action Item)
Suhagey Sandoval (Legislative Aide, Office of Supervisor Ahsha Safaí) discussed the rationale and key provisions of the legislation. Ms. Sandoval explained that a driving factor in the legislation is the concern for customer parking and public safety, as well as a general disinterest in additional medicinal cannabis dispensaries (MCDs) by residents. Supervisor Safaí has exhausted all of his options and feels that this legislation is his last resort.
 
Commissioner Adams inquired about the need for this ordinance, asking why the existing conditional use permit doesn’t suffice. Commissioner Dwight was doubtful about MCDs negatively affecting youth as a medical cannabis card is required to patronize MCDs. Commissioner Dooley asked for clarification regarding the reason three was chosen as the cap and the geographical size of District 11. Commissioner Zouzounis expressed concern toward legislation that prevents new establishments from moving into vacancies in commercial corridors, and wanted confirmation that existing MCDs would be protected.
 
Commissioner Yee Riley cited Districts 3, 6, and 10 as examples of districts with multiple MCDs. She asked if District 11 had corresponded with other districts when determining the cap number. Commissioner Adams explained that he cannot support the ordinance, suggesting that if District 11 is experiencing public nuisances and violence near these MCDs, Supervisor Safaí should follow the examples of Supervisors Ronen, Weiner, and Kim by approaching the Police Department to resolve the issues.
 
Commissioner Dooley noticed that a primary issue in District 11 is MCD clustering. She suggested Supervisor Safaí not allow new MCD’s within 1,000 feet of another. Commissioner Zouzounis stated that bans are economically unhealthy, adding that some of the issues described come with the territory of being a small business in an urban city.
 
Public Comment:
Alex Murillo spoke in support of the ordinance.
Raquel Alvarez spoke in support of the ordinance.
Mauricio Varela spoke in support of the ordinance.
Justin Balenzuela spoke in support of the ordinance.
 
Commissioner Dwight expressed sympathy toward the residents and business owners who have had negative experiences, but said these are issues that should be addressed by law enforcement. He suggested looking into radius restrictions and free mediation services through the City.
 
Motion: Commissioner Adams motioned to recommend that the Board of Supervisors not approve BOS File No. 170516.
2nd: Commissioner Dooley.
Aye: Commissioners Adams, Dooley, Dwight, Tour-Sarkissian, Yee Riley, Zouzounis.
Nay: None.
Absent: Commissioner Ortiz-Cartagena.
Motion passed 6-0, 1 absent.
 
  1. Approval of meeting minutes. (Action Item)
Public Comment: No members of the public requested to speak.
 
Motion: Commissioner Adams motioned to approve the May 8, 2017 and June 26, 2017 draft meeting minutes.
2nd: Commissioner Yee Riley.
Aye: All in favor.
Nay: None.
Absent: Commissioner Ortiz-Cartagena.
Motion passed 6-0, 1 absent.
 
  1. Director’s Report. (Discussion Item)
Director Dick-Endrizzi provided updates regarding the budget, the Business Assistance Grant application period, and legislation of interest to the Commission. She confirmed that the Commission would like to hear a cannabis policy presentation by staff at the next Commission meeting.
 
Public Comment: No members of the public requested to speak.
 
  1. Commissioners’ Reports. (Discussion Item)
Commissioner Adams announced he will be at the Golden Gate Business Association on July 11 to discuss Legacy Business. Commissioner Dooley relayed City parking information she learned through a local Municipal Transportation Agency working group. Commissioner Zouzounis told the Commission she had attended a South of Market Business Association mixer in June and emphasized the importance of joining a local merchants association.
 
Public Comment: No members of the public requested to speak.
 
  1. New Business. (Discussion Item)
Commissioner Dwight asked that the Commission look into restrictions on cannabis grow facilities, and potential conditional use restrictions to prevent the nuisances associated with grow facilities in dense urban neighborhoods. He also requested a presentation by the Council of District Merchants Associations regarding the current state of neighborhood business associations and how they can be expanded and promoted.
 
Public Comment: No members of the public requested to speak.
 
  1. Adjournment. (Action Item)
Motion: Commissioner Yee Riley motioned to adjourn.
2nd: Commissioner Miriam Zouzounis.
Aye: All in favor.
Nay: None.
Absent: Commissioner Ortiz Cartagena.
Motion passed 6-0, 1 absent.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 PM.