Commission approves security conditions for Adobe Books’ LLP permit after January incident

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on April 18 voted to add four security-related conditions to Adobe Books’ Limited Live Performance (LLP) permit following a violent incident near the venue on Jan. 13.

Deputy Director Azevedo presented staff’s recommended conditions developed with the permit holder and Director Weiland: (1) define a "special event" as any event with an expected attendance of 49 or more guests during the event; (2) require the permit holder to send a monthly calendar of special events at least one week before each month to entertainment.enforcement@sfgov.org; (3) require email notification at least 72 hours before any additional special events added after the monthly calendar; and (4) require one security person at all special events and monitoring of attendance to ensure the location’s 49-person capacity is not exceeded.

Azevedo told commissioners the permit holder and staff engaged in multiple iterations of a security plan and that the business held a community meeting with neighbors and legislative aide Santiago Lerma of Supervisor Ronan’s office on April 3. Commissioners asked how the permit holder would gauge expected attendance; staff said Adobe Books indicated they would use Eventbrite or RSVP services to estimate numbers but could not speak to insurance coverage. Several commissioners thanked staff for negotiating conditions that fit the business’s operational model and noted insurance is ultimately the permit holder’s responsibility.

The commission moved, seconded and approved the conditions unanimously. Staff said enforcement will rely on the monthly calendar, 72-hour notice for additions and on-site monitoring by security or volunteers for capacity control.