Commission hears enforcement report on sound complaints at multiple venues; staff to involve Mission Station on contentious dispute

Deputy Director Azevedo presented the commission with a summary of recent sound complaints and enforcement actions.

Azevedo described Yasmin (799 Valencia) as the subject of 15 complaints to date; staff received nine complaints before the Oct. 1 incident in which Inspector Fiorentino and San Francisco Police Department officers asked owners to lower outdoor pre-recorded music and the owner refused, Azevedo said. Azevedo said the inspector was called an inappropriate name and removed himself from the encounter; staff recommended bringing Mission Station into the conversation to help de-escalate the neighbor dispute.

On Fillmore Street, inspector Fiorentino issued citations to Jackson (3231 Fillmore) after staff documented amplified outdoor sound repeatedly after permitted hours; the owner told staff he will shut off outdoor amplified sound by 10 p.m. going forward.

Scopo Divino (2800 California) was inspected multiple times; Azevedo said readings taken during recent live performances showed compliance with permit conditions and staff plans to deprioritize future responses to repeated but non-violative complaints.

Edinburgh Castle Pub (950 Geary) drew 37 complaints and seven visits; staff set a new interior sound limit after an early-August visit and later visits found the business in compliance. Azevedo noted many complaints were anonymous (29 of 37) and suggested off-site sources such as cars on Geary may account for some reports.

Commissioners asked whether staff should escalate the Yasmin matter beyond outreach (several suggested Mission Station involvement and checking for a police report); staff described their standard enforcement escalation — verbal warning, notice of violation, then citation — and said they intentionally avoided immediate escalation because the incident was volatile and the dispute appears longstanding.

No formal enforcement motions were made at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to document visits and follow the escalation protocol, and several commissioners offered to assist if Mission Station lacks resources.