Entertainment Commission praises Portola mitigation, flags Sunday-night noise complaints; Savoy cited, Stratos revocation stands

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission was told Oct. 3 that Portola Music Festival organizers made measurable improvements to sound management but saw a surge in complaints during Sunday evening weather changes.

"We're really pleased to report that there were no significant medical or security events throughout the weekend," Director Weiland said, adding that attendance was about 31,000 on Saturday and about 24,000 on Sunday. She told commissioners Goldenvoice had added sound-management staff, contracted acoustic experts, and deployed four neighborhood sound meters plus a fifth at the front-of-house for continuous monitoring.

Weiland said Saturday produced few complaints and compliance checks found festival volumes within the approved limit. On Sunday, shifting winds and fog led Goldenvoice to lower volume levels, but the festival received a large number of complaints affecting Alameda: about 180 calls and emails to Portola and 25 complaints submitted to the Entertainment Commission; staff said only four of those complaint reports were attributable to San Francisco residents.

Senior enforcement staff also reported ongoing permit enforcement items. The commission learned inspectors measured Savoy Tivoli operating about 13 dBA and 7 dBC over its allowable sound limit during a live performance; that venue received a citation and staff are working with management to mitigate sound leakage at the semi-open-air entrance.

Separately, Director Weiland said the commission's prior revocation of Stratos Nightclub's place-of-entertainment permit was not appealed within the 10-day period, so the revocation remains in effect.

Commissioners praised staff oversight and asked staff to coordinate with Alameda officials and Goldenvoice on meteorological data to better understand cross-jurisdictional impacts. Staff said they will follow up with the commission as they receive additional complaint and meteorological information.