2012-07-24 PUBLIC SAFETY - Laserfiche WebLink

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SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE PUBLIC SAFETY Minutes of Meeting July 24, 2012 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was convened at 6:00 P.M. at Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza, Police Community Room, Santa Ana, California. ATTENDANCE Council members present: Claudia Alvarez, Sal Tinajero, and David Benavides Staff present: Police Chief Paul Walters, Fire Chief Dave Thomas, Assistant City Attorneys Teresa Judd and Ex. Dir. Jay Trevino, Deputy Chief Carlos Rojas, PIS Eileen Greene, Karen, Commander James Schnabl, and Loretta Tafoya, Recording Secretary. Public sign-ins: Phil Bacerra, Vicky Baxter, Dave Hoem and Dennis Descaurio SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS • Vicky Baxter from Downtown Inc. handed out proposing changes to Downtown Zoning in the Zoning Chapter of the SAMC for the committee's review. • Phil Bacerra supported the proposal. It is more business friendly, updates CUP and regulates the distance between schools, etc. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the April 24, 2012 meeting approved. ALCOHOL AND ENTERTAINMENT PERMIT PROCESSING UPDATE Jay Trevino, Executive director, Planning & Building, spoke about the permits relating to ABC- licensed establishments. He introduced Planning Manager Karen Haluza who gave an update on the alcohol and entertainment permit process. She stated the City's regulations for alcohol CUPs were confusing and outdated. New standards are needed to create a level playing field citywide. The existing permit process had many gray areas and no standard set of conditions. Businesses wanted to stay competitive. Standards affecting mid-size stores apply too broadly and are unworkable. Councilmember Benavides asked how it would change the ordinance. Karen stated that it would reduce the overconcentration standard from 20,000 sq. Ft. in store size to 10,000 sq. ft. The Planning Department, working with the Police Department, is working on creating separate regulations and standardized conditions of approval for businesses, either with or without an ABC license, to offer live entertainment and dancing. Councilmember Benavides asked if "entertainment" means dancing. Karen explained that this new entertainment permit would have four categories and each category would determine the conditions. Category 1 would offer only non-amplified music, such as acoustic guitar. Category 1 would be the only category which would not require an entertainment permit. Category 2 would offer amplified sound. Councilmember Alvarez asked Karen to define "Amplified". She stated that anything which used a microphone or speakers. Category 3 would allow amplified sound, dancing, and patrons would have to be 21 and over after 10 PM. Council member Benavides asked about the 21 and over age restriction of citing the concert venues here in Santa Ana. Karen replied that they were looking at that.