The Seattle Nightlife and Music Association (SNMA) is a coalition of music, night club, and bar interests formed to educate elected officials, civic and community leaders, and the media on the serious issues facing the music and nightlife industry in Seattle.

• Provide our customers a safe and vibrant nightlife.
• Protect music venue, bar, and club owner's rights.
• Respond to proposals which impact our industry.
• Support our local communities.
• Promote responsible music venue, bar, and club management.

Last Monday’s packed hearing on the Mayor’s Nightlife proposal seems to have gotten the attention of a few councilmembers, causing them to slow down the process and consider significant modifications to the proposal unveiled by Councilmember Clark the previous week. Prior to Monday’s hearing, the committee was scheduled to release an actual legislative package last Thursday and was planning on taking final action on June 21. However, we were informed at Thursday’s committee meeting that other councilmembers were beginning to become more engaged on the issue, and more time is needed to work on the details.

SeattleNMA has consistently said we don’t need a new license. Rather let’s better enforce existing laws (noise, litter), create a Nightlife Commission, and provide more police resources to the entertainment districts of the city on weekend nights. Hopefully a majority of the Council will consider this approach.
permalink  |  related link  |   Thanks to everyone who showed up Monday at the City Council hearing on the Mayor's nightlife legislation. We had a great turnout and there were many thoughtful comments directed at the City Council. The testimony from our industry has already had an impact on the direction of the legislation, with Councilmember Clark indicating she believes the 50-foot rule should be dropped. Check out her blog at: http://www.seattle.gov/council/clark/blog/ for her reflections on Monday's hearing.

If you'd like to watch the video of Monday's City Council hearing on the nightlife legislation, click here to go to the Seattle Channel's website (http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/vi ... ID=2180712).

Things are moving very quickly right now with regards to this legislation. Please continue to monitor this issue closely. We will continue to provide updates here on the website as well as via email and hope you will continue to track this issue carefully. This is a critical time and we need your help to ensure sucess!

permalink  |  related link  |   Yesterday City Councilmember’s Clark and Drago issued a press release and briefing paper outlining a series of proposals in response to the Mayor’s proposed nightlife regulations. The press release is available at http://seattlenma.org/downloads/clark_release and the briefing paper at http://seattlenma.org/downloads/clark_brief.

The two councilmembers are proposing a series of actions that if, taken together, would be far more egregious than what the mayor originally proposed. These actions include:

Embracing the mayor’s proposal of creating a new nightlife license which would be used to close down clubs at the discretion of the city.

Significantly increases fines for noise violations from $500 up to $6000.

Amends the current nuisance ordinance so the city could more easily close down clubs.

Requests the mayor to consider even more regulations on nightlife establishments.

If this entire package were to be adopted, Seattle would have some of the most stringent nightlife regulations in the country.

It appears that Councilmember Clark is intent on seeking approval of all elements of the package! This would have a devastating impact our music industry!!

Your voice needs to be heard now and loud.

First, email the City Councilmembers today. And then attend the June 4th public hearing on this package. It begins at 5:30 – Get there early to sign up! This hearing is in the City Council Chambers on the 2ndfloor of City Hall, located at 600 - 4th Ave. downtown.

Below are the emails to the councilmembers:

Nick.licata@seattle.gov 684-8803
Sally.clark@seattle.gov 684-8802 **
Richard.conlin@seattle.gov 684-8805
David.della@seattle.gov 684-8806**
Jan.drago@seattle.gov 684-8801
Jean.godden@seattle.gov 684-8807**
Richard.mciver@seattle.gov 684-8800
Tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov 684-8808**
Peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov 684-8804**

** indicates these members are up for reelection this year. Peter Steinbrueck is not seeking reelection and this will be an open seat.

permalink  |  related link  |   The City Council’s Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee met last week to again review the Mayor’s Nightlife Premises Ordinance. While the focus of the briefing was on zoning issues related to “drinking establishments” in the NC zones, there were a few encouraging surprises. Councilmember Jan Drago, a long supporter of Seattle nightlife, shared with the committee her views on the Mayor’s proposal. First, she does not believe a new regulatory license is the best approach to deal with issues of concern raised by residents. Rather, she stated amending and better enforcing current noise and nuisance laws would be a more effective approach. She is also advocating establishment a civil noise enforcement unit which would be on the streets at the time they are most needed to enforce the noise ordinance. While we have yet to see the details of her proposals – and there could be significant issues of concern - we are nonetheless encouraged that the council appears to be moving in a much different direction than what the Mayor proposed. As soon as the amendments are made available for circulation we will post them.

Key dates for Council review – Please add to your schedules!

May 17, 6 PM - Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee meeting to review proposed amendments. Location to be determined.

June 4 6PM - Public Hearing on Mayor’s proposed ordinance and council amendments. Council Chambers. We need a HUGE turnout for this meeting.

June 7 9:30 AM - Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee. Review and possible vote on amendments.
permalink  |  related link  |   SeattleNMA briefed the City Council’s Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee last Thursday on our position regarding the Mayor’s proposal and provided alternative approaches to deal with public safety, noise and litter issues. Our message is the city should do a better job of enforcing existing laws, and provide additional police officers in the entertainment districts on weekend nights. Our full presentation can be viewed here at http://seattlenma.org/downloads/SNMA_powerpoint.

This Friday, the 13th, the committee will meet again to continue to review the legislation. This time representatives from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, the City Attorney’s Office, Seattle Police, Department of Planning and Development and citizen representatives will be presenting. The agenda for the meeting can be viewed here at http://www.seattle.gov/leg/econo.htm. In addition, the Chair will present a short video showing street activity around three bars at the 2 AM push. Public comment will again be taken at the meeting and anyone who can attend is encouraged to testify. Also, if you haven’t yet, please email or call the city council members expressing your opposition to this outrageous proposal.

Nick.licata@seattle.gov 684-8803
Sally.clark@seattle.gov 684-8802 **
Richard.conlin@seattle.gov 684-8805
David.della@seattle.gov 684-8806**
Jan.drago@seattle.gov 684-8801
Jean.godden@seattle.gov 684-8807**
Richard.mciver@seattle.gov 684-8800
Tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov 684-8808**
Peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov 684-8804**

** indicates these members are up for reelection this year. Peter Steinbrueck is not seeking reelection and this will be an open seat.
permalink  |  related link  |   Important Update! SeattleNMA General Membership Meeting rescheduled to April 17th. Please join us on the 17th at 2:00 p.m. for more information on SeattleNMA, the Mayor's proposed nightlife ordinance, SeattleNMA's upcoming city-wide promotion, and other important issues that effect the nightlife community.

Tuesday, April 17th – 2:00 PM
The Ballroom
456 North 36th Street
Fremont

Agenda:
Introductions
Update on Mayor's Nightlife Premises Ordinance
State Legislative Update
"The Night the Music Died" promotion
permalink  |  related link  |   Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark’s Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee has scheduled another briefing of the Mayor’s proposal for this Thursday, March 15 at 6 PM at the Miller Park Community Center, 330 19th Avenue East. Public comment will be taken a the beginning of the meeting. Later, council staff will give a broad overview of the proposed legislation, detail existing statutes regulating nightlife premises and discuss what other cities do to regulate nighttime establishements.

This link http://www.seattle.gov/leg/econo.htm takes you to the committee’s agenda for the meeting and this link http://www.seattle.gov/council/clark/ takes you to Councilmember Clark’s home page which has a link to the committee’s proposed review schedule of the ordinance. The schedule includes a presentation by SeattleNMA on April 5, and the City Attorney and Liquor Control Board on April 13. After the committee will determine to move forward with the legislation, offer amendments or take some other course of action.

We strongly encourage you to continue to track this issue closely, attend whatever meetings you can and offer testimony.

The full ordinance can be found at: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/nightli ... inance.pdf. SeattleNMA's letter to Council President Nick Licata can be found at: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/SNMA_Licata_Letter.pdf and SeattleNMA's analysis of the legsilation here: http://seattlenma.org/downloads/SNMA_Or ... alysis.pdf.
permalink  |  related link  |   Sprinkler Bill House Bill 1811, which extends the mandatory deadline for installation of sprinkler systems in night clubs passed the State House of Representatives on Saturday, March 10. It has now been referred to the Senate’s Commerce and Labor Committee for consideration. We continue to aggressively work this bill on behalf of our members and will continue to keep you posted.
permalink  |  related link  |   Senate Bill 5859 http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007 ... 9-S2.E.pdf which would have created a new wine, spirits, beer and nightlife premises license passed the Senate last night, however, the bill has been substantially rewritten and no longer provides for the creation of such a new license. Rather it appears it was heavily amended by microbrewer and hotel interests. We have calls into staff to get a full briefing on the affects of the bill and will provide updates as we learn. At this point we do not know, what, if any, impacts this bill will have on our industry. One interesting item of note, Senator Jacobsen offered an amendment to the bill to allow dogs in bars, the amendment was ruled out of order.
permalink  |  related link  |   On March 1 at 10 AM in Olympia, the House Finance Committee will be holding a public hearing HB 1811, the Sprinkler Bill which gives a two year extension for compliance and provides a small tax break for business owners who are required to install the systems. We want to thank all those club owners who volunteered to attend the February 9th hearing – Little Red Hen, Tractor Tavern, RPlace, Fuel, Trinity and Nuemos. Your testimony and support were critical in getting the legislation moved out of the Local Government Committee. If possible, we need you to attend the March 1 meeting as well. If you are able to attend, please contact Rachel at rachel@seattlenma.org for more information.

Also we need everybody to take moment and contact the chair of the House Finance Chairman Rep. Ross Hunter (Hunter.ross@leg.wa.gov) and express your strong support for the bill. In particular, let him know the how this regulation financially impacts your business and threatens our state’s diverse and vibrant music venues. Please also contact Speaker of the House Rep. Frank Chopp (Chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov) and request his support – particularly the club owners in the 43rd District.

The Sprinkler Bill’s companion legislation in the Senate, SB 5832, was passed out of the Labor and Commerce Committee last week and has now been refrerred to Senate Ways and Means but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. Please email the chair of the Ways and Means Committee Rep. Margarita Prentice (prentice.margarita@leg.wa.gov) requesting a hearing on the bill. Cut off dates for passage of these bills is soon approaching and if we don’t make it out of these two committees in the next two weeks these bills are dead and the 2007 date for installation of the sprinklers will be upheld. Also, if you get a chance please email Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (kohl-welles.jeanne@leg.wa.gov) and thank her for her support.
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