Council Committee to consider "Nightlife Ordinance"

Mayor Nickels, after hearing from a citizens/ business taskforce, proposed a "Nightlife Premises Ordinance" last Fall: here's the Mayor's Fact Sheet on the legislation. On Thursday March 1st (9:30 AM, Council Chambers), the City Council Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee will be briefed on the proposed ordinance. Here's their agenda and a link to the proposed bill. The Council Committee will, in due course, vote on the bill and (if they approve it) it will go on the the full City Council (who seem to typically approve what their Committees send them).

The nightclub and music industry is campaigning about the legislation, and may well be testifying at the public comment period at the start of Thursday's Committee meeting.

Given our neighborhood's experience with bars on Madison, and the probability that new developments on Madison will contain both nightlife premises and apartments/condos, it would be great if people who live near the present bars could share their experiences with City Councilmembers. I don't expect many of us will make it to the Council Committee on Thursday morning, so I suggest that you E-mail Committee Chair Sally Clark, Vic-Chair Richard McIver, member Jan Drago and alternate member Peter Steinbrueck (or write to them).

From the media:

1) Seattle Times editorial endorses the ordinance. Seattle Times article about it and a Seattle P-I article (and a whole load of comments) about it.

2) A couple of Seattle Weekly blog postings about it (here and here).

3) The Stranger has a whole lot to say: see this page of links.

4) A (mainly) pro-nightclub post from the West Seattle blog

5) From the Seattle Nightlife and Music Association:

Their "talking points"
Their analysis

In summary, our neighborhood is mostly residential, and has many years experience of living next to a nightclub. Our thoughts will be of great value to City Council in their consideration of the Mayor's proposed nightlife ordinance. Please share your thoughts with them (and maybe post them as comments here).

Many thanks,
Andrew Taylor
Miller Park Neighborhood Association