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GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[Permit and License Appeal Board on September 4, 2025.]
MY NAME IS LAURA TORRES.I AM VICE CHAIR OF THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL BOARD.
UH, WELCOME TO THE HEARING OF THE PERMIT AND LICENSE APPEAL BOARD FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
IT IS 8:36 AM THIS MORNING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025.
WE HAVE ONE HEARING ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT BEING FIRST, SUE ELLENS APPEALING THE DENIAL OF A DANCE HALL LATE HOURS PERMIT.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I WILL DO A ROLL CALL IF PRESENT, PLEASE SAY HERE, UM, OF OUR MEMBERS.
UH, MS. STEPHANIE KYLE, CARMEN AYALA.
CHAIR, MS. SHIN AND MR. GONZALEZ.
ABSENT FROM THIS HEARING ARE, UH, CHAIR SATNICK, MS. KYLE, MR. HAYES AND MR. GONZALEZ THIS MORNING.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT AT THIS MEETING, AND THIS MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
WILL OTHERS PRESENT AT TODAY'S HEARING? PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AS WELL, STARTING WITH THE BOARD'S GENERAL COUNSEL.
MS. CARLISLE, THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
AND THE APPELLANT OR APPELLANT'S REPRESENTATIVE? YES, THIS IS, UH, JIM BIRCH FOR, UH, ISAAC CORPORATION.
UM, DO YOU HAVE, UH, WITNESSES THIS MORNING? YES, I DO.
UM, OUR PRIMARY WITNESS IS GONNA BE MS. CHRISTINE STON.
AND, UH, WE MAY HAVE A TESTIMONY FROM, UH, MIKEY GWEN, UH, MIKEY WYNN, OR BELL BEN EK, IF NEEDED.
UH, MATT STRINGER WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
DETECTIVE MONROE WITH DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, NO SPEAKERS HAVE REGISTERED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD TODAY, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS THIS MORNING.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THEN THE APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES BEFORE WE START THE ACTUAL HEARING.
SO OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY 3RD, 2025.
IS THERE A MOTION REGARDING MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 3RD, 2025 FROM THE BOARD? SO MOVED.
UM, MR. JEFFS, UM, SO I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. JEFFS TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY 3RD, 2025.
WAS THAT YOU, MR. QUINT? YES, MA'AM.
DO ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE MOTION? OKAY, GREAT.
AND THERE'S NO FURTHER THIS DISCUSSION.
THE MOTION PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
UH, THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO HEAR THE APPEAL REQUEST OF SUE ALLENS APPEALING THE DENIAL OF A DANCE FLOOR,
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ALL LATE HOURS PERMIT UNDER SECTION 14 DASH 3.1 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE.THE BURDEN OF PROOF FOR THIS HEARING IS ON THE APPELLANT AT THIS TIME.
ANY WITNESSES TO WISH TO TESTIFY IN THIS HEARING? PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
SO YOU MAY BE SWORN IN BY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALL WITNESSES HERE AT THIS MORNING.
BUT I DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL GIVE BEFORE THIS BOARD TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH? I DO.
DETECTIVE, DID YOU ALSO SWEAR? YOU DO.
UM, FOR THE RECORD, HOW MUCH TIME, MR. BIRCH, DO YOU ANTICIPATE NEEDING TO PRESENT, UM, THE CASE TODAY FOR SUES? UH, I'M, I'M ESTIMATING ABOUT 30 MINUTES.
AND, UH, FOR THE RECORD, HOW MUCH DOES TIME DOES THE CITY NEED TO PRESENT ITS CASE? 10 MINUTES WOULD BE SUFFICIENT MINUTES.
CAN WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE AND HAVE 20 MINUTES IF NEEDED? WE CAN EXTEND THE TIME.
MR. BIRCH, IS THAT OKAY? I'LL, I'LL DO MY BEST.
LET'S TRY IT FOR, LET'S TRY IT FOR 20 AND IT, WE CAN DEFINITELY EXTEND YOUR TIME, MR. BIRCH, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CITY ONLY NEEDS 10 MINUTES.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BOTH OF YOU.
NOW THE BOARD HAS ACCEPTED INTO EVIDENCE THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED BY THE APPELLANT AND HAS NUMBERED THEM.
THE BOARD HAS ALSO ACCEPTED INTO EVIDENCE THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED BY THE CITY AND IS ALSO DOCUMENT ONE.
WOULD THE CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE READ THE RELEVANT ORDINANCE TODAY YOU HAVE BEFORE TODAY, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AN APPEAL OF THE DENIAL OF A DANCE HALL LATE HOURS PERMIT.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 14 DASH 2.3, THE BOARD MAY REVERSE THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND GRANT AN EXCEPTION FROM THE LOCATIONAL RESTRICTIONS FOR LATE HOURS PERMIT.
IF THIS BOARD FINDS THE FOLLOWING, ONE, THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED DANCE HALL WILL NOT HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON NEARBY PROPERTY OR BE CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR WELFARE.
THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED DANCE HALL WILL NOT DOWNGRADE THE PROPERTY VALUE OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN ANY ADJACENT AREA OR ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN BLIGHT.
THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED DANCE HALL OPERATING UNDER A LATE HOURS PERMIT IN THE AREA WILL NOT BE CONTRARY TO ANY PROGRAM OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION OR INTERFERE WITH ANY EFFORTS OF URBAN RENEWAL OR RESTORATION.
ALL OTHER APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 14 WILL BE OBSERVED.
IF THIS BOARD FINDS IN THE CONTRARY TO ANY ONE OF THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS, THEN THIS BOARD MAY AFFIRM THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
IN ADDITION, THE BOARD MAY GRANT AN EXEMPTION FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD IF THE BOARD FINDS THAT ONE, THE DANCEHALL HAS BEEN GRANTED AN EXEMPTION FOR THE VOCATIONAL RESTRICTIONS OF SECTION 14 DASH 3.1 FOR THE THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS PRECEDING THE CURRENT EXEMPTION REQUEST.
TWO, THE APPLICANT HAS HAD NOT, HAS NOT HAD ANY DANCEHALL LICENSE SUSPENDED, REVOKED, OR DENIED WITHIN THE 24 MONTHS PROCEEDING THE EXEMPTION REQUEST.
AND THREE, NO VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 14 HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE APPLICANT OR BY ANY EMPLOYEE OF A DANCEHALL OF THE APPLICANT WITHIN THE 24 4 MONTHS PROCEEDING THE EXEMPTION REQUEST.
NOW WE WILL BEGIN WITH OPENING STATEMENTS, UM, TO THE APPELLANT.
MR. BIRCH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN WITH A BRIEF OPENING STATEMENT? AND THIS DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS YOUR 20 MINUTES.
UH, IN LIEU OF THE, UM, OPENING STATEMENT, I THINK I'D LIKE TO JUST HAVE MS. STON READ INTO THE RECORD THE, UH, LETTER THAT WAS, THAT IS PART OF EXHIBIT ONE FOR SUE ELLENS, UH, AT TAB ONE.
GOOD MORNING, ISAAC CORPORATION.
DOING BUSINESS AS SUE ELLENS IS ONE OF FOUR CLUBS OWNED AND OPERATED BY CABIN ENTERPRISES.
THIS INCLUDES BAR STAFF, DJ STAFF, AND ENTERTAINERS.
THERE IS A MANAGEMENT STAFF OF THREE.
THE COMBINED EXPERIENCE OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS OVER 35 YEARS.
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MAINTAINING THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF OUR GUESTS, STAFF, AND NEIGHBORS ARE KEY GOALS OF SUE ELLENS.SUE ELLENS, ALONG WITH JR'S STATION FOUR AND TMC IS MONITORED BY A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL SECURITY COMPANY AND IS APPROVED BY THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE SECURITY COMPANY PROVIDES ONSITE DEDICATED GUARDS AND PROVIDES ONSITE SUPERVISORS AND ROAMING SECURITY VEHICLES DURING BUSY HOURS.
THERE IS SECURITY IN THE CLUBS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE THE CLUBS AND CARS TO DETER CRIME.
THE ANNUAL COST FOR SECURITY IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IN ADDITION TO THE CORRECTIONAL SECURITY STAFF, THE CLUB IS MONITORED BY SECURITY CAMERAS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLUB.
THE MANAGERS, THE MANAGERS AND SECURITY GUARDS UTILIZE PORTABLE RADIO RADIOS TO ENSURE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF BOTH PATRONS AND STAFF.
WE BELIEVE MAINTAINING SECURITY ON A REGULAR BASIS IS THE BENEFIT IS TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR GUESTS AND STAFF.
SUE ELLENS IS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND EMPLOYS DOOR PERSONNEL AND FLOOR OBSERVERS.
NIGHTLY SUE ELLEN'S MANAGERS ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CLUB BEHIND THE BARS TO HELP DEAL WITH ANY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE.
OUR EMPLOYEE'S LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE COMPANY IS THE KEY TO SUE ELLEN'S SUCCESS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING ALL STATE CITY AND TABC RULES AND REGULATIONS.
THE STATE OF TEXAS OFFERS THE TABC CERTIFICATION AND ALL CABIN EMPLOYEES ARE TABC CERTIFIED.
ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH, DENTAL, AND VISION LIFE INSURANCE, AND A 401K.
THE COMPANY IS VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY ON BOTH BUSINESS AND CHARITABLE LEVELS.
WE ARE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CEDAR SPRINGS MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION KEEPING IN CLO CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE OTHER BUSINESSES ON THE STREET.
OUR CHARITABLE INVOLVEMENT IS EXTENSIVE.
SUE ELLENS IS INVOLVED WITH NORTH TEXAS, NORTH TEXAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SBCA HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AND PRISM HEALTH TO NAME A FEW.
SUE ELLENS DONATES THE SPACE FOR NONPROFIT DOOR NONPROFITS.
DOOR PROCEEDS DURING THESE EVENTS GO TO THE ORGANIZATION AND IN RETURN, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BENEFITS TO THE, TO ITS BENEFICIARIES.
THROUGH THE YEARS, THESE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE PROVEN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
OUR COMMITMENT TO PER PERSONALIZED LEARNING PREPARATORY AT SAM HOUSTON CONTINUES TO GROW.
SECRET SANTA 2024 WAS ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS.
IT IS THE MOST EXCITING EVENT OF THE YEAR.
WE DO SCHOOL SUPPLIES TWICE A YEAR.
SODA AND WATER ARE PROVIDED FOR FIELD DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PARTIES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE TEACHERS WANTING TO EXPAND OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH DISD AND OTHER AREA SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE HELPED SPONSOR EVENTS SUCH AS DASH FOR THE BEADS.
THESE EVENTS PROVIDE GRANT FUNDS AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE MULTIPLE PTO PROGRAMS, BENEFITING SCHOOLS INCLUDING HOG ELEMENTARY, HOTEL ELEMENTARY, BOWIE ELEMENTARY, ROSEMONT ELEMENTARY, AND WH ADAMSON HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED WITH SCOTTISH WRIGHT TAKING THEM THE EXTRA TOYS FROM SECRET SANTA.
THE LATE HOURS PERMIT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF SUE ELLIS.
OUR COMPTROLLER, BEN EK ESTIMATES THAT WITHOUT THE LATE HOURS PERMIT, WE WOULD SEE A DECREASE OF UP TO 30 TO 40% IN REVENUE.
THE DECREASE WOULD BE GREATLY AFFECT, WOULD GREATLY AFFECT THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION CONSIDERING, UH, IN REGARDING THIS MATTER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. BANKSTON.
DOES THE CITY HAVE A BRIEF OPENING STATEMENT? UM, NO.
SO WE ARE NOW READY TO BEGIN THE PRESENTATIONS.
WE'LL START WITH THE APPELLANT, MR. BIRCH.
UM, SO PLEASE PROCEED AND YOUR TIME STARTS NOW.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL MS. CHRISTINE BANKSTON AS A WITNESS.
AND MS. STON, CAN YOU STATE YOUR FULL NAME? MY NAME? UH, CHRISTINE BANKSTON.
AND WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO, UH, SUE ELLENS OR ISAAC CORPORATION? UH, I AM SEMIRETIRED FROM CABIN ENTERPRISES AND I STILL DO PROJECTS FOR THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND, UM, I HAVE WORKED WITH THE COMPANY FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, SO, UM, I AM VERY, UH, AWARE OF THE, UH, WORKINGS OF SUE ELLENS.
AND WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUE ELLENS
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AND CABIN ENTERPRISES? THEY ARE A, UH, SUBSIDIARY OF CABIN ENTERPRISES.EACH OF OUR CLUBS IS AN INDEPENDENT CORPORATION, AND THEY ARE, UH, ONE OF THE FOUR.
UM, EARLIER YOU, IN YOUR LETTER YOU MENTIONED THAT, UH, UH, KEVIN AND, AND SUE ELLENS, UH, ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE, UH, AREA OF, UH, CHARITY AND NOT IN ASSISTING NONPROFITS.
UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE NONPROFITS THAT, UH, YOU HAVE HELPED IN THE LAST, UH, SAY TWO YEARS OR SO? UH, WE WORK WITH THE GREG DOLLINGER MEMORIAL FUND, PRISM HEALTH.
WE WORK WITH, UH, UH, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE WORK WITH, UH, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN.
UH, THERE, THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF, UH, UH, BOTH WOMEN'S GROUPS AND, UH, AIDS AND HIV GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH.
AND WHEN YOU SAY YOU WORK WITH THEM, WHAT, IN WHAT FORM DOES THAT, UH, COOPERATION OR THAT WORK WITH, WITH INTAKE? UM, THE CLUB IS SET UP AND IS LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD EVENTS WHERE ORGANIZATIONS CAN COME IN, RAISE MONEY AT THE DOOR, WHICH GOES TO THEIR BENEFICIARIES.
AND, UH, WE DO ALL KINDS OF EVENTS.
UH, ONE OF OUR NEWEST PARTNERS IS THE SPCA.
UH, THEY DO ADOPTION EVENTS AT SUE ELLENS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, TWO VERY NICE PATIOS THAT WORK VERY WELL FOR THAT.
UH, AND YOU ALSO MENTIONED, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT, UH, CABINS AND SUE ELLENS HAS, UH, WITH THE, UH, SAM HOUSTON SCHOOL.
UM, LET ME ASK YOU TO TURN TO TAB TWO OF THE, UH, UH, EXHIBIT ONE FOR TAB OR FOR SUE ELLENS.
AND IF, IF IT'S OKAY, I'D LIKE TO, UH, SHARE MY SCREEN AND, UH, UH, TAB TAKE THE, THE GROUP TO THE TAB, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
LET ME CONFIRM YOUR SHARING CAPABILITIES.
SHE'S GOING TO GRANT YOU ACCESS SO YOU CAN SHARE YOUR SCREEN.
UM, CAN EVERYONE SEE THAT, THAT SCREENSHOT OR DO I NEED, I NEED TO ENLARGE IT IN ANY WAY, PLEASE ENLARGE.
SEE IF I CAN, UH, GO JUST A BIT.
AND NOW, DOES THAT HELP THERE? OOPS, THAT MAY TOO MUCH.
SO FIRST OF ALL, UH, MS. UH, UH, BANKSTON, UH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE
MS. BANKSTON, UH, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE, UM, REASONS WHY, UH, WE ARE HERE TODAY? WHY THE, WHY THE LATE HOURS PERMIT WAS DENIED? YES, SIR.
WELL, LET ME FIRST SHOW YOU TAB NINE OF EXHIBIT ONE FOR SUE ELLENS.
UH, AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU, IS THIS THE LETTER THAT SUE ELLENS RECEIVED, UH, DENYING ITS LATE HOURS, UH, DANCEHALL PERMIT? YES, SIR.
AND I'M GONNA DIRECT YOU NOW TO THE, UM, UH, UH, THIRD PARAGRAPH OF THAT, UH, LETTER.
AND IT STATES THAT LATE HOUR PERMIT, LATE HOURS PERMIT WAS DENIED BECAUSE YOUR BUSINESS IS WITHIN 1000 FEET OF THE BOUNDARY LINE OF A LOT DEVOTED TO RESIDENTIAL USE.
ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY OTHER REASON WHY THE THE PERMIT WAS DENIED IN THIS CASE? NO.
SO LET ME BACK UP NOW AND LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES.
IN EXHIBIT ONE, UH, IS, UM, A, UH, LETTER, UH, THAT COMES FROM DR. ASHLEY BELTON, PRINCIPAL.
WHERE IS SHE THE PRINCIPAL AT? SHE WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT, UH, SAM HOUSTON.
UM, SAM HOUSTON NOW HAS, UH, BEEN RELOCATED OVER TO A, ANOTHER CAMPUS OF WHICH SHE
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IS IN CHARGE OVER THERE.AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO, UH, CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH THE, UH, WITH THE SCHOOL, UH, JUST AS WE HAVE DONE FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
AND, UM, UH, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DO A, UH, SECRET SANTA PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL SUPPLY PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICKLY, BUT TAB FOUR OR TAB THREE OF THE, UH, EXHIBIT ONE, UH, IS THAT, UH, MATERIAL THAT RELATES TO THE SECRET SANTA PROGRAM THAT YOU, UH, CONDUCT? UH, YES.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE SCHOOL AT ITS NEW LOCATION, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
WE ARE WORKING ON THE LOGISTICS NOW.
AND SO THERE, THERE ARE VARIOUS TOYS, UH, PICTURED HERE.
UH, ARE THESE ITEMS THAT, UH, ARE SELECTED AND THEN, UH, KEVIN PROVIDES THOSE TOYS FOR THE, UH, KIDS AT THE SCHOOL? YES.
THE, THE STAFF, THE TEACHERS PUT THE BOOKLETS TOGETHER OF THE MOST POPULAR THINGS THAT THE KIDS LIKE.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PICK THREE ITEMS. UM, WE TRY, UH, EACH CHILD GETS A GIFT.
WE TRY TO GIVE THEM THEIR FIRST PICK.
AND, UM, UH, EVERYONE, THERE IS NO ONE THAT DOES NOT GET A GIFT, AND THAT INCLUDES THE STAFF AND THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE OF THE SCHOOL, OF THEY EACH RECEIVE A $25 GIFT CARD.
SO, UM, IT, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROJECT, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
SO LET'S, LET'S TIE THIS INTO THE LATE HOURS PERMIT.
HOW IS THE KEVIN'S ABILITY AND, AND SUE ELLEN'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE CHARITIES AND THE SCHOOL PRO JAMS THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN, HOW IS THAT AFFECTED BY THE, THE LATE HOUR, THE, THE ABILITY TO HAVE LATE HOURS, UH, UH, EVENTS AT THE, AT THIS CLUB? WELL, THE, THE INCOME THAT IS BROUGHT IN FROM THE, UH, FROM 12 TO FOUR, UH, REALLY AFFECTS HOW WHAT WE CAN GIVE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT, IT'S, UH, A LARGE, VERY, VERY LARGE PART, UH, OF OUR INCOME.
AND, UH, NOT HAVING THAT WOULD AFFECT THAT, UH, CONSIDERABLY.
UM, ED, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR OPERATIONS IN THE, IN THE LATE HOURS, UNDER THE LATE HOURS PERMIT.
ARE ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SOLD? NO, SIR.
ALL ALCOHOL HAS TO QUIT AT TWO O'CLOCK, AND WE FOLLOW THAT VERY STRINGENTLY.
UH, ARE ALL YOUR SERVERS, UH, UH, TABC, UH, CERTIFIED? CORRECT.
UH, AND LET'S TALK FOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE, THE MEASURES THAT, UH, CABIN AND SUE ELLEN'S TAKE TO, UH, MAKE SURE THERE'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT CAUSES A DETRIMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT.
UM, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, SECURITY THAT'S PRESENT ON SUE EL AT SUE OWENS, UH, DURING OPERATING HOURS.
WELL, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE, WE, UH, RETAIN A CERTIFIED, UH, SECURITY COMPANY.
AND, UM, SECURITY WITHIN ALL OF OUR CLUBS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND, UH, THERE IS NEVER, UH, A BUSINESS HOUR AT NIGHT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE SECURITY.
IT IS, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST, UH, A SECURITY GUARD BECAUSE SUE ELLENS TAKES IN A CO A COVER CHARGE IS AT SUE ELLENS AT ALL TIMES.
UH, WE HAVE SECURITY GUARDS THAT ROAM THE PROPERTY ON THE BUSIEST HOURS.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE VEHICLES THAT ALSO CIRCLE THE BLOCK TO, UH, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THE PARKING LOTS IN THAT AREAS ARE BEING KEPT SAFE AND CLEAN AND WITHOUT, UH, PEOPLE LOITERING.
AND, UM, ARE, ARE ALL OF THE SECURITY OFFICERS, UH, T CLOTHES ARE, UH, CERTIFIED TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS AND EDUCATION CERTIFIED? YEP.
UM, AND HOW DO THE OFFICERS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE MANAGER OF THE CLUB? THE, UH, SECURITY COMPANY, UH, AND THE MANAGERS HAVE RADIOS
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OF WHICH LETS THEM BE, UM, IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.WE HAVE SECURITY RADIOS FOR IN-HOUSE, WHICH THE, UH, STAFF USES WITH THE MANAGERS TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND THEN A SEPARATE RADIO, THE MANAGERS HAVE TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH SECURITY IF THEY ARE NEEDED.
AND, UH, WERE THOSE RADIOS RECENTLY, UH, UPGRADED? UH, YES.
AND, UM, UH, YOU SPEND IN, UH, IN TERMS OF SECURITY OFFICERS PER YEAR? IT, UH, FOR NOW, THIS INCLUDES THE ENTIRE BLOCK.
UH, IT RIGHT AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WAS OUR NUMBER FOR LAST YEAR.
UM, IS, UH, HAS SUE ELLENS RECEIVED ANY CERTIFICATION OR RECOGNITION FOR ITS, UH, SECURE AND, AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT? YES, IT'S, UH, I BELIEVE THE PROGRAM IS CALLED THE, THE COPPER STAR.
AND SO YOU ARE COPPER STAR CERTIFIED BY THE, UH, CITY TOURISM BOARD, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND, UH, COULD YOU GIVE US AN INDICATION OF HOW THE COMMUNITY VIEWS SUE ELLENS IN TERMS OF, UH, SECURITY AND SAFETY? WELL, UH, I, AND, UM, A LOT OF US HAVE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE IN OUR OTHER HEARINGS, AND, UM, BECAUSE OF THOSE SECURITY THAT WE DO HAVE ON THE BLOCK, UH, OFTENTIMES, UH, I THINK A LOT OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE OTHER CLUBS THAT ARE ON THE STREET.
SO WE OFTENTIMES GET PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER LOCATIONS, UH, TO REACH OUT TO OUR SECURITY BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD SOME SORT OF ISSUE.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE A, A, A SAFE HAVEN.
IT GIVES A, AN EXTRA HELP TO THE, UH, ENTIRE STREET IF SOMEBODY NEEDS IT.
UH, AND WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO THE MANAGERS AT SUE ELLENS HAVE WITH THE, UH, LOCAL POLICE? WELL OVER WHEN POLICE OFFICERS GET ASSIGNED TO THE AREA AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE, THE MANAGERS OF THE CLUBS, UH, THEY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
OUR RAPPORT, UH, IS, IS, UH, GOOD WITH OUR, OUR LOCAL OFFICERS, AND I THINK EVERYONE, UH, MAKES A POINT TO WORK WELL TOGETHER.
UH, DOES SUE ELLENS HAVE A PUBLIC INTOXICATION POLICY? UH, CORRECT.
IT'S, UH, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK ARE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE CLUBS, OR IF WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO, UH, HAS, UH, OVER INDULGED THAT WE GET THEM HOME SAFELY AND, UH, WITH, UH, CARE THROUGH FRIENDS, UBER, TAXI, THAT SORT OF, UH, UH, TRANSPORTATION.
AND, UM, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT, UH, ABOUT THE MEASURES YOU TAKE TO, UH, ENSURE THAT YOU'RE A GOOD NEIGHBOR FROM A SOUND AND, AND, AND, UH, UM, APPEARANCE STANDPOINT.
UH, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, SOUNDPROOFING THAT, UH, UH, IS PRESENT FOR SUE ALLENS? WELL, SUE ALLENS IS A, UM, UH, CONSTRUCTED OF CINDER BLOCK WITH REBAR WITH CONCRETE IN THE, IN THE CINDER BLOCK AND THEN COVERED WITH STONE.
UM, ALL SPEAKERS FACE INWARD IN THE BUILDING.
ALL SPEAKERS FACE TOWARDS THE DANCE FLOOR.
UM, THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE ON THE PATIO ARE ALSO FACED IN INWARD AND ARE TURNED OFF, UH, AROUND MIDNIGHT.
UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF, UH, WINDOWS ON THE BACKSIDE OF SUE ELLENS, WHICH ARE DOUBLE PANE DO NOT OPEN, UH, STRICTLY FOR AN AESTHETIC LOOK.
UH, ARE THERE ANY FORMAT CHANGES IN THE, IN THE, UH, MUSIC PLAYED AT THE CLUB? UH, DURING THE LATE HOURS PERMIT TIME? UH, WE TEND TO GO TO A MORE EASYGOING TYPE OF MUSIC AND, UH, UH, A RELAXATION GET, YOU KNOW, GET YOURSELF READY TO GO HOME, TYPE OF, UH, ATMOSPHERE.
AND, UM, UH, IN YOUR OPINION, DOES, UH, THE ABILITY TO STAY OPEN FROM TWO TO FOUR, UH, ALLEVIATE STREET CONGESTION IN THE AREA THAT YOU'RE LOCATED? YES.
I THINK, UH, BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE CLUBS ON THE, ON THE STRIP ARE, UH, CLOSING AT TWO O'CLOCK WITH EVERYONE, YOU KNOW,
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HEADING TO THEIR VEHICLES.I THINK, UH, WITH US, UH, SUE ELLENS AND WITH STATION FOUR CLOSING, UH, HAVE THE TWO TO FOUR PERIOD ALLEVIATES EXTRA TRAFFIC.
AND IT ALSO GIVES THE PATRONS, UH, UH, A TIME PERIOD WHERE THEY ARE DRINKING NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS WHILE THEY'RE AROUND? YES, YES.
WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
UM, DO YOU DO ANY AUDIO MONITORING IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE NOT, UH, BEING, UH, A, A PROBLEM OR MAKING A NOISE PROBLEM FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS? NEIGHBORS? WE USE THE SAME TYPE OF DEVICE THAT THE CITY WILL USE IF, UH, THEY NEED TO COME OUT THAT, UH, MEASURES THE, THE DECIMAL OF THE, OF THE SOUND.
AND THAT IS, UH, USED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MONITOR, UH, ALL OF THE CLUBS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT AFFECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
LET ME, UH, TURN TO TAB FOUR OF EXHIBIT ONE.
AND IN PARTICULAR, I, I'VE NUMBERED THESE PAGES, SC UH, 40, UH, THERE'S A LITTLE NUMBER IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER THAT STARTS WITH AN SE, BUT LOOK AT, UH, PAGES, UM, 40 TO 45.
UH, BUT IT, LET'S START WITH 41.
IS THIS THE FRONT OF, UH, SUE ELLENS? YES, IT IS.
AND YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, CONCRETE AND CINDER BLOCK CONSTRUCTION ON, AND I'M SHOWING YOU NOW, PAGE 42 OF EXHIBIT ONE.
IS THIS, UH, A PICTURE OF THE, THE REAR OF, UH, THE SUE ELLENS, UH, LOCATION? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
AND, UH, THEN, UH, THIS IS THE REAR PARKING LOT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THIS IS DIRECTLY BEHIND SUE ELLENS.
AND WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR SOUND MONITORING, WHERE WOULD THE, UH, SOUND MONITORING DEVICE BE? THEY GO ALL, THEY GO ALL THE WAY, UH, BACK TO WHERE THE HIGH SHRUBS ARE AT, AND THE FENCE IS AT, UH, ALL THE WAY BACK THERE TO CHECK AND SEE IF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE LEVEL IS AT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, UH, IS, UH, WELL BELOW ANYTHING THAT WOULD AFFECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UH, CAN YOU SEE THE LITTLE CURSOR ON MY, UH, SCREENSHOT THAT I'M SHOWING? YES.
UH, IS IS WHERE THE LITTLE HAND IS, IS THAT ABOUT ONE OF THE SOUND YES.
AND THEN, UH, THIS IS ANOTHER SHOT OF THE PARKING LOT.
AND THEN WHAT IS THIS PHOTO OF THAT'S ON PAGE 45? THIS WAS ACTUALLY, UH, AN IDEA THAT THE CITY CAME UP WITH, UH, QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, WE PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM AND HAVE THESE SIGNS THROUGHOUT OUR PROPERTY.
UH, IS THERE ANOTHER PARKING LOT THAT, UH, SUE ELLEN'S, UH, PATRONS CAN USE IN ADDITION TO THE ONE BEHIND THE CLUB? UH, ACROSS THE, UH, STREET FROM SUE ELLENS IS OUR, UH, IS OUR PAID LOT, UH, WHERE YOU PAY TO PARK.
UM, AND WE HAVE FOR YEARS, UH, TAKEN 5% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THAT LOT, UH, TO GIVE TO RESOURCE CENTER DALLAS FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE THERE.
SO, UH, HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY NOISE COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORS? WE HAVE NOT.
HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED A NOISE COMPLAINT FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS? NO.
UH, AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THE NEIGHBORS GENERALLY SUPPORT, UH, SUE ELLENS AND, AND KEVIN'S EFFORTS.
UH, LET ME SHOW YOU, UH, TAB SIX.
UH, IS IT YOUR PRACTICE TO COLLECT PETITIONS OF SUPPORT OR, OR TRY TO GAUGE, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT BY GETTING PEOPLE TO, UH, SIGN A PETITION OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR APPLICATION? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, TAB SIX, UH, CONTAINS ALL OF THOSE, UH, PETITIONS AND SIGNATURES, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND IT, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE MOST OF THESE SIGNATURES ARE MOST ALL, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND THE, UH, UH, CLUB, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ALMOST AT TIME, WANTED TO SEE IF YOU NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL TIME.
COULD I HAVE FIVE MORE MINUTES, PLEASE? AND NOW WE'LL BE DONE.
UM, LET'S, UH, SO YOU'VE GOTTEN 296 OF THESE SIGNATURES, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EFFECT, IF ANY, THAT, UH, SUE ELLEN'S LAID HOUR OPERATIONS OR CABIN'S, UH, OPERATIONS GENERALLY HAVE ON THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING, UM,
[00:35:01]
THE CLUB.UH, FIRST OF ALL, HOW LONG HAS, UH, SUE ELLEN'S BEEN ACTIVE? SUE ELLEN'S HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 36 YEARS.
THEY OPENED ON JANUARY 19TH, 1989.
UM, AND, UH, HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DANCE HALL LICENSE, UH, SUSPENDED, REVOKED, OR DENIED? NO.
O OTHER THAN THE, THE ONES THAT WE HAD TO APPEAL EACH YEAR BECAUSE OF THE THOUSAND FOOT? WELL, CORRECT.
UH, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, HAS SUE ELLENS OR ANY OF ITS EMPLOYEES EVER VIOLATED ANY PROVISION OF CHAPTER 14 OF THE DALLAS CITY CODE? NO.
UH, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, ARE WE TODAY SEEKING A TWO YEAR EXEMPTION FROM THE LOCATIONAL RESTRICTIONS OF SECTION 14 DASH 3.1? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE THAT, THAT IS IMPORTANT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, WHO TOOK THESE PICTURES OR, OR WHERE, WHAT DID THESE PICTURES REPRESENT? UM, I ALL PICTURES IN THE BOOK.
I TOOK, UH, ALL PICTURES IN THE BOOK, ESPECIALLY THE, THE PROPERTIES.
I DID ALL OF THE, UM, OF THE, UM, SECRET SANTA PICTURES.
AND THEN A, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I CAME ON THE BLOCK EARLY IN THE DAY AND, UH, TOOK, UH, THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THE AREA AND THE SURROUNDING RESIDENCES THAT ARE IN THE AREA.
UM, AS, AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE PLACES HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS.
UH, YOU AS PANEL MEMBERS HAVE, HAVE SEEN THESE PICTURES.
UM, BUT I DO NOT REUSE PICTURES E EACH YEAR.
I REDO THE PICTURES, SO THIS IS CURRENT WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW.
SO LET, LET ME SHOW YOU SOME PHOTOS FROM TAB FIVE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THE, UH, THE, UH, LOCATION IMMEDIATELY BEHIND YOUR PARKING LOT IS CORRECT.
IS THAT OCCUPIED BY THE DAISY POLE? CAN? YES.
AND HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN IN BUSINESS, JIM? I'D HAVE TO BE GUESSING, BUT A, A GOOD 20 YEARS.
SO LET ME SCROLL DOWN TO PAGE, UH, 70, UH, WAIT, IT'S GONNA BE 74.
UH, WHAT ARE THESE, UH, THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE ON THIS PICTURE? THAT IS THE, THAT IS THE CORNER DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM DAISY POLK INN, WHICH USED TO BE, UH, PRETTY DILAPIDATED, UH, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
AND, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR, THEY HAVE TAKEN THAT DOWN.
AND THESE ARE BRAND NEW NICE CONDOS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN THERE.
AND SO THIS, THIS DEVELOPMENT, SINCE WE'VE HAD THE LAST MEETING IN 2023, THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN BUILT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND IT'S CLEARLY WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF SIOUX ALLENS? IT, IT'S IN ABOUT 500 FEET
IT'S, IT'S WITHIN A STONES THROW.
IT'S, YES, HE'S AN ARKANSAS TURN.
UM, AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS ANOTHER PICTURE, UH, BEHIND SUE ALLENS ON DICK DICKERSON STREET.
UH, WHAT IS THIS PICTURE ON PAGE 75 REFLECT? THAT IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT HAS BEEN THERE, UH, PROBABLY A GOOD 15 YEARS, AND IT IS DIRECTLY BEHIND SUE ELLENS.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA BORE THE COMMISSION WITH BY GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE PICTURES, BUT I DO INVITE YOU TO LOOK AT IT AT THEM.
UM, BUT, UH, MS. STON, BASED ON YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, HAS, UH, SUE ELLEN'S, UH, OPERATIONS OR LAID OUT PERMIT OPERATIONS HAD ANY ADVERSE EFFECT ON, UH, IN YOUR OPINION, THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? NO.
IT'S ONLY, IT'S ONLY GROWN YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND, UH, NO ONE IS SHYING AWAY, UH, BECAUSE WE THERE ARE THERE AND HAVE THE AFTER HOURS.
IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE PROPERTY VALUES AND DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE WITHIN 1000 FEET OF SUE ALLEN'S VERSUS THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE 1000 FEET AREA? NO, IT, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE AREA, IT'S, IT'S BOOMING AND, UM, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT IS STOPPING IT EITHER WAY.
UH, AND, UH, IS SUE ELLEN'S, UH, USE OF THE PREMISES, UH, CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S APPROVED, UH, ZONING PLANS FOR THE AREA? YES.
AND, UM, DOES, UH, SUE ELLEN'S, UH, LEASE ITS, UH, PREMISES ON A LONG-TERM BASIS? YES.
[00:40:05]
CAN YOU GIVE THE BOARD AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH MONEY OR, OR THE, THE EXPENSES THAT YOU SPEND MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING SUE ELLEN'S SAY IN THE LAST YEAR? IT RANGES USUALLY ABOUT $150,000 A YEAR.MR. BERT, YOU HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES.
UH, I'M GOING TO PASS THE WITNESS AND LET THE COMMISSION ASK, UH, QUESTIONS, IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, DOES THE CITY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPELLANT? UM, WITNESS? DO NOT.
UH, WE WILL NOW GO THROUGH THE BOARD MEMBERS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU'LL RECOGNIZE FOR TWO MINUTES, WE'LL START WITH MS. AARA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. ALA, MS. THOMAS, NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
MR. JEFFERSON, WHAT IS THE CAPACITY AT THE CLUB? IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S RIGHT, RIGHT AROUND 900.
MR. MR. ILLA, MS. BANKSTON, UH, IN REGARD TO THE SECURITY AMOUNT THAT YOU HAD QUOTED, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUAL SPEND, IS THAT FOR ALL FOUR LOCATIONS OR JUST FOR SUE? UH, SIR, THAT IS, THAT IS FOR ALL FOUR.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IS SPENT AT SUE ELLENS SPECIFICALLY? WELL, IT'S, UH, MR. EK PETER, THAT MAY BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR BEN EK, WHO'S OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I CAN, WOULD IT BE OKAY IF HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION FOR YOU? IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? UM, SO THE WAY IT WORKS IS THE SECURITY COMPANY IS SHARED AMONGST ALL FOUR CLUBS, AND SO WE POSITION THEM, UH, STRATEGICALLY THROUGH THE BLOCK.
'CAUSE THE ALL FOUR CLUBS ARE ON THE SAME, WITHIN THE SAME CITY BLOCK.
THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED, INTERCONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER.
SO WE HAVE ONE GUARD THAT'S POSTED RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF SUE ELLENS ONE THAT'S POSTED RIGHT IN THE FRONT OF STATION FOUR, AND THEN TWO TO FOUR ROME, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S A WEEKEND NIGHT OR A WEEKNIGHT.
SO THAT'S A, A CONSOLIDATED BILL THAT WE DO FOR ALL OF THE, OH.
AND THERE'S ALSO A GUARD THAT ROAMS THE TWO PARKING LOTS.
SO THAT'S A CONSOLIDATED BILL THAT I JUST SHARE AMONGST THE COURT, SPLIT IT UP AND PAY BASIS.
AND MR. HICK, IF I MAY, ARE THEY ALL, OR MAYBE MS. STON, ARE THEY ALL SHARING THE SAME FREQUENCY AND RADIO FREQUENCY FOR ALL FOUR CLUBS, OR DOES YES.
YEAH, THEY ALL, THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER.
SO IF THERE'S ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT THAT, WHERE THEY ALL NEED TO KIND OF GROUP OVER TO ONE AREA, THEY CAN ALL GO AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THEY'RE ALSO INTERCONNECTED WITH OUR MANAGERS.
THEY HAVE A SECURITY RADIO SYSTEM WITH AMONGST EACH OTHER, AND THEN OUR MANAGERS HAVE A SYSTEM THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO THEM.
MANAGERS OF ALL CLUBS ARE CONNECTED ALL TOGETHER? YES.
IN REGARD TO THE REVENUE LOSS, IT IS PROJECTED THE 30 TO 40% OF LOSS, IF IT'S THE DON'T GET THE LATE NIGHT PERMIT, IS, YOU SAID THAT'S A 12 TO 4:00 AM IS THE, IS A HUGE INCREASE IN, OR THAT'S THE REVENUE OR THE BULK OF THE REVENUE THAT YOU RECEIVE? UM, IS THAT RELATED TO, YOU SAID SOME OF, OR I GUESS FROM TWO TO FOUR, I ASSUME THERE'S NO DRINKS.
SO IS THERE A MEMBERSHIP OR A DOOR FEE THAT'S FROM TWO TO FOUR? YEAH.
AND CHRIS, LET ME CHECK THIS ONE REAL QUICK IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S AN ELEMENT TO THIS I'D LIKE TO THROW IN THE, IT'S NOT JUST THE REVENUE THAT'S MADE BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR.
IT'S, AND YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE IS A DOOR CHARGE AND IT, UH, FROM THAT TIME, BUT IT'S ALSO THE AMOUNT WE'RE, WE'RE A VERY SERVICE INDUSTRY ORIENTED, UH, BUSINESS.
SO A LOT OF THE SERVICE INDUSTRY PEOPLE COME OUT LATER AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR TWO LATE HOUR CLUBS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN STAY TILL 4:00 AM.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE, WE WOULD LOSE TWO TO FOUR.
IT'S THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BOTHER COMING IN, YOU KNOW, AT THAT PLACE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN WITHIN AN HOUR.
THANK YOU, MR. UM, WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK, UH, MR. JEFF,
[00:45:02]
NO QUESTIONS.UM, AND FOR ME, I GUESS, UH, MR. HICK KIND, KIND OF FOLLOWING ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU MENTIONED THAT A LOT OF YOUR CLIENTS ARE FROM THE SERVICE IN INDUSTRY, AND THIS WOULD HURT THAT, THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT REVENUE STRAIN.
UM, AND THEN THOSE CLIENTS, CORRECT? YES.
THAT'S WHY THE ESTIMATE IS WHAT I QUOTED.
DO YOU SEE, UM, MS. UH, BANKSTON, YOU MENTIONED, UM, THAT, WELL, IN, IN THE EVIDENCE WE SAW A GATHERING OF SIGNATURES.
HOW WAS THIS TAKEN ABOUT? WAS THIS, DID YOU GUYS GO DOOR TO DOOR? WAS WERE THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT THE CLUB? UM, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THE PROCESS WAS TO GATHER THE SIGNATURES? YES.
IT, IT IS A, IT IS A MIXED PROCESS.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE SIGNATURES HAVE TO COME FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE WITHIN, YOU KNOW, THE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.
WE, UH, DO TAKE SIGNATURES AT THE CLUB AS LONG AS THAT THEY LIVE IN THE AREA.
UM, THEN WE SEND PEOPLE OUT, UH, DOOR TO DOOR AND TO, UH, RESIDENCES, UH, WITHIN THE AREA.
WE GO TO THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH FOR YEARS AND, UH, GET BUSINESS SIGNATURES.
AND, UM, THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR THIS ROUND.
WE'LL DO ANOTHER ROUND OF QUESTIONS IN CASE SOMETHING ELSE CAME UP, UH, THAT DIDN'T COME UP THE FIRST TIME.
AND WE'LL START WITH MS. AYALA.
I NOTICED YOU HAD RAISED YOUR HAND.
UM, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? DO YOU HAVE ANY? SURE.
MS. THOMAS, YOU MAY BE ON MUTE.
MS. THOMAS, AM I UNMUTED YET? AM I MUTED YET? HEAR YOU NOW.
UM, IT'S HOW MANY POLICE INVOLVED INCIDENTS WERE THERE FROM 10 23 THROUGH 10 24 AT THIS LOCATION? I DIDN'T SEE OR HAVE HEARD, UH, A POLICE REPORT INVOLVING THAT.
AND I NOTICED THAT THEY WERE DENIED THE LATE HOURS PERMIT AFTER, OR JUST BEFORE THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, IN JULY, THEY WERE DENIED THE LATE HOURS PERMIT? YES, THE LATE HOURS PERMIT, MA'AM? UH, ONLY STRICTLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE WITHIN A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF, UH, OF A RESIDENCE.
UH, WE WEREN'T DENIED BECAUSE OF ANY, UH, OTHER ACTIVITY.
AND HAS, HAS THIS CLUB NOT ALWAYS BEEN WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF RESIDENTS? YES.
IT, IT HAS, AND THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS PROCESS EVERY TWO YEARS BECAUSE IT'S AN AUTOMATIC DENIAL BECAUSE WE'RE WITHIN THE A THOUSAND FEET.
SO, UM, THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE COME AND VISIT WITH YOU
UM, MR. JEFFERSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
MS. STON, I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SAM HOUSTON.
DID YOU SAY THAT THE PRINCIPAL MOVED, OR THE SCHOOL, DID THEY DO LIKE A-D-I-S-D TEMPORARY CLOSE WHILE THEY'RE RENOVATING IT? OR WHAT WAS THE SITUATION WITH SAM HOUSTON SCHOOL? THEY HAVE BEEN, UH, AND I APOLOGIZE, SIR.
I, I DO NOT REMEMBER OF THE SCHOOL THAT THEY'VE BEEN MOVED TO, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN MOVED OVER TO A, UH, ANOTHER SCHOOL, UM, I BELIEVE THAT IS, UH, CLOSER TO CITY PLACE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
[00:50:01]
AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE LOGISTICS OF, UH, CONTINUING WHAT WE'VE BEEN, UH, DOING.UM, AND WE HAVE EVERY, UH, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE SECRET SANTA PROGRAM AND WITH THE OTHER NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE.
AND I GUESS I WAS JUST, IS IT, IS THE PHYSICAL SPACE THAT YOU GUYS USED TO VISIT, IS IT GOING TO BE ANOTHER SCHOOL OR IS IT NO LONGER OPEN? I GUESS RIGHT NOW IT IS NOT OPEN RIGHT NOW, BUT HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DISD HAS IN PLAN FOR THAT SCHOOL.
AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION WAS, I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF A FEW MINUTES, A FEW SECONDS HERE.
MICHAEL WYNN, WHAT IS HIS RELATIONSHIP TO SUE ELLENS? HE IS OUR, UH, PRESIDENT AND CEO.
THANK YOU, MR. CLINT, THE CHAIR.
MISSION, Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB ASKING QUESTIONS, SO NO QUESTIONS FOR ME.
UH, MS. UH, MASON, YOU SIGNED YOUR LETTER, UM, AS A COMMUNITY LIAISON, CORRECT? UH, DO YOU HAVE, UH, SO YOU DON'T ACTUALLY WORK AT SUE? NO, I'M, UH, I STARTED WITH THE COMPANY IN 1985.
AND I ENDED UP, UH, AT THE END OF, UH, MY TENURE, UH, ON THE, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND, UH, SO MY INVOLVEMENT IS WITH, UH, ALL OF THE CLUBS AND, UM, I, UH, SEMI-RETIRED THREE YEARS AGO, AND I WORK NOW WITH, UH, NONPROFITS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, UH, HANDLING OF, UH, MEETINGS LIKE THIS, WHICH I HAVE DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UH, JUST USING SOME OF MY EXPERTISE THAT I'VE GOTTEN OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE AS WELL.
SO SINCE WE'VE DONE TWO ROUNDS OF QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, AND THE APPELLANT HAS ALSO DONE THEIR PRESENTATION, WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO THE CITY'S PRESENTATION.
UM, SO WHENEVER YOU GUYS ARE READY, WE CAN GET THANK YOU.
UM, THE CITY PAUL IS A WITNESS.
UM, DETECTIVE MONTREAL, WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? DETECTIVE MONTREAL.
AND HOW ARE YOU EMPLOYED? I'M EMPLOYED WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU, UH, UM, I'M SORRY.
WHAT UNIT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING? I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE, UH, DALLAS POLICE VICE LICENSING UNIT.
AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE VICE LICENSE? UH, I'VE BEEN WITH THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS.
BEEN WORKING FOR THE VICE LICENSE UNIT FOR APPROXIMATELY, UM, GOING UP FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND, UM, WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DEVICE? I SCENE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO OVERSEE, UH, WE RE FIRST OF ALL, WE REPRESENT THE, UH, CHIEF OF POLICE IN REVIEWING, UH, SOLID APPLICATION.
BUT COMING THROUGH OUR OFFICE MAINLY ARE GONNA BE YOUR DANCE HALL, LATE HOURS, UH, SEXUAL ORIENTED BUSINESS, UH, VILLAGE HALL, BEEN SENT LICENSE.
WE REVIEW THESE PACKETS AND VERIFY THAT ALL DOCUMENTATIONS IN PLACE AND GOOD.
SO WE CONTINUE WITH THE PROCESS AND GET THOSE COMMENTS ON.
AND DID YOU REVIEW THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY SUE ELLENS FOR A, A DANCE HALL LATE HOUR PERMIT? YES, I DID.
UM, IN THE CITY'S EVIDENCE BINDER, UM, COULD YOU PLEASE TURN TO TAB ONE? UM, IF YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE, THE, UH, HISTORY OF THE, UH, DENIAL AND DEAL OF THE LATE HOUR PERMIT? YES, SIR.
ON, UH, WE'LL SAY 2021, A PIPE HEARING WAS ALSO HEARD WHERE A, UH, THE PANEL GAVE TWO YEARS, UH, LATE HOUR EXEMPTION TO SUE, UM, IN 2022 THAT SAW LATE HOURS PERMIT WAS APPROVED, BEGINNING WITH THE DATE OF TEN THREE OF 2022, AND THE NEXT EXPIRATION OF TEN THREE OF 2021.
UM, ON JULY OF 2023, A DANCEHALL PERMIT APPROVED AND THE LATE HOURS WAS DENIED AGAIN.
UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, A DANCEHALL PERMIT IS, UH, SUBMITTED EVERY YEAR.
UM, THAT'S WHY IT'S EVERY OTHER.
[00:55:01]
UM, SEPTEMBER OF 2023, PLANNED HEARING GRANTS, UH, SURROUND, UH, TWO YEARS AGAIN, UH, FOR A LATER HOUR PERMIT, BEGINNING DATE, UM, 10 20 23 WITH AN EXEMPTION OF 10 OF 2025, UM, SEPTEMBER OF 2024, DANCE HALL PERMIT AND LATER HOURS PERMIT ISSUED WITH EXPRESSION DATE OF 10 20 25.UM, JULY OF, UH, THIS YEAR THE DANCE HALL AND LATER HOURS APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
THE DANCE HALL, UM, THAT SAME JULY DANCE HALL PERMIT WAS APPROVED AND THE LATE HOURS WAS DENIED.
AND RIGHT P WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE HERE TODAY.
AND TURNING TO TAB THREE, UH, IS THIS THE APPLICATION FOR DANCE HALL WITH HOURS PERMIT TO YES, IT IS.
AND WHY WAS SUE ELLEN DENIED A LATE POWER PERMIT? UH, SO LOOK, IT WAS AN, A AUTOMATIC DENIAL ONLY TO THE, UH, UH, BUSINESS LINES WITH A THOUSAND FEET OF A RESIDE.
AND IS IT A, A DENIAL FOR THAT LOCATIONAL RESTRICTION? DISCRETIONARY? THERE IS NO DISCRETIONARY, IT'S AN AUTOMATIC DENIAL.
TURNING TO TAB FIVE, UM, DOES THIS TAB DOCUMENT AND KINDA SUMMARIZE THE CALLS FOR SERVICE AT SUE OWEN YEAR? YES, IT DOES.
AND ARE THE, GENERALLY THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF CALLS TYPICAL FOR A, A BUSINESS OF THIS TYPE? THE NUMBER OF CALLS FOR THIS BUSINESS, THEY'RE EXTREMELY LOW.
UH, UH, WE TOTAL THE, UH, TOTAL CALLS 9 1 1 CALLS FOR THAT LOCATION FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR, UH, WHICH TOTALED UP TO 19, WHICH IS EXTREMELY LOW.
OUTTA THOSE ONLY FIVE WERE, UH, WE, WE SHOWED ONLY FIVE OFFICESS.
OUT OF THOSE FIVE FOUR ACTUALLY WERE, WERE, UH, THAT OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF TWO ALLEN OR SUE.
WELL, NOW, UH, LATE HOURS OR ZERO CALLS, WHICH IS THE LATE HOURS, WHICH IS IDENTIFIED AS FROM 2:00 AM TO 4:00 AM FOR THOSE DURING THAT PERIOD, THERE IS NO, UH, NO ISSUES.
AND IF YOU TURN TO TAB SEVEN, THAT WILL SUMMARIZE AGAIN THE, UM, UH, INCIDENTS FROM JUNE AM BEFORE AM OF LAST YEAR, CORRECT.
UM, AND THEN BASED ON THE INCIDENTS, INCIDENT REPORTS, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THERE'S A, A PATTERN IN FRONT, UH, WITH THE, UH, CALLS THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, THE ONES THAT OFFICER RESPONDED TO, THERE'S THE, ACTUALLY NO, UH,
UM, MR. BIRCH, DOES THE APPELLANT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY OR THE CITY'S WITNESSES? DETECTIVE MONROE, YOU'RE ON MUTE, MR. BIRCH, ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'M GONNA LEARN HOW TO DO THIS.
UM, I, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, LIEUTENANT, UM, I, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS AND, AND THE, THE ANALYSIS YOU DID.
UM, LET ME ASK YOU TO TURN TO TAB FIVE FOR JUST A SECOND, IF YOU HAVE THAT THERE.
AND, AND IT APPEARS THAT, UH, THERE'S FIVE INCIDENTS THERE WHERE THE, THE POLICE ACTUALLY RESPONDED TO SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE AREA OF SUE ALLENS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
THE, UH, OFFICER RESPONDED TO THAT ADDRESS.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE, UM, UH, LOOKING AT ADAM NUMBER THREE, UH, IT, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A REAR LICENSE PLATE STOLEN FROM A CAR, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT, SIR.
AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT SUE ELLENS, WAS IT? IT WAS DOWN THE STREET.
IT WAS OUT IN THE PARKING LOT? NOT IN REALLY.
YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS AT, UH, HE, THE VICTIM'S CAR WAS PARKED SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 39 0 6 CEDAR SPRINGS, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT, SIR.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE LA VENTANA RESTAURANT IS? CORRECT, SIR.
[01:00:01]
ON THE 7 24 25 INCIDENT, THERE WAS A CAR THEFT.DO YOU KNOW WHICH PARKING LOT THAT WOULD'VE OCCURRED IN? NO, I, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN ON, UM, UH, ITEM NUMBER 5 8 10 20 25, UM, THAT OCCURRED OUTSIDE, UH, THE PREMISES OF SUE ALLENS, DIDN'T IT? WHAT I SHOW IS IT OCCURRED OUTSIDE THE, UH, YES.
THE PREMISES WERE, UH, VIA BAR WAS REQUESTED OF THE ASSISTANCE OF OFFICER.
AND, UH, WERE YOU AWARE THAT THE, UH, INCIDENT ACTUALLY BEGAN, UH, AT THE ITALIAN RESTAURANT, NATALIA EXPRESS, UM, BEFORE THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND THE, UH, VICTIM, UH, WOUND UP, UH, IN THE OUTSIDE OF SUE ELLENS? NO, UH, WE WEREN'T AWARE WHERE IT ACTUALLY STARTED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION, SIR.
NOW WE WILL HAVE BOARD QUESTIONING.
UM, WE'LL START WITH MS. ALA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY OR DETECTIVE MONTREAL? NO QUESTIONS.
UM, MR. JEFFERSON, NO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU MR. JEFFS NO QUESTIONS.
UH, DETECTIVE MONROE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND WE ALWAYS ENJOY SEEING YOU AT THESE HEARINGS.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK THROUGH ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT, UH, SUE ELLENS PRESENTED, IT WAS INCREDIBLY STELLAR.
THERE ARE SUCH AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IF IT WAS IN YOUR POWER, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU GRANT EXTENSION WITH THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE, THE, UH, OFFICES OF THAT WE RESEARCHED? I, I SAY YES.
UH, THEY, THEY'VE ACTUALLY DONE A LOT.
UH, UH, ALL THE, THE OFFICES PRIME IS REALLY LOW, THAT LOCATION COMPARED TO SO MANY OTHER CLUBS.
I JUST WAS LOOKING FOR A CONFIRMATION, YES OR NO, AND YOU, YOU DID A STELLAR JOB.
THANK YOU, MR. QUINT, MS. SHIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I ALSO JUST WANNA CONFIRM, DETECTIVE MONTREAL, THE ONLY REASON YOU HAD TO DENY THE PERMIT WAS OUT OF CITY ORDINANCE RULES THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLOSED WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OTHER, OTHERWISE THERE'S NO OTHER REASON FOR A DENIAL, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
NOW WE'LL DO ONE MORE ROUND OF, UH, QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
IF ANYONE DOES HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO QUESTION THE CITY OR, UH, DETECTIVE MONTEREY? SO WE'LL START WITH MS. ALA, NO QUESTIONS.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, SO WE WILL NOW, UH, DO CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
UH, THE BOARD WILL NOW HEAR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND ARGUMENTS.
EACH SIDE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES, AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE APPELLANT'S CLOSING ARGUMENTS.
SO, MR. BIRCH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I, I HOPE THIS IS AN EASY CASE FOR THE BOARD, UH, AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY, AND APPRECIATE YOU HEARING US OUT.
UM, THE, THE LOCATION OF, OF THE LATE HOURS PERMIT, UH, WILL NOT HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE NEARBY PROPERTY, OR BE CONTRARY TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR WELFARE.
UM, AS WE'VE SHOWN THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED, UH, DANCE HALL, LATE HOURS, MY LICENSE, UH, HAS NOT DOWNGRADED THE PROPERTY VALUE OR THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE ADJACENT AREA.
UH, AND IT HASN'T ENCOURAGED THE DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN BLIGHT.
IT COULD ALMOST BE ARGUED THAT IT HAS REVERSED URBAN BLIGHT BY HAVING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO AND CONGREGATE.
AND THE, IT ADDS TO THE WALKABILITY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF THAT DISTRICT.
[01:05:02]
IS NOT CONTRARY TO ANY PROGRAM OF NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION.IT'S, IT'S OPERATING ENTIRELY WITHIN THE, UH, USE THAT IT'S, UH, PERMITTED FOR UNDER THE CITY PLAN.
UH, AND WE'VE SHOWN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE OBSERVED THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 14 AND WITH LAW, UH, AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
UM, THERE'S NO REAL DIFFERENCE IN PROPERTY VALUES OR IN DEVELOPMENT WITHIN 30 A THOUSAND FEET OF SUE ELLENS VERSUS, UH, OUTSIDE THAT 1000 FEET RADIUS.
UH, AND THEY DO THEIR BEST TO BE A GOOD AND SOUND NEIGHBOR.
THEY, THEY INVEST IN SOUNDPROOFING.
THEY KEEP THE PREMISES UP TO DATE AND, AND CLEAN AND, AND WELL DONE.
UH, THEY PROVIDE SECURITY, UH, NOT JUST FOR THEIR AREA, BUT FOR THE SURROUNDING, UH, BLOCK, UM, AS ON DAYS THAT THEY'RE OPERATING.
AND, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A STABLE COMPANY.
UH, KEVIN HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE THE, I THINK, EARLY LATE 1980S.
UM, MS. BANKSTON HAS WORKED THERE SINCE 1989.
UH, AND SUE ELLENS HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE, UH, WELL, FOR 34 YEARS.
I'LL LET, I'LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE DO THE MATH ON THAT OR MORE.
AND, UH, DURING THAT TIME, THEY'VE HAD A LATE HOURS PERMIT THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, AND IT STILL HAS DEVELOPED AND GONE.
AND THEN THEY HAD THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, EVEN THOUGH THE ISD CLOSED THE SCHOOL AND MOVED IT TO ANOTHER LOCATION, BUT THAT, THAT SCHOOL HAD EXISTED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGHOUT, THROUGH ELLEN'S EXISTENCE.
SO IT'S, IT WASN'T MOVED BECAUSE OF SUE ELLENS OR ANYTHING THAT WE WERE DOING.
IT WAS JUST A DECISION DISD MADE.
UM, WE THINK WE SHOULD BE GRANTED NOT JUST AN EXEMPTION UNDER 14 2.3, UH, BUT IT SHOULD BE A TWO YEAR EXTENSION UNDER, UH, SUBSECTION G OF THAT SECTION.
UM, WE'VE BEEN GRANTED THE EXEMPTION FROM LOCATIONAL RESTRICTIONS FOR, UH, THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS PRECEDING THIS REQUEST.
AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEEN CLOSER TO 30 YEARS PRECEDING THIS, THIS REQUEST.
UH, AND, UH, WE'VE NEVER HAD A DANCE HALL LICENSE SUSPENDED, REVOKED, OR DENIED.
AND, UH, WE OPERATE A CLEAN CLUB.
WE DO NOT VIOLATE THE CITY ORDINANCE ON, UH, SERVING OF ALCOHOL OR DANCE HALLS.
UM, SO FOR THAT REASON, WE'D RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT, UH, WE BE GRANTED A, UH, UH, AN EXEMPTION FROM THE LOCATIONAL RESTRICTIONS, UH, UNDER, UH, 14 DASH 2.3 D, AND THAT, THAT EXEMPTION BE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS UNDER 14 DASH 2.3 G.
AND AGAIN, I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TODAY.
UH, WE WILL NOW HEAR CITY, UH, ART CLOSING.
I JUST WANNA BRIEFLY THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR THEIR SERVICE.
UM, THANK FOR THE WITNESSES TESTIFYING TODAY.
UM, THAT WILL REST A LEGAL REST.
NOW, UM, SINCE THE CITY RESTS AND THE APPELLANT RESTS, WE NOW WILL MOVE ON TO MOTIONS.
SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD REGARDING THE DENIAL OF A DANCE HALL LATE HOURS PERMIT FOR SUE ELLENS.
SO YOU'LL EITHER AFFIRM THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE, UM, TO DENY THIS DANCE HALL LATE HOURS PERMIT, OR REVERSE THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF OF CHIEF OF POLICE TO DENY THIS DANCE HALL LICENSE.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO GRANT A TWO YEAR EXEMPTION DURING YOUR MOTION.
SO ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
THEY ARE, UH, RECOGNIZED TO REVERSE THE CHIEF OF POLICE'S DECISION.
AND GRANT SUE ELLEN'S A TWO YEAR EXEMPTION FOR THE LATE HOURS FOR THEIR LATE HOURS PERMIT.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO REVERSE THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF DENIAL OF A DANCE HALL LATE HOURS PERMIT FOR SUE ELLENS, AND GRANT A TWO YEAR EXEMPTION FROM MS. SECONDED BY MR. JEFFERSON.
UM, DO ANY OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE MOTION? MS. SHIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON, ON YOUR MOTION? SURE.
UM, I, I BELIEVE MR. BIRCH MADE A GREAT, UM, CASE WHERE WE HAVE SEEN HIM BEFORE THIS BOARD MANY TIMES.
[01:10:01]
UM, AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY BEEN TWO YEARS.UM, IT, IT DOES JUST FEEL LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY THAT Y'ALL WERE BEFORE US.
Y AND I AGREE THAT, UH, YOU ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO URBAN BLIGHT.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING MANY WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU'RE HELPING TO ENRICH OUR GREAT CITY OF DALLAS.
SO THAT'S WHY I, I MADE THE MOTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE MOTION? ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MOTION? UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
UM, THANK YOU MR. BIRCH FOR BEING HERE.
MS. BANKSTON, UM, AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS HERE, UH, FOR SUE ELLEN, I THINK THAT, UM, THE PRESENTATION WAS A REALLY GREAT SHOWCASING OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED NOT ONLY IN IN THE BUSINESS, THAT THEY'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, PERFORMING ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DONATIONS, MONETARY DONATIONS, JUST BEING A PRESENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND FOR THAT, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.
AND, AND WE HOPE THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE DALLAS AREA LOOK TO SUE ELLENS AS, UM, AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND I ALSO CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO THAT WE MADE THIS EXEMPTION.
SO I BELIEVE THE BOARD IS READY TO VOTE.
UM, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR TO REVERSE THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND GRANT TWO YEAR EXEMPTION TO SUE, ELLENS SAY AYE AT THIS MOMENT.
THE MOTION PASSES BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
YOU WILL HAVE A TWO YEAR EXEMPTION, SO IT IS LIKELY WE WILL NOT SEE YOU UNTIL ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
AND SO WE JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
WE APPRECIATE UPDATED PHOTOS, UPDATED INFORMATION SIGNATURES, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT.
UM, AT THIS TIME, BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE MONITOR YOUR EMAILS FOR THE FINDINGS, UM, BECAUSE WE WILL NEED A, A SIGNATURE FROM YOU.
AND THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S HEARING.