Politics & Government
City Upholds Decision to Expand Watermans Entertainment
The council rejects a recommendation by the Planning Commission and votes to allow the Pier Plaza restaurant and bar to host live events seven days a week.
A local bar won the right to have nightly live music over the objections of the planning commission and some residents who fear noise, crowds and worry that the decision will set a precendent for other bars in the area.
The City Council on Tuesday voted to grant permission to Watermans Restaurant and Bar to host live entertainment throughout the week. Previously, the restaurant hosted live music from Thursday to Saturday.
"It's not an extension of hours," Mayor Michael DiVirgilio said. "It's helping the business be successful in hours before midnight."
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Watermans owner Jeff Bellandi had asked the council for permission to host live entertainment at the same time his restaurant was getting its liquor license back, following a two-year suspension imposed by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Watermans, then known as Dragon, was cited for not following the city's occupancy limits, the department said. At the time, residents had accused Bellandi of hosting a nightclub that attracted the "wrong type of crowd," and some are worried he will once again.
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"It's been advertised as a bar, not a restaurant, so why is City Council deviating from the planning commission's recommendation?" asked former Mayor George Barks.
DiVirgilio said he thought the expanded privileges were a good idea because they'll help the restaurant grow as a local business.
"I feel like this is something we have very little opportunity to do, but the more we can help someone be successful before 12 then the more robust a business they'll be, and the less likely they feel like they need to push the hours later," he said.
Residents argued that by extending additional privileges to Watermans, such as permitting it to host live events, the council was not being consistent in its decision-making when it comes to regulating night life establishments downtown.
The council recently discussed in length developing tighter liquor license rules for downtown restaurants, which would affect their closing times and other operations, such as hosting live entertainment.
"The policy should be consistent," said Hermosa Beach resident Sandy Saemann. "You guys say you're tired of this [issue] and don't want to hear it anymore, but what you really need to do is set [rules] and not revisit it."
Mayor Pro Tem Tucker agreed, saying that if the council upholds a decision to expand live entertainment at Watermans then it "will make what we do with the liquor license and downtown a litte harder," he said.
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