Mayor rejects nightlife measures

Two bills passed by the Seattle City Council last month to reduce overcrowding and violence around nightclubs did not earn Mayor Greg Nickels approval and the legislation was returned unsigned.

The council is currently working on a proposal that would require nightclubs to obtain a nightlife license in order to operate. A vote is expected toward the middle of the month.

The two bills support funding a nightlife enforcement team that could issue fines and respond to resident complaints and allows the city to penalize businesses that continually exceed occupancy limits. Also, some nightclubs would be required to develop and submit security plans annually with the city.

This announcement comes on the heels of the approval of a proposed nightlife license by a council committee.

Under the committee's proposal, businesses would be required to apply for a regulatory license if they serve liquor after 10 p.m., charge admission, have a capacity of 200 or more and make the majority of their income from liquor sales. The ordinance is estimated to effect a little less than 100 businesses.

Denise Movius, director of the city's revenue and consumer affairs department, has prepared a preliminary list of establishments that could be effected.

"The list is intended to provide the 'universe' of clubs that might fall under the regulation," said Movius. "We would also have to determine that 50 percent or more of their revenue is from liquor sales and admissions charges."

A failure to take "reasonable measures" to prevent crime on the premises could mean penalties and possible loss of a liquor licensees. Businesses would get a warning with a single violation and a seven-day suspension if they earn a second one within 18 months.

A third violation in that time is a 30-day suspension and a fourth violation would result in loss of the nightclub license.