The Seattle City Council has said it would wait one year before considering forcing nightlife establishments to obtain controversial licenses and aide by certain operating rules.
Mayor Greg Nickels had proposed last year that clubs and bars should apply for licenses and adhere to rules preventing litter, violence and excessive noise. It also required businesses to police around their property. Clubs the city considered a "problem" could be more easily shut down under the plan.
The council did approve a less strict version of the proposal last week, but first voted to amend the measure to prevent it from being enacted until they can vote on it again next year. The purpose is to allow a new nightlife committee, comprised of business owners and neighbors, time to refine the laws if necessary.
The mayor promptly vetoed the measure he called essentially useless.
The council has also removed language from Nickels' original proposal that would require clubs be held responsible for problems happening outside their business.
Nickels' said the failure of the council to pass the regulations is a threat to public safety. The city should not wait another year before it holds club owners accountable for the safety of their patrons, he said in a statement.
"The council's delay will put people at risk, and voting 'maybe' won't ensure that we have a safe and vibrant nightlife in Seattle," Nickels said in the statement issued shortly after the vote.
If the nightlife legislation were eventually passed, it would only apply to bars and clubs with a capacity to serve 200 or more patrons. It's considerably less stringent than the mayor's original proposal.
The city estimates that a little less than 100 clubs would be affected.
The council approved some measures last month to help address clubs that continually exceed occupancy levels. Some clubs would have to create safety plans under the requirements and submit them to the city. Nickels has not signed that legislation.
The council has debated the nightlife regulations for more than a year.
