WATCH IT: New Rules Could Come For Seattle Bars, Clubs

McGinn's office released the finalized plan Tuesday afternoon. The original plan featured eight proposals or goals:

Code compliance enforcement: Develop an assistance and enforcement strategy with nightlife businesses. Flexible liquor service hours: Develop a proposal for flexible liquor service hours. Noise ordinance enforcement: Adopt streamlined noise ordinance rules targeting chronic offenders. Security training requirements: Require regular SPD security training classes as part of the state’s Nightclub Liquor License approval and renewal. Precinct community outreach: Schedule regular precinct community outreach with nightlife businesses and residents. Professional development: Develop and encourage the adoption of best practices for nightlife businesses. Late-night transportation alternatives: Create accessible and safe late-night transportation options. Targeting public nuisances: Create a city ordinance to allow Seattle Police greater ability to manage patrons of nightlife establishments who contribute to public nuisances, disturbances and disorderly conduct.

In the report, the city said it would lower the amplified sound threshold to 65 decibels and launch three new late-night transportation alternatives. You can download and read the full report in PDF format below:

PDF: Seattle Nightlife Initiative Community Report

Some of the highlights of the plan:

The city's code compliance team and policy team will use the city's finance department's LiquorStat database to share information among city departments to help improve public safety around nightclubs and bars. The plan said the compliance team is still focused on 11 businesses which have not resolved their compliance issues. The city has proposed new rules for its noise ordinance. The city has asked the state Liquor Control Board to require security training as part of the new Nightclub Liquor License. Precinct Advisory Councils in the West and East precincts will meet quarterly to discuss nightlife issues; meetings in the North, South and Southwest precincts will occur as needed. The city will help promote "best practices" among nightlife eastablishments to prevent conflicts and problems. The city will consider ways to offer late-night transit service. It will also work in 2011 to develop late-night taxi zones. Mayor McGinn has also asked SDOT to reprogram on-street parking pay stations to open at 10 p.m. so people can pay to park overnight and pick up their vehicles the following morning. Begin enforcement of the Nighttime Disturbance Ordinance, which the plan said "provides Seattle police officers with additional tools to manage patrons of nightlife establishements contributing to public nuisances, disturbances and disorderly conduct in public places" in January 2011.

The noise ordinance rules as quoted from the plan are:

Investigations/evaluations should be complaint-based. When a complaint is made, permissible noise threshold levels should not go beyond 65 dBC measured inside the receiving residence with all doors and windows closed. Violations will be made as required by ordinance: First violation is a required warning Second violation is $1,000 fine Third violation and beyond is a fine of $2,000 per day In the event that it is not possible to obtain an indoor measurement due to safety concerns for enforcement staff or the resident’s refusal to admit them, outdoor decibel limits should be set at 80 dBC, measured at the property line outside the complainant’s residence. In the event of a violation when measuring outside, only warnings and not a fine could be issued to the violating establishment.

At a news conference earlier this year, McGinn suggested tougher noise ordinances to target bars that get too loud too often.

The initiative does not regular security training with the Seattle Police Department as part of an emphasis on public safety, but the city said it asked the state Liquor Control Board to add security training as a requirement on the new Nightclub Liquor License.