Zelda’s nightclub could shut down after compliance failures
A Palm Springs City Council staff report outlines Zelda’s nightclub has failed to comply with city guidelines — showing multiple requests for footage were unfulfilled after a series of crimes to happen in or around the nightclub.
At a city council meeting next Wednesday, the nightclub will have a chance to explain why it should remain open despite failing to meet certain standards. If representatives from Zelda’s fail to convince the council, members could vote to revoke the nightclub’s conditional use permit.
Complaint letters dating back to 2012 show some nearby residents didn’t want the city of Palm Springs to renew Zelda’s conditional use permit, citing noise complaints, broken bottles and cigarette butts trashing the parking lot.
The type of permit Zelda’s holds is a conditional use permit — meaning the nearly 6,000 square foot site has to be “desirable for the development of the community” and “in harmony” with elements of the general plan.
Conditions for approval include functioning camera systems, control of noise, and a security plan.
If the nightclub fails to meet any of these conditions, the city could revoke Zelda’s permit.
Reasons to revoke the permit could be any form on non-compliance, including any valid citizen complaints regarding policing, safety problems, or disturbances. Zelda’s hours of operation are from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
In an August 2011 letter from Zelda’s management to the city, the nightclub outlined promises to correct complaints.
The nightclub hired increased security and bike patrol to manage the parking lot. Nightclub owner Mike McCormick said in the document they installed a security system in the club. At that time McCormick said they were “in the process of installing cameras in the parking lot.”
According to Zelda’s security plan, the nightclub should have an installed video surveillance system in operation one hour before regular business hours, during business hours and one after after the business closes.
Camera surveillance “shall also include monitoring of the entire parking lot at 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive.”
According to the plan, “images captured by this surveillance system shall be maintained for a period of no less than 30 days and shall be accessible to the Chief of Police or his designee.”
The plan includes to say, “copies of the footage shall be made available to the Chief of Police or his designee no later than two business days after a request for the footage is made.
However, in the most recent instances of violence, including a shooting death and stabbing, the nightclub has failed to provide investigators with any video evidence.
