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CITY OF VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER LIQUOR LICENSING COMMISSION
Minutes, April 18, 1996
A regular meeting of the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission was
held on Thursday, April 18, 1996, at approximately 7:30 p.m. in
Committee Room No. 2, third floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Hemer, Chair
Councillor Ip
Councillor Kwan
ABSENT: Councillor Kennedy (Civic Business)
ALSO
PRESENT: Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
Paul Teichroeb, Deputy Chief License Inspector
Nathan Edelson, Planner, Central Area Planning
CLERK: Lawrence Cantrell
Power to Act
On January 11, 1994, Council by the required majority, granted the
Commission Power to Act on all unanimous decisions. The decisions of
the Commission contained herein are unanimous and, therefore, stand
approved.
Adoption of Minutes
The Minutes of the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission meeting of
March 14, 1996, were adopted as circulated.
1. 2714 Prince Edward Street - Musart
Cultural Society, Class E Concert Hall File: 2615-6
In an Administrative Report dated March 6, 1996, the Vancouver
Liquor Licensing Commission was given two alternatives for
consideration: to endorse the request by the Musart Cultural Society for
a Class E Concert Hall liquor license at 2714 Prince Edward Street,
having considered community opinion determined as a result of
neighbourhood notification, or not to endorse the request.
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
Mr. Paul Teichroeb, Deputy Chief License Inspector, summarized the
contents of the Administrative Report. Mr. Teichroeb advised the
Commission that in conversations with the Liquor Control and Licensing
Branch, Provincial representatives had entertained the idea of placing a
limitation on the venue s license, so that it could only be used by
Musart or another non-profit society.
Mr. Roger Baird, President of the Musart Cultural Society,
described the Glass Slipper as a venue for contemporary music which has
achieved an international reputation. All Musart staff work is done by
volunteers. The financial base of the Society is the profit on
refreshments sold, since ticket revenue or door money goes to the
performers. The Society works with and provides a performing venue for
many arts groups and educational institutions. Musart and the Glass
Slipper regard themselves as good residents in the neighbourhood. In
eight years of operation, three at the current location, there has never
been a police call, and no significant noise complaints. Addressing the
statement in the report that the premises are operating without a valid
health permit because of inadequate glass washing equipment, Mr. Baird
advised the Commission that a new dishwasher has been installed.
Ms. Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager, confirmed that there have
been no police calls over a number of years and Mr. Teichroeb confirmed
the presence of the new dishwasher, although a final inspection had not
been made at the date of this meeting.
Mr. Allen Matheson, Vancouver Community College, pointed out the
Glass Slipper is an important performing site for student and first-time
performers. He regards the Glass Slipper as a safer place for young
performers than a number of other venues in the City.
Mr. Rob McKenzie, musician, told the Commission the Glass Slipper
is a very important place to musicians. The particular type of music
played in the hall is not background for social activities but, rather,
something that demands attention. Drinking among musicians and audience
is small, averaging about one drink per person per night.
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
Mr. Steve Bailey, neighbourhood resident, described his personal
experiences with SOL liquor licenses at another venue. He argued that
far better control can be exercised by both the Musart Society and the
City under a Class E license than under a continuing series of SOLs.
Ms. Meghan Munro, neighbourhood resident and Musart volunteer,
spoke of the long-term positive presence of Musart in the area. She
also pointed out that if the Society wanted to sell a lot of alcohol, it
certainly would not be offering the sort of contemporary music that it
does.
Ms. Carol White, neighbourhood resident, presented a brief (on
file) in which she questioned whether community response can be
adequately determined in the short time between the distribution of
notices about the Musart application and the date of this meeting. Ms.
White argued that any place serving liquor contributes to the overall
alcohol and other problems of the neighbourhood. She requested the
Commission to place a moratorium on all new liquor licenses in the
Main/Broadway Corridor until a policy is established with relation to
liquor licenses in proximity to schools and other children s facilities
and requirements are made that existing establishments work with
neighbours and assist in the clean up of debris resulting from liquor
sales and customers.
Mr. Frank Loggia, neighbourhood resident, complained of the sounds
emanating from the Glass Slipper, insisting that he has brought his
complaints directly to the attention of the Musart Society and its
representatives.
After discussion, the following motion by Councillor Kwan was put
and CARRIED. Therefore, it was
RESOLVED
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission, having considered
community opinion determined as a result of neighbourhood
notification, endorses the request by the Musart Cultural Society
(The Glass Slipper) for a Class E Concert Hall liquor license at
2714 Prince Edward Street, subject to the license being
transferrable in the future only to another non-profit
organization.
2. Molson Indy File: 2615-8
The Commission had before it an Administrative Report dated April
12, 1996 (on file), in which the Deputy Chief License Inspector
recommended that Council endorse the request by Pacific Auto Racing Inc.
for a Class E Stadium license, subject to hours agreed upon by the
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, Vancouver Police Department and
City of Vancouver, for the three-day annual Vancouver Indy event, and
this application meeting the requirements of the Liquor Control and
Licensing Branch regulations.
As a unanimous vote on this matter was not achieved, it was
therefore submitted to Council for consideration.
3. BARWATCH File: 2701-5
Before the Commission was a letter dated March 21, 1996, from
BARWATCH. The letter requested the Commission to endorse that
organization s request for the extension of the tolerance period from
half an hour to one hour'.
The Chair noted that no staff report on the matter had been
received by the Commission.
Ms. Judy Rogers advised that a liquor licensing report is currently
being prepared and should be before Council in May, 1996. One of the
subjects addressed by the report will be the tolerance period in
drinking establishments.
The Chair assured a delegation consisting of Roger Gibson of the
British Columbia Bar Owners Association and Vance Campbell, Chair of
BARWATCH, that they would be informed when the contents of the report
are made public and requested them to make appropriate input when the
report comes under consideration by Council.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
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