REPORT TO COUNCIL

VANCOUVER LIQUOR LICENSING COMMISSION

April 15, 1999

A regular meeting of the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission was held on Thursday April 15, 1999, at 7:30 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT: Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair

Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Alan Herbert

ALSO PRESENT: Michael Gordon, Central Area Planning

Guy Gusdal, License Coordinator
Inspector Dave Jones, i/c District 1, Police Department
Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector

CLERK: Diane M. Clairmont

THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE REPORTED TO AND CONSIDERED BY CITY COUNCIL ON APRIL 27, 1999. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT DIANE M. CLAIRMONT AT 871-6371

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The minutes of the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission regular meeting held March 25, 1999, were adopted as circulated.

RECOMMENDATION

1. 180 West Georgia Street - Sandman Hotel File: 2614-10

Class 'A' Pub RTS: 404

The Commission had before it an Administrative Report dated March 25, 1999 (on file), in which the Chief License Inspector recommended Council consider an application by Northland Properties for a 125-seat Class `A' Pub liquor license at the Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia Street.

Guy Gusdal, License Coordinator, Property Use & Licence Division, spoke to the report.

Dennis Coates, Agent for the applicant, and Dean Readman, legal counsel for Northland Properties Ltd., spoke in support of the application, noting the proposed use for the establishment is as a lounge in the daytime and as a "steakhouse" in the evening; it will not be a sports bar.

The following motion by Councillor Herbert was put and carried. Therefore, the Commission

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council endorse the application by Northland Properties Ltd., for a 125-seat Class `A' Pub liquor license at the Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia Street, having considered the support of residents and business operators in the community as determined by neighbourhood notification and subject to:

i. A Time-Limited Development Permit

ii. A signed Good Neighbour Agreement, prior to issuance of the Business License.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Provincial Liquor Policy Review File: 2611

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector reported on the status of the Review.

Highlights of the Discussion:

_ arrangements are underway for special Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission public meetings on April 27, 1999 and May 5, 1999; information will be on the City website along with the contact numbers for the Provincial consultant; reports will also be available at the meetings
_ a summary of the Policy Report dated April 7, 1999 "Proposed Provincial Liquor License Regulations - City Response" is being written
_ Marni Reinstein, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, in a recent presentation, noted there appears to be no intention under the new regulations to maintain requirements for SRO rooms in conjunction with bars; the rationale is that liquor licensing should not be dealing with housing issues
_ it appears the issue of SROs will be relevant only in the City of Vancouver
_ there has been no mention of the SRO issue in any material to date; a memo to Council will be prepared when more information is available
_ the Chief License Inspector has a meeting scheduled with Jo Surich, Liquor Review Consultant, to discuss the issue of SROs

_concerns were raised regarding the Provincial consultant holding in camera meetings on this issue and the lack of advertising for stakeholder meetings; the April 29/30 meetings scheduled for Vancouver require pre-booking and are not open to the public; stakeholders are being scheduled at different times and will not meet as a group
_ there appears to be no process or model established to deal with different types of licenses or municipalities

_ the proposed timetable is for the consultant to submit a brief to Cabinet on May 18, 1999

RECOMMENDED

THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission receive for information the verbal report as presented by Paul Tecihroeb, Chief License Inspector.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Granville Street Entertainment Zone File: 2611
Time Limited Development Permit

Before the Commission were two letters (on file) dated April 7, 1999 from Dennis Coates, representative for several applicants in this Zone. Based on these letters, Mr. Coates stated his concerns regarding the Time Limited Development Permit and a possible solution.

The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. Therefore, the Commission

RECOMMENDED

THAT the Chief License Inspector and Legal Services prepare a Report to Council in a timely fashion to resolve concerns regarding the Time Limited Development Permit.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Interested parties may submit comments to the Chief License Inspector.

4. The Big Bamboo

Inspector Dave Jones reported that concerns have been raised by District 4 regarding the operation of the Big Bamboo. A report is being prepared and will be an agenda item at the May 20, 1999 Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission meeting.

The Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver