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ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO: Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

SUBJECT: Molson Indy Pit Party

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council's support for an event to be held in conjunction with the annual Molson Indy Race, which will take place in Vancouver August 31st to September 2nd. Molstar Sports and the Keg Steakhouse have applied to the City's FEST Committee to hold a celebration of racing event on Saturday night, September 1st on the north plaza of Library Square. As the event is a significant new event that will require the closure of Homer Street between Robson and Georgia, and may have an impact on neighbouring residents, the FEST Committee is asking for Council's guidance before granting approval.
BACKGROUND

Since 1990 the Molson Indy has been a signature event in Vancouver, one of only three CART races to be held in Canada. Attracting more than 160,000 spectators, the event takes place from Friday till Sunday of the Labour Day weekend. For the past several years the Molson Indy organizers have been trying to establish a Saturday night outdoor event in the downtown core that will allow racing fans to get into the spirit of the Indy race. Due to past problems with late applications and concerns about proposed locations for the event, a formal application has never been approved. This year the organizers have approached the City with a more reasonable plan, which has taken into account previous concerns about noise and disruption to traffic in the downtown core.

DISCUSSION

The proposed Indy Pit Party would be held at Library Square, with most of the activity on the north plaza, at the corner of Homer and Georgia Streets. The event is a fund-raiser for the Greg Moore Foundation. The event would include a display of CART race cars, a fan against fan pit-stop challenge, hi-tech race car simulators, live music, and a food and beverage area. The event would take place on Saturday night, September 1st from 6pm until midnight, and would feature live broadcast remotes with local and national television sports stations, as well as an internet broadcast.

The event would require the closure of Homer Street from Robson to Georgia to public vehicles, but would remain accessible for emergency vehicles if necessary, as Firehall # 8 uses Homer as a through street to the north side of the City. The street would be closed from 9 am on Saturday when set-up of the Library plaza would begin, until noon on Sunday, September 2nd. The sidewalk on the west-side of Homer would remain open, as would the south sidewalk on Georgia Street. The entire site would be fenced, with internal fencing to mark off the licensed part of the site as well. (See map, Appendix A)

Access to the site would be limited to ticket purchasers, all of whom must be over 19. Liquor service would end at 11:30 pm, as would the live music. Attendance would be limited to a maximum of 5,000 people. The event organizers have submitted an event schedule and fire and safety plan, and are prepared to pay a deposit to cover all City costs. They have arranged with the Library to provide electricity, and with the Vancouver Richmond Health Board, B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch and the City's Permits and Licenses Departments to ensure they comply with all City and Provincial regulations regarding such events.

The Library is supportive of the event, as revenue received from the rental of the plaza willhelp offset some of the Library's operating costs, and the event will bring national attention to this Vancouver landmark. As well, the event will not interfere with regular Library hours of operation. The Library believes that the neighbourhood concerns about noise have been addressed in the site plan and that the timing of the event, on the Saturday of a long holiday weekend, will minimize its impact.

Permits and Licensing staff, mindful of very strong feelings from some neighbourhood residents about noise from businesses and traffic activity in the area, expressed concern about the noise level from the live music area, and at their suggestion area residents who have previously complained have been made aware of the event and this Council Report. P&L staff agree that the position of the stage at the north end of the site will help mitigate impact on those residents. Staff further suggest that Council might want to ensure, as a condition of approval for the event, that the permit clearly state that decibel levels will be kept within the allowable limits throughout the evening, and that the 12 midnight end time for all activities be adhered to.

Although the Police have some concerns about an outdoor party of this nature, they believe that this is a better location to hold it than some others that have been suggested. The Police are also reassured by Molstar's past record in holding events similar to this, and will work with them to implement the safety and security measures outlined in the plan on a full cost-recovery basis.

CONCLUSION

The Molson Indy has brought international recognition to Vancouver since 1990, and generates more than 23 million dollars in economic activity annually. A Saturday night outdoor event has been part of Indy celebrations in other Canadian cities since the early 1990's, and a similar event in Vancouver will support the efforts of the Greg Moore Foundation to raise money for a number of BC youth charities the Foundation supports in Greg's name. Molstar Sports and Entertainment has been involved in a number of safe and successful events in Vancouver in the past, and have proven themselves to be both responsible and responsive in dealing with City concerns. This event at Library Square, although having some impact on neighbouring residents, falls within the City's guidelines as far as time and noise levels allow, and will showcase a different part of Vancouver in international internet and national broadcast media during Molson Indy 2001.

NOTE FROM CLERK: Appendix A (site map) is not available in electronic form - on file in the Office of the City Clerk.

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