REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

NOVEMBER 20, 2003

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on City Services and Budgets was held on Thursday, November 20, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor Tim Louis, Chair
*Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth, Vice-Chair

   

ABSENT:

Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)

   

CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:

Judy Rogers, City Manager

   

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

*Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting of October 23, 2003, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Transfer of Responsibility for E911 Service in the Lower Mainland (File 3603)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 12, 2003, in which the City Manager sought Council input to a decision being made at the GVRD in relation to the future administration and funding of the regional E911 service.

Ken Bayne, Director of Financial Planning and Treasury provided Council with an overview of the report and responded to questions related to collection costs and Telus tariff charges.

Ken Shymanski, President and General Manager, E-Comm, provided information on percentage of cell phone users of the service, lack of tariffs on those users, and details of who covers shortfall costs for the program. Mr. Shymanski further noted the intent was to have E-Comm assume legal responsibility for E911 service.

MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council advise the Greater Vancouver Regional District that it favours the transfer of administrative and financial responsibility for the regional E911 Service to E-Comm, including the introduction of a "call answer levy" to fund the program in future.

CARRIED
(Councillors Louis and Roberts opposed.)
(The Mayor absent for the vote.)

2. Extended Liquor Primary Hours: Trial Period Summary (File 2610)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 4, 2003, in which the Chief License Inspector provided Council with a summary of the feedback received regarding the trial periods for extended hours for Liquor Primary establishments in the downtown and for Sunday extended hours city-wide.

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, was present to respond to questions.

MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council receive for information the Administrative Report dated November 4, 2003, entitled "Extended Liquor Primary Hours: Trial Period Summary".

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(The Mayor absent for the vote.)

3. Extended Liquor Primary Hours: Comprehensive Hours of Service Policy Guidelines and Interim Policy Recommendations (File 2610)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated November 4, 2003, in which the Chief License Inspector provided a framework for the development of a city-wide Comprehensive Hours of Service Policy for liquor service and provided recommendations regarding the approach to be taken in developing this policy. In addition, the report provided recommendations for an interim policy for extended hours of liquor service in the downtown peninsula and extended Sunday hours of operation for liquor primary establishments city-wide.

Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, distributed a handout entitled "Interim Policy Recommendation" (on file) which highlighted points related to staff's recommended two hour maximum extension and 3 a.m. cap. Mr. Teichroeb also provided Council with an overview of the report and introduced Inspector Val Harrison, Vancouver Police Department, who provided additional comments related to the impact on Police resources of the extended hours of liquor service.
The following spoke in general support of the extended hours of liquor service trial, but further commented on the need to create a fair playing field across the city:

Stan Fiddis, Wild Coyote
Peter Fairchild, West Hotel & Ivanhoe Pub
Anthony Ricci, No. 5 Orange Hotel
T.J. Gill, Daddyo's on Broadway

Comments noted included the following:

· a one hour extension to all liquor primary license holders is required to evenly distribute business throughout the City and ease pressure on the downtown core;
· level the playing field; businesses in the Downtown Eastside require the revenue to support SRA rooms;
· allow all establishments to operate until 4 a.m.;
· hardship for those establishments outside of the trial boundaries; law should treat all the same way; and
· potential revenues lost to premises with late night openings; staff have been laid off.

The following spoke in general support of staff's recommendations, but were in favour of extending the hours of service to 4 a.m.

John Teti, Chair BARWATCH
Alan Herbert
Marie DeCaire
Blaine Culling, Granville Entertainment
Vince Marino, co-owner PumpJack Pub and West End resident
Randy Atkinson, Davie Village BIA
Richard Douglas, bar owner
Adele Beaulieu, pub employee
Ron Teti, Hildon Hotel, 50 Bourbon Street
Leanore Sali, Gastown Business Improvement Society
Dave Kershaw, owner/operator, Stone Temple on Granville
Dario Pavan, bartender
Bill Kerasiotis
Jamie Rogers, General Manager, Stone Temple on Granville
Philip Hart, Stone Temple deejay
Ron Orr, Chief Financial Officer, Granville Entertainment

Comments noted included the following:

· the trial has been an overwhelming success and should continue using current terms of reference;
· continuation of the extended hours could assist with illegal booze can issues;
· the trial period has been good for musicians and allows them to make a living at music; extended hours allow afternoon shift workers to enjoy the music as well;
· do not take a step backwards;
· supportive of police needing more resources - user fee probably good idea;
· extended hours have provided a safer street environment during late night hours;
· extended hours have allowed for an increase in payroll and employees, as well as an increase in tourists from south of the border;
· benefits of 4 a.m. closing far outweigh 3 a.m. as cap;
· must be competitive in terms of closing hours to continue attracting US gay travel dollars - which will in turn bolster the infrastructure of Davie Village businesses and the city's economy in general;
· nothing but positives from the extension of hours - employment increase; doubled entertainment component and American business;
· extended hours have allowed for a full staff every Friday and Saturday, and an increase in money for the entire staff;
· support for extended late night hours concept in Gastown as it is an entertainment district, but concern with impacts clubs and bars may have on other area businesses;
· private security working late night has been extremely positive in Gastown, but due to budget constraints nightclubs will be asked to contribute to costs;
· a hospitality resource panel, comprised of police, residents, other business people, etc. would be useful to provide early assistance/orientation to bar operators and those opening up clubs in the area;
· support for late night bus service for patrons and additional fees charged to clubs/bars to assist with extra policing costs;
· proliferation of illegal after-hours bar promoters has disappeared since the introduction of extended hours; and
· support for continuation of the process, with the hope we can get to a 4 a.m. opening that works for all.

The following spoke in opposition to continuation of the extended hours of liquor service:

Deborah Mannette
Ian MacRae, Four Sisters Co-op
Margaret Jameson
Mrs. Rai
Gail Bowen, on behalf of Lore Krill Co-op and personal comment
John Banovich, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Mae Cabott
Judy Smith, Yaletown resident

Comments noted included the following:

· a clear problem exists in Gastown, residents' ability to sleep is impacted as is the overall health of the community, caused in part by lack of appropriate noise mitigation due the heritage related issues, such as heritage brick and single glass;
· return to the 2 a.m. closing; extended hours are disruptive to family life; and these hours now invite migration from outside areas;
· not enough positives to continue trial;
· the longer people drink the more belligerent they become; extended hours will bring an increase in violence and further endanger our citizens;
· there is an increasing amount of violence and drug related incidents among our youth and many of these incidents are closely connected to late night bars and clubs;
· concern with increased noise, criminal, and anti-social behavior since inception of this trial; until noise emanating from clubs can be properly controlled with acoustic updates, urge Council oppose extended hours;
· concern with way trial period managed; should include entire lower mainland to provide a more accurate picture of impacts - Gastown alone has five clubs open til 4 a.m.;
· MADD does not support 3 or 4 a.m. opening; drinking drivers are a dangerous weapon;
· against extended drinking hours in Yaletown which is now primarily a residential area; 2 a.m. was bad, 4 a.m. is worse;
· quality of life in Yaletown has been greatly compromised by the noise, horns and mean- spirited behaviour of pub patrons; a 3 a.m. closing will not solve the problem; and
· do not allow late night openings in residential areas.

Jaleen Grove (brief on file), spoke in support of staff's recommendations, but noted the Police Department's recommendation to not implement any extension to Liquor Primary establishments should be considered.

Staff responded to questions from Council regarding mitigation tools available to address issues raised regarding specific bars located within the trial boundaries. Mr. Teichroeb also provided clarification on the hours each bar within the trial boundaries would be permitted to remain open based upon the wording of recommendations as proposed by Council members this day.

MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

FURTHER THAT the principles for developing the policy as discussed in this report and outlined in Appendix A of the Policy Report entitled "Extended Liquor Primary Hours: Comprehensive Hours of Service Policy Guidelines and Interim Policy Recommendations", Part 1, be endorsed;

AND FURTHER THAT Council endorse the policy directions as generally outlined in Appendix A, Part 2 for the Comprehensive Hours of Service policy review;

AND FURTHER THAT staff report back with a work plan, schedule and budget prior to February 2004.

amended

AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Ladner

CARRIED
(Councillors Louie, Stevenson and the Mayor opposed.)

The amendment having carried, Councillor Stevenson's motion, as amended, was put and CARRIED, with Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to Recommendation B.

MOTION AS AMENDED

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed to B.)
 

NOTE FROM CLERK:
Subsequently, on December 4, 2003, Council reconsidered this matter and agreed to permit all establishments within the downtown trial period boundaries to apply to extend their hours to 4 a.m..

 

The Committee adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

- - - - -

 

CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
CITY SERVICES AND BUDGETS

NOVEMBER 20, 2003

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, November 20, 2003, at 2:01 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:

Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth

   

ABSENT:

Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)

   

CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

   

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Bass
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
November 20, 2003

Council considered the report containing the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on City Services and budgets. Its items of business included:

1: Transfer of Responsibility for E911 Service in the Lower Mainland
2: Extended Liquor Primary Hours: Trial Period Summary
3: Extended Liquor Primary Hours: Comprehensive Hours of Service Policy Guidelines and Interim Policy Recommendations

MOVED by Councillor Louis

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Louie

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOTIONS

A. Administrative Motions

None

B. Motions on Notice

1. Squatters at Creekside Park (File 4659)

Motion withdrawn by Councillor Ladner.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Waive Start Time of Meeting (File 1254)

MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. 2003 VanCity $1 Million Award (File 4102)

The Mayor announced VanCity's 2003 Award recipient is the WISH Drop In Centre Society. Funds would be used to purchase, renovate and operate a women's wellness centre in the Downtown Eastside. He also recognized Councillor Woodsworth's related work with the community.

2. Incidents at the Pacifica Building (File 2501)

Councillor Sullivan referred to his meeting with several residents of the Pacifica Building on Cambie and 15th regarding break-ins and other petty crimes. He requested Engineering and Fire Prevention staff provide direction regarding issues related to the residents' desire to build a cage around their stairwell. Councillor Sullivan also noted the building's visitor parking lot is shared with commercial tenants, and requested details on the status of ownership and responsibility for operations.

The Council adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

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