CITY OF VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER LIQUOR LICENSING COMMISSION
September 14, 1995
A Regular Meeting of the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission was
held on Thursday, September 14, 1995 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in
Committee Room No. 2, third floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Kennedy, Chair
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Ip
Councillor Kwan
ALSO PRESENT: Judy Rogers, Assistant City Manager
Paul Teichroeb, Deputy Chief License Inspector
Insp. Gary Greer, Vancouver Police Department
Insp. Bob Taylor, Vancouver Police Department
CLERK: Jean Sharpe
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
July 13, 1995, were adopted as circulated.
1. 435 West Pender Street - Niagara Hotel File: 2611-30
Class 'A' Pub - Change of Hours
At the request of the applicant, this application was withdrawn and
will be considered at a future meeting of the Commission.
2. 801 West Georgia Street - Hotel Georgia File: 2611-32
Class 'A' Lounge - Increase in Seating
Capacity
The Commission had before it an Administrative Report dated August
1, 1995, (on file), in which the Deputy Chief License Inspector reported
on an application from Georgia Place Limited to increase the seating
capacity by 34 seats in the Class 'A' Lounge at 801 West Georgia Street.
Mr. Paul Teichroeb, Deputy Chief License Inspector, reviewed the
report making a correction that the owner of the Georgia Hotel was
Georgia Place Limited and not Burrard International Holdings Inc. Mr.
Teichroeb pointed out that Class 'A' Lounges in full service tourist
hotels usually have minimal impact on the surrounding area. He noted
that the Police, Environment Health Division, Planning and Social
Planning Departments had no concerns with this application.
Mr. Dennis Coates, representing the applicant, advised that plans
for renovating the lounge area are before the Planning Department and
asked the Commission to endorse the request for increased seating.
The following motion by Councillor Hemer was put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Commission
RESOLVED
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
application by Georgia Place Limited to increase the seating
capacity by 43 seats in a Class 'A' Lounge at 801 West Georgia
Street, having considered the support of residents and business
operators of the community, as determined by neighbourhood
notification.
3. 615-631 Seymour Street - File: 2613-12
Okim Holdings Ltd. - Class 'C' Cabaret
The Commission considered an Administrative Report dated August 3,
1995, in which the Deputy Chief License Inspector reported on the
request from Okim Holdings Ltd. for a 350-seat Class 'C' Cabaret liquor
license at 615-631 Seymour Street.
cont'd....
Clause No. 3 (cont'd)
Mr. Paul Teichroeb, Deputy Chief License Inspector, noted Okim
Holdings Ltd. recently purchased the St. Regis and Bay Hotels and the
adjacent cabaret site. At present, the cabaret site is boarded up and
not in use. Mr. Teichroeb reviewed the report and advised notices of
the application were hand delivered to the residential hotels in the
area. There is no specific policy related to cabarets in the Downtown
District, and it is anticipated there will be little neighbourhood
impact as this is a commercial area. A referendum would not likely
reflect the opinion of the area residents.
Mr. Teichroeb responded to questions relating to cabarets in the
Downtown District. It was also noted the entrance to the Cabaret was
separate from the adjacent St. Regis and Bay Hotels. Supt. Bob Taylor
also advised the Police Department did not have any strong objections to
this application.
Mr. Bert Hick representing the applicant, introduced Mr. Peter Oh,
owner, and Mr. Nikko Zajcic, General Manager, of the St. Regis Hotel.
With the aid of a sketch, Mr. Hick noted the proposed Cabaret on Seymour
Street is located between the Bay Hotel and the St. Regis Hotel on
Seymour Street. Mr. Hick advised the application was for an upscale,
quality nightclub, and likened the proposal to previously operated
cabarets, such as Annabelle's and Viva, as well as The Cave. The
clientele being targeted are tourists, business people and mid-30s to
mid-50s patrons, and no potential enforcement problems are perceived.
Following a short discussion, the following motion by Councillor Ip
was put and CARRIED. Therefore, it was
RESOLVED
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the request
by Okim Holdings Ltd. for a 350-seat Class 'C' Cabaret liquor
license at 615-631 Seymour Street, having considered the support of
residents and business operators of the community as determined by
neighbourhood notification.
4. 602 Dunsmuir Street - Okim Holdings Ltd. File: 2611-31
(St. Regis Hotel) Class 'A' Pub and
Class 'A' Lounge - Change of Hours
The Commission had before it an Administrative Report dated August
3, 1995 (on file), in which the Deputy Chief License Inspector reported
on an application from Okim Holdings Ltd., for a change of hours in the
Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A' Lounge in the St. Regis Hotel at 602
Dunsmuir Street, as follows:
Class 'A' Pub
Current hours of operation in the Class 'A' Pub:
Monday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Proposed hours of operation in the Class 'A' Pub:
Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight.
Class 'A' Lounge
Current hours of operation in the Class 'A' Lounge:
Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Proposed Hours of operation in the Class 'A' Lounge:
Monday to Saturday 12:00 noon to 2:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Mr. Paul Teichroeb, Deputy Chief License Inspector, reviewed the
report and advised that notices had been hand delivered to the
residential hotels in the area. He also advised that Commission members
may wish to consider separately the request for the change of hours in
the Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A' Lounge. The Class 'A' Pub (177 seats)
is divided into two areas on the main floor, separated by the hotel
lobby. The 105-seat Class 'A' Lounge is located in the basement of the
hotel, adjacent to a restaurant area. Earlier in the meeting, a new
Class 'C' Cabaret application by the same owners, Okim Holdings Ltd.,
was also considered in a separate report and approved.
cont'd....
Clause No. 4 (cont'd)
Inspector Bob Taylor, Vancouver Police Department, expressed
concern with the proposed change of hours in the pub.
Mr. Bert Hick, representing the applicant, advised the hotel had
recently been acquired by Okim Holdings Ltd., and the new owners were
planning to upgrade the exterior of the hotel and attempting to provide
quality, affordable accommodation in the Downtown core. The owners want
to eliminate the exotic dancer program and upgrade the quality of the
lounge and pub to cater to a different clientele. It was proposed to
operate a portion of the pub as a jazz/blues bar and introduce a coffee
bar, which may result in a reduction in seats.
In response to Commission members, Mr. Hick advised the 80-room
hotel has a 56-seat restaurant, banquet and meeting rooms to maintain
the definition of the LC&LB requirement for a hotel. Room occupancy is
85% in the summer, with room rates between $70-$100 per night.
In discussion, the intent of the owners to improve the service and
eliminate the exotic dancer program in the pub was noted. However,
concern was expressed with the late night closing and extension of hours
of the Class 'A' Pub. It was felt this matter should be revisited once
the adjacent cabaret is in place. There was also concern with the
impact of all three facilities (Cabaret, Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A'
Lounge) closing at the same time between 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Members agreed to consider the requests separately for the change of
hours in the Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A' Lounge.
The following motion by Councillor Hemer was put and CARRIED. It
was therefore,
RESOLVED
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the Liquor
Control and Licensing Branch it does not endorse the application by
Okim Holdings Ltd., for a change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub in
the St. Regis Hotel at 602 Dunsmuir Street, having considered
community opinion as determined by neighbourhood notification.
cont'd....
Clause No. 4 (cont'd)
The vote on the following motion by Councillor Hemer was not
unanimous, and is therefore submitted to Council for CONSIDERATION:
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the request
by Okim Holdings Ltd., for a change of hours in the Class 'A'
Lounge at the St. Regis Hotel at 602 Dunsmuir Street, having
considered the support of residents and business operators of the
community as determined by neighbourhood notification.
(Councillor Kwan opposed)
NOTE FROM CLERK: Subsequent to the meeting, the application for the
change in hours for the Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A'
Lounge was withdrawn by the applicant.
5. Update on Licensed Premises within the File: 2610-2
Downtown Eastside to July 31, 1995
The Commission had before it an Administrative Report dated August
30, 1995 (on file), in which the Chief Constable provided an overview of
the problems and issues, and the status of enforcement and other
activities of licensed premises in the Downtown Eastside from January
1994 to July 31, 1995.
Inspector Bob Taylor, Vancouver Police Department, introduced
Inspector Gary Greer, who will be assuming his responsibilities. He
advised the documentation had not been received from the LC&LB on the
seizures of liquor and cigarettes from various hotels reported at the
July 13, 1995 meeting. An update will be provided as soon as the
investigations are complete.
Inspector Taylor reported of concerns with the sale of liquor on
the patio of the Cambie Hotel. Mr. Teichroeb advised the LC&LB had
advised that day that the patio was authorized to sell liquor until
11:00 p.m. Inspector Taylor agreed to monitor the situation.
cont'd....
Clause No. 5 (cont'd)
Inspector Gary Greer, Vancouver Police Department, advised a new
LC&LB Inspector had been appointed to the Gastown area and has been
reviewing and setting ground rules for the management of Senorita Frogs
because of a number of incidents over the last several months. The
Health Department will monitor the sound to ensure that it does not go
above 55 decibels. Inspector Greer also advised the Club was under new
management and the name had been changed to Energy.
The following motion by Councillor Hemer was put and CARRIED. It
was, therefore,
RESOLVED
THAT the Administrative Report dated August 30, 1995, on the update
on Licensed Premises within the Downtown Eastside to July 31, 1995,
be received for information.
* * *
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:40 p.m.