Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: B1 / FRONT
Section: City
Publication date: Jun 27, 2001
Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Jun 27, 2001
Author: O'Donnell, Sarah
Rave on Edmonton.
City council Tuesday decided to give dance club patrons and rave- goers an eight-week reprieve before making any moves to restrict all- night dancing.
That will allow time for city staff to investigate whether a bylaw governing all night dance events should distinguish between one-time raves and established after-hours clubs.
City administrators have also been ordered to answer a number of outstanding questions about raves, including how other major Canadian cities govern them.
At the very least, council has delayed passing a proposed bylaw that would have shut down raves at 3 a.m. and barred anyone under 18 after midnight.
At most, the second look at the issue could result in a watered- down, less-restrictive bylaw.
"We're happy with the decision to send it back for another look," said Mike Peebles of the RaveSafe and the Right to Dance coalition. "Some people may not agree with the eight-week time period, but I think it gives time to take a good look at what's happened in other cities."
The move also gives after-hours club owners and their clients an eight-week window to clean up their act and become better neighbours. Coun. Rose Rosenberger challenged them to make changes to prevent the kind of loitering, vandalism and noise outside after- hours clubs that several businesses and downtown residents say forced them to complain to council more than a year ago.
Three of four members of council's executive committee who pushed three weeks ago to have city council as a whole consider a mandatory 3 a.m. shut-down agreed Tuesday the issue needs more study.
"There's an awful lot of people who are frustrated by how long this is taking," said Mayor Bill Smith, who along with councillors Robert Noce, Dave Thiele and Allan Bolstad had earlier favoured the tough restrictions.
"However, I would ask you have a little more patience for the next (eight weeks) to make sure we really capture everything here," he said.
Oliver Friedmann, owner of Therapy Nightclub on 102nd Street, said he thinks city council simply needs to revert to an earlier proposal that wasn't quite so restrictive. That involved placing an outright ban on anyone under 16 from attending all-night dance events, plus imposing some "good neighbour" conditions on club business licences.
"We don't really need breathing time in the sense that the original (proposed) bylaw was a good one," Friedmann said. "I think the administration did an excellent job in the first place trying to balance various interests."
But Peebles said it may be a good idea to lay out separate rules for permanent clubs and one-time raves. "It seems that a few bad apples, some of the clubs, can spoil it for the whole scene, which is what we're trying to avoid," he said.
While it was a cool and calm discussion about raves among councillors inside council chambers, debate turned raucous on City Hall steps as several young people stopped to spar verbally with concerned parents and neighbours of clubs, who were speaking with reporters.
One woman, Nancy Hack, was explaining that she's glad city council may make a distinction between permanent clubs and one-time raves.
"The raves are one-time events, I don't have a problem with those," Hack said. "The after-hours clubs, limit them to 18 and over."
Hack said minors in her family suffer negative consequences from the effects of regularly staying out all night. But a nearby teen who heard her comments interupted to debate the issue.
"I'm 16 years old and I go to these clubs and I go to these raves and it's these clubs and these raves that have saved me," the teen insisted.
"I'm happy for you if they've made you feel good and they've saved you," Hack responded. "But they've destroyed one of my family members."
"That's their problem then," the girl answered.
"Thank you very much for support," Hack concluded.
Peter Mercer, executive director of the Downtown Business Association of Edmonton, said the delay is only worthwhile if council comes back with a bylaw that addresses everyone's concerns.
"The more delay, the more opportunity we have for a disaster," Mercer said.
RAVE ON
The issue: Edmonton city council considered proposed bylaw changes Tuesday that would have forced raves and after-hours clubs to close at 3 a.m. while requiring minors to leave at midnight.
Why such restrictions? For months now businesses and residents located near several of downtown's after-hours clubs have complained about noise and vandalism coming from the clubs at all hours. Some parents told council's executive committee they were concerned for their children's safety in clubs where teens can mingle with adults, while police say the all-night affairs are a fertile ground for drugs.
What happened? On Tuesday, city council sent the matter back to city staff with several questions. They want advice on whether the bylaw should draw a distinction between one-time raves and permanent after-hours clubs. They also want to know if existing city bylaws can address some concerns about noise and loitering if they are better enforced. Council's executive committee will discuss the administration's advice at its Aug. 22 meeting.
One woman, Nancy Hack, was explaining that she's glad city council may make a distinction between permanent clubs and one-time raves.
"The raves are one-time events, I don't have a problem with those," Hack said. "The after-hours clubs, limit them to 18 and over."
Hack said minors in her family suffer negative consequences from the effects of regularly staying out all night. But a nearby teen who heard her comments interupted to debate the issue.
"I'm 16 years old and I go to these clubs and I go to these raves and it's these clubs and these raves that have saved me," the teen insisted.
"I'm happy for you if they've made you feel good and they've saved you," Hack responded. "But they've destroyed one of my family members."
"That's their problem then," the girl answered.
"Thank you very much for support," Hack concluded.
Peter Mercer, executive director of the Downtown Business Association of Edmonton, said the delay is only worthwhile if council comes back with a bylaw that addresses everyone's concerns.
"The more delay, the more opportunity we have for a disaster," Mercer said.
RAVE ON
The issue: Edmonton city council considered proposed bylaw changes Tuesday that would have forced raves and after-hours clubs to close at 3 a.m. while requiring minors to leave at midnight.
Why such restrictions? For months now businesses and residents located near several of downtown's after-hours clubs have complained about noise and vandalism coming from the clubs at all hours. Some parents told council's executive committee they were concerned for their children's safety in clubs where teens can mingle with adults, while police say the all-night affairs are a fertile ground for drugs.
What happened? On Tuesday, city council sent the matter back to city staff with several questions. They want advice on whether the bylaw should draw a distinction between one-time raves and permanent after-hours clubs. They also want to know if existing city bylaws can address some concerns about noise and loitering if they are better enforced. Council's executive committee will discuss the administration's advice at its Aug. 22 meeting.
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