First page: A.5
Publication date: Jan 24, 2012
ProQuest document ID: 917992273
Author: O'Donnell, Sarah
Abstract:
The Fight2Dance website, which includes a link for event supporters to email city council, outlines steps to increase safety, such as increased security and health services and a longer application time of 60 days versus the current 30-day period.
Full text:
Hundreds of emails are flooding city councillors' inboxes in advance of a debate about when or whether alcohol and all-night electronic music events should mix.
At issue is a new bylaw that prohibits alcohol from being served at any dance that goes past 2 a.m. Party organizers say the choice between serving liquor and closing at regular bar hours, versus not serving liquor and remaining open until 6 a.m., will cripple the city's thriving electronic music scene.
Marcus Gurske, who is now helping co-ordinate the Fight2Dance campaign against the bylaw on behalf of local promoters, said Edmonton has developed a reputation as a great place to attend late-night parties be-cause of their relative safety and ability to attract top DJs such as Tiesto and Kaskade.
At least half of the revenue for these events, now held mainly at the Shaw Conference Centre, comes from alcohol sales, Gurske said. Being un-able to sell liquor would make such parties harder to bankroll and less attractive to concertgoers.
"This is about making the city be progressive, innovative and forward thinking," Gurske said. "The mayor and council talk repeatedly about how we want to be the city of the future. That means not taking things away, that means adding to it."
Some city officials, however, believe the rules need to be changed so that a licensed event cannot simply roll into an after-hours event. The city's rave bylaw was originally intended to prevent intoxicated patrons from entering after-hours clubs, they said. The report cited health concerns about a mix of drugs and alcohol at such events.
The Fight2Dance website, which includes a link for event supporters to email city council, outlines steps to increase safety, such as increased security and health services and a longer application time of 60 days versus the current 30-day period.
Wednesday's debate on the issue at council's executive committee will be complicated by the way the new rules ended up as law in the first place. It was originally passed as part of a series of changes to Edmonton's business licence regulations. Although council asked for issues related to after-hours dances to be removed to discuss them more thoroughly, officials say they were inadvertently passed.
"Even though the after-hours regulations are technically in the bylaw, the city will not be enforcing them until we have clear direction from council to do so," said Corwin Odland, a spokesman for the city's sustainable development department.
It will be up to councillors to decide if they want city officials to start enforcing the regulations already on the books or if they should be removed from the business licence bylaw.
Author: O'Donnell, Sarah
Abstract:
The Fight2Dance website, which includes a link for event supporters to email city council, outlines steps to increase safety, such as increased security and health services and a longer application time of 60 days versus the current 30-day period.
Full text:
Hundreds of emails are flooding city councillors' inboxes in advance of a debate about when or whether alcohol and all-night electronic music events should mix.
At issue is a new bylaw that prohibits alcohol from being served at any dance that goes past 2 a.m. Party organizers say the choice between serving liquor and closing at regular bar hours, versus not serving liquor and remaining open until 6 a.m., will cripple the city's thriving electronic music scene.
Marcus Gurske, who is now helping co-ordinate the Fight2Dance campaign against the bylaw on behalf of local promoters, said Edmonton has developed a reputation as a great place to attend late-night parties be-cause of their relative safety and ability to attract top DJs such as Tiesto and Kaskade.
At least half of the revenue for these events, now held mainly at the Shaw Conference Centre, comes from alcohol sales, Gurske said. Being un-able to sell liquor would make such parties harder to bankroll and less attractive to concertgoers.
"This is about making the city be progressive, innovative and forward thinking," Gurske said. "The mayor and council talk repeatedly about how we want to be the city of the future. That means not taking things away, that means adding to it."
Some city officials, however, believe the rules need to be changed so that a licensed event cannot simply roll into an after-hours event. The city's rave bylaw was originally intended to prevent intoxicated patrons from entering after-hours clubs, they said. The report cited health concerns about a mix of drugs and alcohol at such events.
The Fight2Dance website, which includes a link for event supporters to email city council, outlines steps to increase safety, such as increased security and health services and a longer application time of 60 days versus the current 30-day period.
Wednesday's debate on the issue at council's executive committee will be complicated by the way the new rules ended up as law in the first place. It was originally passed as part of a series of changes to Edmonton's business licence regulations. Although council asked for issues related to after-hours dances to be removed to discuss them more thoroughly, officials say they were inadvertently passed.
"Even though the after-hours regulations are technically in the bylaw, the city will not be enforcing them until we have clear direction from council to do so," said Corwin Odland, a spokesman for the city's sustainable development department.
It will be up to councillors to decide if they want city officials to start enforcing the regulations already on the books or if they should be removed from the business licence bylaw.
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