Fines hurting business as review on raves put on hold
Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: B2
Section: City
Publication date:
Mar 1, 2001
ProQuest document ID:
252790582
Copyright:
Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Mar 1, 2001
Abstract:
Wes Taliani, co-owner of a new club called Arrival, said he
received $1,500 in tickets last weekend for operating without a dance-hall
licence, which is required of raves and after-hours clubs.
"The committee that your council and you created has
had ample time to create bylaws governing rave clubs. I have waited over a year
for your committee to decide on these new bylaws and not a single one has been
created," Taliani said in his letter.
"Listen to all the complaints we are getting from
downtown hotels and businesses that are operating next to one of these raves.
For (Taliani) to automatically assume we are going to be handing out licences
is a stretch as well."
Full text:
The city's delay in passing a proposed rave bylaw is
threatening to put an unlicensed after-hours club out of business because of
fines, says its owner.
Wes Taliani, co-owner of a new club called Arrival, said he
received $1,500 in tickets last weekend for operating without a dance-hall
licence, which is required of raves and after-hours clubs.
City council has placed a hold on issuing new dance-hall
licences until a review on raves, and how they should be regulated, is
completed.
Executive committee was supposed to have received a report
on Wednesday, but it has been delayed until April 4.
Taliani wrote Mayor Bill Smith this week requesting a
meeting to discuss the difficulties his operation is in because of council's
direction.
He is seeking the mayor's help to obtain a temporary
licence.
"The committee that your council and you created has
had ample time to create bylaws governing rave clubs. I have waited over a year
for your committee to decide on these new bylaws and not a single one has been
created," Taliani said in his letter.
"Due to this delay, our business's financial situation has
become borderline bankrupt. We are being fined everyday we are in operation due
to the fact we don't have a dance-hall licence," he said.
Coun. Allan Bolstad, in whose ward the club has opened up,
said Wednesday he does share Taliani's concern about the length of time it is
taking to get the review completed and a new bylaw in place.
"However, I don't have a lot of sympathy for this
particular individual in terms of what he has done," he said.
"He is blatantly running a business without a proper
licence and so the city is trying to take action in that regard," he said.
"And he is certainly not making any friends in the
immediate area where he has set up his business."
Tenants in a neighbouring apartment are circulating a
petition because of noise complaints, he said.
And there is no guarantee the city will issue any new
dance-hall licences once the review is complete because of all the concerns
surrounding rave clubs, Bolstad added.
"Listen to all the complaints we are getting from
downtown hotels and businesses that are operating next to one of these raves.
For (Taliani) to automatically assume we are going to be handing out licences
is a stretch as well."
Taliani said he is scheduled to meet with the city's
director of licensing this morning to discuss his situation.
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