In the last few weeks, a couple things have been unfolding on City Hall’s steps – the type of activities that can spell disaster for Vancouver economically.

British Columbia has always been largely plagued by a contingent of people who either don’t want to understand the big picture or are simply ignorant to the thought that if business can’t thrive here, it will seek somewhere else like Washington State or Alberta.

We can live one of two ways – be taxed to the max, or be accommodating to direct foreign investment and increase the social good through the spinoff of the commercial activities which ensue. There is a balance here, but it seems that Vancouver’s becoming a less attractive place to do business.

On to point 1 – Vancouver’s Bedtime Police

The City’s Licensing and Inspections group wants to further restrict liquor licenses granted to food primary establishments and the closing time.

In essence, if the proposal is accepted and you want to go out for a nice glass of wine and have a meal late into the evening, forget it. You may be forced to come to the entertainment district and bear through the lineups, poor service and loud music to get that glass of wine. Likely it, won’t even be as good, either. More on that later.

Point 2 – Nepotism in the City

No folks, it’s not a new TV series or movie. A blatant example of this situation is the ROUGE vs TUTS controversy with the Parks Board Commissioners obviously making those back-room deals. Click on ‘read more,’ lots to read after the jump.

The latest release relating to the Vancouver Bedtime Police:

Subject: Report on Community Open House Meetings

Be sure to fill in the official City of Vancouver “Food Primary” Closing Hour surveys to keep neighbourhood restaurants open past midnight!

1. Get your own copy of the official City of Vancouver “Survey and Comment Form” to send to City Hall and make your voice heard! This is very important, as the city will consider these feedback forms before bringing their recommendations to council in the fall.
2. Overview of the City of Vancouver’s proposed closing times for restaurants, presented at the June 17 and 24 Community Open House meetings on “Food Primary” closing times.
3. Overview of the comments from the public at the June 24 meetings.

The last of the Community Open House meetings on “Food Primary” closing times happened on Tuesday, June 24. “Stop Vancouver’s Bedtime Police!” had a showing at both the 4:30 and 6:30 sessions.

The group from CoV Licences and Inspections presented their proposed policy for licensed restaurants, and it’s not much of a change from the current situation. Depending on the zone they’re located in, licensed restaurants will have different closing times. Grandfathered licencees will keep existing closing times if they are later than the proposed changes.

Downtown Commercial – Includes the Granville “Entertainment District”, much of the business district, and Davie Street.
1:30am closing time, 7 days a week.

Downtown Mixed Use – Denman, Robson, parts of Yaletown and Gastown.
1:00am closing time, 7 days a week.

Downtown Residential – West End and most of Yaletown.
12:00am closing time Sunday-Thursday, 1:00am Friday-Saturday.

Non-Downtown Commercial – Marine Drive, Strathcona around Terminal, Boundary and Grandview. 1:00am closing time, 7 days a week.

Non-Downtown Mixed Use – Includes Broadway, 4th Avenue, Main Street, Commercial Drive, Kingsway, Chinatown, East Hastings. 12:00am closing time Sunday-Thursday, 1:00am Friday and Saturday.

Non-Downtown Residential – Everything else. 12:00am closing time Sunday-Thursday, 1:00am Friday and Saturday.

Comments from the meetings and from the surveys will be taken into consideration before the proposal is brought before council in the fall. This is your chance to have some input!

Overviews of both the 4:30 and 6:30 sessions are available online:

An audio recording of the 4:30 session: HERE

An unofficial transcript of the 6:30 session: HERE

Concerns raised at the meetings:

1. Unfair competition – Restaurant owners are concerned that they will be unable to compete with establishments with grandfathered licences that can stay open later, or with differently zoned restaurants only a few blocks away. Many feel that a later, uniform closing hour across the entire city is the only solution, and that the market will decide when is a good time to shut the doors.
2. What about community? – The public is concerned that people in smaller communities are being forced out of their own neighbourhoods if they want late night drinks. Many people would like to be able to stay out past midnight in their own neighbourhoods, avoiding the sloppy mess downtown.
3. The Creative Class – Young creative people fuel Vancouver’s economy, but they’re getting bored here. If they don’t have something engaging and interesting to do at night, they’re going to move, taking their creativity and wealth with them.
4. The Police Perspective – The VPD is worried that later closing hours will mean more booze and more trouble. However, they would welcome a move away from the Granville “Entertainment District”, where so many rowdies congregate every night.

The latest message from Tim Crowhurst of Funcouver relating to ROUGE which will be canceled this year:

July 4, 2008

Dear Park Board Commissioners:

ISSUE: Once-a-year celebration of Vancouver Film Industry at risk

Yet again, we are hearing of problems with hosting events in Vancouver’s parks. It appears that Park Board bureaucrats are in need of some direction and leadership from our Park Board Commissioners.

“Rouge”, one of Vancouver’s most successful outdoor events, is an annual celebration of our city’s film industry. And it is at risk of being cancelled due to intransigence — and an unwillingness to cooperate — when compromises are placed in front of decision-makers.

“Rouge” has been booked at the Stanley Park Pavilion for months. Hundreds of tickets are sold for the July 12th event. The one-night-of-the-year when the film industry can get together and no one is willing to compromise.

As we understand it, the issue has to deal with allowing “Rouge” patrons outside.

In July.

Quite a novel concept.

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is concerned that patrons will be too noisy – so Rouge organizers said “no problem, we’ll keep it indoors until after the show is over”.

But to no avail. Parks Board staff say “no one outside unless TUTS agrees, and TUTS says ‘no’”.

Imagine. An event celebrating the Vancouver film industry in the middle of summer — but no one is allowed to go outside.

Sounds somewhat like a few years back when citizens were told to stay at home at the turn of the new millennium. Do you remember being told “Don’t even think of coming downtown at the stroke of midnight”.

We urge you to get involved to broker a compromise agreement. The last thing that Vancouver needs right now (on the verge of an Actors strike which will send our film industry reeling yet again) is a public relations fiasco telling people to stay inside during the dog days of summer.

Thanks in advance for your involvement in support of Vancouver’s Film Industry.

Best regards,

Tim Crowhurst
Funcouver
604.724.0100

Press release by Rory Richards of Richards and Chan relating to the issue:

DEATH OF ROUGE

ANNUAL FILM & TELEVISION EVENT
CANCELLED DUE TO PARKS BOARD BUREAUCRACY

Vancouver, B.C ROUGE, The Vancouver film & televisions industry anticipated summer gala to be held on July 12th, was forced into cancellation yesterday due to a decision of the Parks Board.

Produced by well-known Vancouver events producer Rory Richards, ROUGE is the sold out annual powerhouse film and television event of the season. In its fifth year, the industry benefit was scheduled for Saturday, July 12th at the historic Stanley Park Pavilion.

Three weeks ago, ROUGE producer Rory Richards was informed by the Parks Board that the event would not be able to take place outside as planned, despite prior contract assurances given by the venue, due to a Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) performance across the lawn at Malkin Bowl.

As a result, said the Parks Board, all guests would have to be kept inside the main building for the entire evening, with a limited exception at the rear of the building. We were completely shocked. We have had this event booked since January. ROUGE is an outdoor event. The Pavilion building is a hundred years old and without air conditioning. Keeping 350 people inside in the middle of July when there is 1000 acres of Public Park outside it just doesnt make sense, says Richards.

Richards tried solving the situation by approaching TUTS to broker an understanding. She offered to hold all of her guests inside until after their curtain call. TUTS declined to co-operate, citing previous bad history with Pavilion venue. Our event starts at 9:30 and the TUTS curtain call is at 10:30, so I offered to keep all of our guests inside the building until after their curtain call. I thought it was a pretty reasonable compromise. TUTS declined. Without TUTS co-operation I did not have a chance in getting Parks Board to reconsider their decision to keep us inside. says ROUGE producer Rory Richards.

We chose the Stanley Park Pavilion for its beautiful surrounding grounds. says Richards. Its too late to move it now. I am forced to pull the plug on a sold out event. Its such a waste. This is Vancouver bureacracy at its worst. I am in shock. What kind of City are we?

The Babz Chula Society was this years beneficiary of ROUGE and Richards doesnt want all to be lost along with the event. I encourage all those who were intending to come to ROUGE to make a contribution to the Babz Chula Society. Something good has to come out of this, concludes Richards.

Donations can be made to the Babz Chula Society at www.babzchulasociety.com

For more information, please contact:
Rory Richards
c. 604-505-6210
e. rory@richardsandchan.com

Without making this post too long, I won’t go into how the organizers of DesiFest also suffered during the production of their event. For now, I’d say ’nuff said./