MEETING MINUTES – AUG, 10, 2011

CRIME PREVENTION AND SAFETY COMMITTEE

&

LONG TERM PLANNING & PROPERTY STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Attending: Sharon, Ben, Mike, Karen, Meredith, Jack, Stephen & ?

Minutes prepared by Ben, and include personal observations as well as details of the meeting.

Prior to the meeting Stephen had outlined his problems with through the week with noise from the downtown bars, and the response time by the Barrie Police.  He is unaware if charges were laid or tickets issued, but it seems remote. 

At the meeting called by the City Clerk to discuss the new long form questionnaire to be submitted with liquor licence applications there was discussion about the police not logging charges against the bars so that the fines never escalate above step 1.  At that time I requested that the 2 senior officers present look into that situation and create a file which would be available to responding officers so that repeat offenders would be treated to increased deterrents.  They indicated that they would investigate that situation.  To my knowledge, they have not followed through on that commitment.

Sharon called the meeting to order at 07:05 P.M.

Immediately after opening the meeting, the floor was turned over to our guest, City Clerk, Dawn McAlpine.  Dawn told us of some of the successes and failures of communication between groups such as the BDNA, the City, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission.  She handed us copies of the AGCO:  Services For You – Liquor Sales Licences – Risk Based Conditions.  Risk Based Conditions are a recently introduced change in policy for the AGCO.  Items of particular interest to us are as follow:

The holder of the licence shall file in writing with the Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming by Date the measures that the holder has in place to deter disorderly conduct on property adjacent to and in the vicinity of the premises and to minimize damage, nuisance or other harm to such property arising out of disorderly conduct engaged in by patrons or persons attempting or waiting to enter the premises or leave the premises.

The holder of the licence shall not provide or permit music or other forms of entertainment in outdoor areas.

The holder of the licence shall not provide or permit amplified music or other forms of entertainment in outdoor areas.

The holder of the licence shall ensure that no live or amplified music is played in the licensed outdoor area(s) past the time designated by the Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming.

The holder of the licence shall ensure that the areas adjacent to and within XY metres of the premises are kept clean and free from any garbage associated with the operation of the premises and patrons.

The holder of the licence shall ensure that there is a designated and supervised area for smokers that does not adversely affect property adjacent to the premises.

There are a great many conditions, all of which may be read at the AGCO web address below:

http://www.agco.on.ca/en/services/conditions_riskbased_LSL.aspx

Dawn has suggested that we, when requesting limitations on a licence, or registering objections to same, reference these clauses.  The AGCO may place more weight on our requests if the requests are more easily referenced and understood by them.

The following is a link to the AGCO site that lays out the people per area allowed. 

http://www.agco.on.ca/pdfs/en/guides/1214_a.pdf

It states that the allowable number of people is established in 1 of three ways i.e. 

 2. There are three methods of assigning a capacity to

your establishment, either:

a) capacity is assigned by the building department; or

b) capacity is assigned by the fire department; or

c) capacity is calculated by an architect or professional engineer.

The sample looks at total area, and does not take into account fixtures such as a bar, tables, game boards or other fixtures that occupy floor space which is shown as available for human movement.  As well, I (personal opinion) seem to remember Dawn indicating that the AGCO seemed o disregard the recommendation of the Building & Fire Departments and applied it’s own standard to the capacity of an establishment, which, if true, would be in direct defiance of their published policy.

If the approximate standard of 1.15 m2 per person is being applied without regard to fixtures, then perhaps it is time for the AGCO to examine its policy.

Also the AGCO does not supply feedback to the City or to the BDNA on the results of license applications.  It might be appropriate for the AGCO to at least let the City know what is going on.

Dawn also indicated that Barrie is one of only a handful of communities to ask license applicants to fill out a form to submit with the application, and ours is the most detailed form in use. 

The City Clerk’s presentation ended at approximately 08:15 P.M.

It was noted that the ‘Minimum Separation Bylaw for Bars’ was still being researched.  There was a question about the status of the requested ‘Minimum Separation Bylaw’ for boarding and rooming houses.  This was a project of Cindy’s, and in her absence (she’ll be back next month) Ben indicated that he would follow up, and report back to us next meeting (September 14).

The video camera project has received favourable reviews by the Police Department and City Council.  All that remains now is for them to develop a concrete plan and cost , and allocate funds.  We will continue to follow up on this project.  There is a police board meeting August 25 at 4 P.M.  Perhaps there will be something to report after the meeting.

We will continue our efforts to ameliorate the CNCC drop off situation at the Barrie bus terminal downtown.  We recognize that if the main terminal is moved as per plan and if the one roof concept actually happens the situation will be altered, but those items are 2 to 5 years in the offing, and we cannot afford to wait that long if we wish to rejuvenate the Downtown. 

We also need to motivate panhandlers, prostitutes and defilers of public spaces to remove themselves from the Downtown core.  These people can be seen on a daily basis.  This can only be accomplish by the Police Department applying due diligence.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, September 14 at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home on Worsley Street – 7:00 P.M.