Despite a passionate presentation from Liquid Zoo manager David Habib, council voted not to support an application to extend the closing time and capacity increase for the downtown nightclub.
At a June 13 public hearing, Habib asked council to support a bid to let the Zoo stay open until 3 a.m. and increase customer capacity from the current 500 to 655. Several councillors pointed to a letter from 琉璃神社 RCMP Supt. Kara Triance, which outlined numerous concerns with the application, as a reason for non-support.
鈥淎dditional nightclub operating hours beyond 2 a.m. will cause operation impacts to the RCMP that may result in reduced levels of service in both 琉璃神社 and neighbouring communities,鈥� the letter stated.
Habib countered that it鈥檚 imperative to have a couple of locations open until 3 a.m.
鈥淎s a man who鈥檚 looking for safety, I don鈥檛 want the guys that close at 2 a.m., even though I won鈥檛 let people in after 2 a.m., I don鈥檛 want everybody closing their place and rushing over to our place.鈥�
Triance also wrote that increased occupancy levels will interfere with people getting home safely, due to a current shortage of taxis and ride-share options, further drawing out the time people are loitering downtown, and leading to confrontations, fights and vandalism.
Habib told council that the Zoo has 16 security staff with Justice Institute certification, including 10 with advanced training, which allows them to make arrests and handcuff individuals. He added there have been no incidents of violence inside or outside the nightclub this year.
鈥淭he RCMP have told me during our meetings that the Liquid Zoo is the safest run establishment we have,鈥� he added.
READ MORE: 鈥楽afety is paramount鈥�: 琉璃神社 nightlife can be a zoo sometimes
He said that RCMP members even asked him to back them up because there were only two officers downtown one day during the summer last year.
鈥淪o we have been called upon we鈥檝e been there and not just for them but for many other establishments in our community.鈥�
Habib added the capacity increase to 655 is the nightclub鈥檚 fire code capacity, and the reason is due to the success of a new upstairs country bar.
鈥淚f I want 250 people up there, which the fire capacity allows, that means I only want 250 downstairs. But when we do it the way it鈥檚 done now they (fire code) mandate 400 down and 100 up. They won鈥檛 allow you to differentiate from that.鈥�
He said the intention is not to exceed 500 people, but instead to have the flexibility to use the space that comes from increased capacity.
Downtown resident Les Bellamy, who is opposed to the Revelry Food+Music Hub going in next door to the Madison condos on Ellis Street, questioned city staff鈥檚 consistency on the two files.
鈥淭he similarities between these two applications are almost identical鈥et we have city staff endorsing one application and rejecting another within a very short period of time. So I feel there鈥檚 an unjust bias happening here and I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 in our community鈥檚 best interest.鈥�
READ MORE: Legal fund donations to fight downtown 琉璃神社 entertainment venue top $10K
However, Ryan Smith, director of planning and development, told council that applications do differ.
In terms of policy compliance, staff believe that the policy was applied correctly in this case, the purposes of each venue are different as the Revelry is an event driven establishment with food service, which differs from a nightclub, explained Smith.
While council was in support of special event 3 a.m. closings, which happen six times per year, it did not support the Zoo鈥檚 application.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 understood by council that it ends up being there is some benefits to this,鈥� said Mayor Tom Dyas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just the information that we have in front of us right at this point in time may not allow us to kind of move forward, but it is something that we truly need to explore.鈥�
READ MORE: One person taken to hospital, RCMP collecting evidence outside 琉璃神社 mall
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.
