Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: B4 Section: City
Publication date: Oct 26, 2000
ProQuest document ID: 252763463
Copyright: Copyright Southam Publications Inc. Oct 26, 2000
Author: Retson, Don
Abstract:
Phil Fearon, director of bylaw services, got a rough ride after presenting a report on the committee's progress. The report takes no position on limiting the hours of operation of such clubs, restricting the clubs to certain areas of the city, or even restricting underage kids. Several speakers noted that at some clubs 14- and 15-year-olds mix with 30-year-olds, which they warned is a recipe for trouble.
[Lillian Pushor] said she has lost business because rave patrons often congregate outside the clubs, intimidating prospective customers. Besides the noise, which she said can easily be heard on the 19th floor of her hotel, some club members will fight, litter, deface property, and even defecate in the back alley.
Full text:
Some seniors in Nicola Coulstring's downtown highrise are too frightened to go to church on Sundays by themselves. They fear for their safety because they live next door to an all-night dance club where revellers are still carousing while other folk are preparing to attend church.
"Due to the extreme noise, it is not uncommon for me to hear stories of tenants who no longer sleep at night," Coulstring told members of city's executive committee Wednesday.
She said other tenants at Cathedral Close Senior Citizens Apartments at 10039 103rd St. gather their pillows and blankets and sleep in a common room where the noise isn't as bad, or buy ear plugs to block the sounds of fire alarms.
Coulstring, the highrise manager, and managers of three nearby hotels, called on the city to address problems associated with downtown rave clubs.
Other downtown businesses also cited a litany of problems caused by the clubs.
"It's a disgrace to the City of Edmonton," said Lillian Pushor, general manager of Alberta Place Suite Hotel at 103rd Steet and 100th Avenue.
Pushor said she has lost business because rave patrons often congregate outside the clubs, intimidating prospective customers. Besides the noise, which she said can easily be heard on the 19th floor of her hotel, some club members will fight, litter, deface property, and even defecate in the back alley.
She told how she once complained to police of loud noise at 6 a.m. and was told to take it up with bylaw officials. But bylaw couldn't do anything either because there are no local regulations governing all-night dance clubs.
"I couldn't get help from anybody," she said.
Pushor is a member of an ad-hoc committee set up by the city in July to review its noise, land-use and licensing bylaws to regulate raves.
Phil Fearon, director of bylaw services, got a rough ride after presenting a report on the committee's progress. The report takes no position on limiting the hours of operation of such clubs, restricting the clubs to certain areas of the city, or even restricting underage kids. Several speakers noted that at some clubs 14- and 15-year-olds mix with 30-year-olds, which they warned is a recipe for trouble.
But Fearon told the committee, "I'm still not convinced that restricting certain age groups from the all-night dance events is the right answer."
Some councillors were exasperated by the absence of recommendations.
"Why are we even here today?" Coun. Robert Noce asked bluntly. "With all due respect, this is a nothing report, Mr. Fearon."
The committee will deal with the issue again Dec. 13.
Phil Fearon, director of bylaw services, got a rough ride after presenting a report on the committee's progress. The report takes no position on limiting the hours of operation of such clubs, restricting the clubs to certain areas of the city, or even restricting underage kids. Several speakers noted that at some clubs 14- and 15-year-olds mix with 30-year-olds, which they warned is a recipe for trouble.
[Lillian Pushor] said she has lost business because rave patrons often congregate outside the clubs, intimidating prospective customers. Besides the noise, which she said can easily be heard on the 19th floor of her hotel, some club members will fight, litter, deface property, and even defecate in the back alley.
Full text:
Some seniors in Nicola Coulstring's downtown highrise are too frightened to go to church on Sundays by themselves. They fear for their safety because they live next door to an all-night dance club where revellers are still carousing while other folk are preparing to attend church.
"Due to the extreme noise, it is not uncommon for me to hear stories of tenants who no longer sleep at night," Coulstring told members of city's executive committee Wednesday.
She said other tenants at Cathedral Close Senior Citizens Apartments at 10039 103rd St. gather their pillows and blankets and sleep in a common room where the noise isn't as bad, or buy ear plugs to block the sounds of fire alarms.
Coulstring, the highrise manager, and managers of three nearby hotels, called on the city to address problems associated with downtown rave clubs.
Other downtown businesses also cited a litany of problems caused by the clubs.
"It's a disgrace to the City of Edmonton," said Lillian Pushor, general manager of Alberta Place Suite Hotel at 103rd Steet and 100th Avenue.
Pushor said she has lost business because rave patrons often congregate outside the clubs, intimidating prospective customers. Besides the noise, which she said can easily be heard on the 19th floor of her hotel, some club members will fight, litter, deface property, and even defecate in the back alley.
She told how she once complained to police of loud noise at 6 a.m. and was told to take it up with bylaw officials. But bylaw couldn't do anything either because there are no local regulations governing all-night dance clubs.
"I couldn't get help from anybody," she said.
Pushor is a member of an ad-hoc committee set up by the city in July to review its noise, land-use and licensing bylaws to regulate raves.
Phil Fearon, director of bylaw services, got a rough ride after presenting a report on the committee's progress. The report takes no position on limiting the hours of operation of such clubs, restricting the clubs to certain areas of the city, or even restricting underage kids. Several speakers noted that at some clubs 14- and 15-year-olds mix with 30-year-olds, which they warned is a recipe for trouble.
But Fearon told the committee, "I'm still not convinced that restricting certain age groups from the all-night dance events is the right answer."
Some councillors were exasperated by the absence of recommendations.
"Why are we even here today?" Coun. Robert Noce asked bluntly. "With all due respect, this is a nothing report, Mr. Fearon."
The committee will deal with the issue again Dec. 13.
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