Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson notes that with the new West Fraser Centre and the new opportunities at the complex – particularly with concerts and larger conventions that may have a social event – staff has asked council how far it wants to go in terms of liquor licensing.
“Under the old model, the not-for-profit organizations would apply for a Special Use Permit. It’s often a restrictive designated area. It’s a real pain for those organizations to go through the process, and often at the end of the day, there’s not a lot of [money to be made] because the Liquor Branch caps what they can charge for the alcohol.
“We just said to staff, ‘look, have a conversation with those groups because alternatively we could just get a Liquor Primary Licence, so the whole new arena can be under a liquor licence’.”
Simpson says they could run it through the concession they already have in place.
“[The not-for-profits] could set rates as they see fit. We could set a 10 per cent clawback or whatever rate we’ve got. Then we can decide if we want to use some of that money to help some of the groups that are organizing events.”
If they have an adult-based, promoted private concerts in that facility, Simpson says a Liquor Primary Licence would allow liquor throughout the facility.
“Whereas, under Special Use Permit, it’s going to be difficult to convince them you’re going to open up the whole venue.”
The mayor says there are pros and cons to both options and they were discussed the recent North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee meeting.
We asked staff to dig a little bit deeper, he adds.
“In the interim, any groups that have tournaments and events – like the Kangaroos and others – the can get a Special Use Permit.
“Based on staff recommendations, we’re willing to look at potentially expanding the area where alcohol would be allowed in the north side of the arena below the media booth. That would be easy to police because you could set up a restricted 19-and-older area on that side and let the main seating area be family oriented.”
Simpson notes they have given a bit of discretion to staff to expand the permit area until elected officials figure out where they are going with the main licence.
At the open events where there would all age groups, the mayor says there will be a family friendly main area where alcohol would not be permitted.
It could be a revenue-generating proposition, Simpson says, because profit could be used for enhancements to the facility.
“We wouldn’t see any revenue coming out of the facility or out of the groups using the facility, but we need to get staff to give us a sense of what we’re looking at…. Really, we’re only looking at a couple of thousand dollars a year.
“Staff will just come back with a report based on all of the questions we’ve asked and then we’ll make some decisions.”
The mayor says there isn’t a timeline for a decision.
“There’s no pressure because the same process that has been used in the past is still available for everybody.”