City councillors and Cariboo Regional District directors voted unanimously to look into obtaining a liquor primary licence for the West Fraser Centre at the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee on Tuesday night (May 22).
City of Quesnel director of community services Jeff Norburn delivered a report to the committee, stating the pros and cons of obtaining a liquor primary licence for the facility, versus continuing to allow groups to obtain special event permits for their own events, as is the current practice.
The recommendation of staff was that “the benefits of obtaining a liquor primary licence are not compelling enough to apply for a licence at this time.”
In discussion following the report, City of Quesnel Councillor Scott Elliott made an argument to fellow councillors and CRD directors that the Joint Planning Committee should move forward with obtaining a licence.
“I think it’s a chance for us to make some money, to put some coffers back in to things we might need, like a concession,” he said.
“If we leave it to the two or three groups who get liquor licences every year, there’s no advantage to the city. … It gives us the opportunity for adults to have a beer at an event if they would like to, without volunteers having to go out and do the extra legwork to get a liquor licence for every event that happens. Right now the Roos, for example, have to get a licence for every game that they do. It’s onerous. … As a money maker, it’s something we should seriously consider.”
City staff’s report noted that obtaining a licence would take between seven and 12 months, and the licensing fee is $4,400 for the first year. Norburn said in subsequent years, the licensing fee would be tied directly to sales revenue, so would be more or less expensive, depending on sales.
Mayor Bob Simpson talked about deferring the liquor licence until issues with the concession are resolved. Rocky’s, the contractor that was running the concession at the West Fraser Centre, decided not to renew its contract at the end of the ice season, leaving the facility with no concession for the time being.
“I would like to have the concession resolved and come back and revisit this,” said Simpson.
“I think a deferral at this point while we get some other things resolved makes sense to me, but I’d like [the option for a liquor licence] to be kept on the back burner and be brought forward when the time is right.”
Norburn says the city is still weighing the options of how to move forward with the concession, whether to advertise for another contractor or look into running it themselves.
But Coun. Elliott pointed out that if the liquor licence application isn’t made now, the facility will have to wait seven months to a year from when it applies, which would delay the revenue stream and the chance to offer alcohol at upcoming events.
“But if we don’t get the ball rolling now, we are always going to be a year behind. … I’d like to see us get it going, then wrestle with the concession, then have the conversation of when the liquor comes in. But if we don’t have the licence, we can’t do it.”
Councillors Ron Paull and Laurey-Anne Roodenburg both also spoke of the benefits of obtaining a licence now.
“I think we need to start moving on this. If we’re looking at 2019 [to host the B.C. Men’s Curling Championships], we will only just have it ready, and have had practice to see how this looks in our facility. We need to have test runs with smaller events,” explained Roodenburg.
Roodenburg also recommended that staff ensure an application for the liquor licence take into account things like whether children can be present at the West Fraser Centre if liquor is being served.
After discussion, City of Quesnel staff’s recommendation to take no action regarding obtaining a liquor licence was rejected by the committee, and Coun. Elliott put forward a motion to request staff begin the process of obtaining a liquor primary licence for the West Fraser Centre.
The motion was carried unanimously.