Saanich council voted against allowing public drinking in some district parks Monday evening without any discussion.
The motion to move forward with a three-month pilot project to allow drinking from noon to 8 p.m. in 14 of the municipality’s parks was defeated in a 5-4 vote on its first reading. Council would typically discuss the topic on a second reading.
Councillors can ask questions before a vote is called on the first reading, but Coun. Colin Plant, who was first to speak, moved the motion and it was seconded by Coun. Ned Taylor.
Plant said he was surprised it didn’t go to a second reading, because he can’t remember a time in his five years on council when council hasn’t voted to move past a first reading.
Council had a busy agenda and the motion was brought to councillors at nearly 11 p.m. Plant said he moved the motion because he wanted to move forward with the meeting at the late hour.
“There was a part of me that appreciated we had people who had clearly made up their minds and that they were not willing to entertain this bylaw even at a first reading,” he said.
Taylor raised concerns that councillors opposed the motion in a “rushed decision” before there was a chance to have a debate and ask questions of staff who prepared a report.
“For council to defeat it without even having any discussion whatsoever, I don’t think reflects good decision-making, and I would request that we could at least have some discussion on the matter and have the ability to ask staff questions,” he told council.
Mayor Fred Haynes asked municipal clerk Angela Bains about having a debate despite the motion’s defeat. Bains said the opportunity for discussion had passed.
Taylor later asked council to consider referring the motion to the parks, trails and recreation advisory committee for feedback, a move seconded by Coun. Zac de Vries. Council voted against referring the motion to the committee. Haynes said it would be contradictory for council to keep the proposal alive after voting against it. Haynes, who had previously expressed support for the idea, said he was swayed after receiving more public input.
He had thought the pilot project would allow families and friends to socialize and enjoy a drink outside while also supporting local businesses, but after receiving 19 letters opposed to the idea and 11 in favour, he voted against the proposal.
Haynes said he was concerned about broken glass, confusion among residents about which parks allowed drinking, the possibility that public drinking could draw customers away from struggling restaurants and bars, and potential conflicts between park users that could deter people from visiting parks.
“Now whilst that may not actually happen frequently, the thought that it’s going to happen impacts people’s psychological well-being, and the parks need to be open and amenable to everybody,” he said.
Coun. Judy Brownoff contacted Island Health chief medical officer Dr. Richard Stanwick to get his input ahead of the meeting. It was his letter expressing concern, as well as residents’ worries and opposition from Saanich police, that informed her vote against the proposal.
Stanwick said alcohol consumption during the pandemic is increasing and providing more opportunities for people to drink is not in the best interests of public health. He was also concerned about the messaging children might receive that drinking is an important part of having fun and socializing, and shared Saanich police’s worries that public drinking could lead to a lack of physical distancing and an increase in impaired driving.
Police said in a letter that allowing drinking could lead to an increase in impaired drivers if residents of other municipalities were drawn to Saanich parks and that they wouldn’t have the resources to effectively monitor the parks. They also cited concerns about reduced compliance with physical distancing.
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