Coordinating the Industry Serving the Night Time Economy

MAY 20, 2010 UPDATE

On May 19, 2010 Executive Commitee reviewed the submitted report, listened to presentations from two speakers, ask questions and then passed a motion to accept the report for information. Click here to see the proceedings.

The recommendation that a city-wide hospitality association with a mandatory fee structure be tabled at this time was accepted.

Responsible Hospitality Edmonton will continue to work with all sectors of the hospitality industry. Geographic specific work on hospitality issues will continue with Whyte Avenue and the Jasper Avenue Entertainment Working Group.

Responsible Hospitality Edmonton will continue to consult with other jurisdictions on best practice planning, management and policing of entertainment zones.

PREVIOUS MAY UPDATE

A need for coordinated efforts related to the night time economy in Edmonton was first identified in 2001. Recommendations were developed through extensive consultation with the hospitality industry, residents, development organizations and regulatory agencies. These recommendations were approved by City Council in December 2006.

Responsible Hospitality Edmonton (RHE) is the name of the formal structure the City of Edmonton established to address these recommendations and how we plan, manage and police vibrant places throughout the city where people can socialize in safety and comfort. (The Public Safety Compliance Team is one area of RHE’s responsibility.)

One recommendation was:

Recognize hospitality, dining and entertainment as an integrated economic engine through the development of an industry-driven city-wide association. 

To facilitate this recommendation, efforts were made to consult with the industry in order to frame what an association would look like including:
  • Industry representation on the RHE Panel (from March 2007 to Dec 2007)
  • Discussions with Executive Members of the Old Strathcona Hospitality Association about the potential to expand the existing organization to a city-wide organization
  • Industry forums held in 2009 (invitations to all bar/lounge/nightclub business licensed premises in Edmonton at that time) to discuss what services/programs are needed, whether or not there is support for a hospitality association and options for funding the association
  • Discussions with individual industry members
Results of these efforts were reported to City Council's Executive Committee on June 3, 2009. The following motion was passed at that time:

Hospitality Assocation Partnership Agreement
That a partnership agreement …, sharing the revenue from the approved surcharge with an incorporated not-for-profit city-wide industry association, be developed.

Hospitality Association Plan
That Administration report back to Executive Committee with a proposed Hospitality Association Business Plan at the same time as the partnership agreement.

As this proposal could have a direct impact on business licence fees, we sent an information package to 991 businesses that serve liquor for consumption on the premises, with an opportunity to provide feedback by March 30, 2010.

Results from the input received was considered in the development of the report being presented to Executive Committee on May 19, 2010. The report is attached to the agenda for the May 19, 2010 meeting and can be found here (item 5.11):

http://sirepub.edmonton.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=409&doctype=AGENDA

You are welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 9:30 am in the River Valley Room at City Hall. Our item is not time-specific. If you wish to speak at the meeting please submit your request through the Office of the City Clerk, online using this form:

http://webproxy.edmonton.ca/forms/requesttospeak/default.aspx

Alternately, when the Executive Committee meeting is in progress, the proceedings can be viewed on-line:

http://councilontheweb.edmonton.ca/, then click on the button for the River Valley Room.

Thank you for your time and input as we work toward supporting creating and maintaining vibrant places throughout the city where people can socialize in safety and comfort.

Background

Social Marketing

The Framework

Resources

2009 Award Winner

Proposed Hosp. Assn.