Image: City of Chilliwack / After seeing no complaints about liquor consumption at Vedder Park directed at city bylaw staff or the Chilliwack RCMP, Councillor Jeff Shields suggested at Tuesday's Chilliwack City Council meeting that public liquor consumption possibly expand to other parks in the city. Councillors approved a bylaw that would allow seasonal liquor consumption at Vedder Park between May 15 and October 31 at its meeting on Tuesday, April 18.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

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Public liquor consumption may expand to other Chilliwack parks one day

Apr 19, 2023 | 10:11 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack Councillor Jeff Shields hinted at Tuesday’s council meeting that public liquor consumption could expand to other parks throughout Chilliwack.

Councillors approved on Tuesday (Apr. 18) a recommendation from city staff that they approve the consumption of alcohol through Bylaw 2023, No. 5299, at Vedder Park between May 15 and October 31.

A municipal staff report accompanying the liquor consumption vote says a pilot project was conducted in August 2020 during which time there did not appear to be any issues or bylaw complaints. The pilot project was also successful in subsequent years, prompting staff to bring forward this year’s bylaw recommendation.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Councillor Jeff Shields asked if other parks beyond Vedder Park might be considered for expanding liquor consumption.

“Vedder Park was our pilot project back in 2020,” said Councillor Jeff Shields, an accountant by trade. “We’re into our third year. Have there been any thoughts about any other parks being added to the list for consumption?”

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Image: City of Chilliwack / Joe Koczkur, director of public works and parks operations for the city of Chilliwack, said the concept of adding other city parks for public liquor consumption was a matter of finding a location where homes and competing businesses weren’t in close proximity. He was responding to a question from Councillor Jeff Shields.

“The difficulty we’ve had so far is finding a suitable location where we don’t have homes, residential areas, and also other competing businesses,” Koczkur told councillors.

Councillor Bud Mercer, who had a lengthy career with the RCMP in a variety of managerial roles, said he was not a proponent of the original concept of liquor consumption in parks, but changed his mind after seeing the outcome of the pilot project.

Image: City of Chilliwack / The areas in red are the permitted venues for public liquor consumption at Vedder Park for the period of May 15-October 31, 2023, as approved by Chilliwack City Council Tuesday (Apr. 18).

“As we go back in time, I recall that I was one that objected strongly to these,” Councillor Mercer said. “I’ve since been corrected. We’ve had no complaints. Police have reported that there’s been no intervention required. We haven’t had an increase in impaired driver stats leaving the park. They’ve pretty much been incident-free, so I have been corrected in one way. I think these are a great idea and that’s coming from someone from a public safety background. It’s good for the town, it’s being used respectfully. I think they’re in the right spots; they go nicely with the surrounding food trucks.”

Mayor Ken Popove added his stamp of approval to the seasonal consumption of liquor at Vedder Park,

“When you ask adults to be adults, it seems to work, so it’s great,” Popove said.

Like Councillor Mercer, Councillor Chris Kloot said he was reluctant to initially support public liquor consumption at Vedder Park, but changed his stance once the pilot project worked.

“A couple years back, I was initially a bit skeptical,” Kloot said. “I wasn’t opposed to a pilot project. In this case, it was well thought out, it was correctly managed. Because of the record we have of no complaints, it shows obviously there’s a very willing and able and respectful crowd. I’m happy to support it again.”

Mayor Popove asked if the seasonal liquor consumption would come back to council on a yearly basis, or if council could extend it a bit longer.

“Will this come back to us on a yearly basis, or can we stretch this out for, I don’t know, five years?” Popove asked staff. “Just a thought.”

Chief Administrative Officer Chris Crosman advised Popove that it would be prudent to wait until next year.

“We could make it more permanent,” Crosman said. “My advice would be wait ’til next year. I think the parks group were looking at shifting some priorities around and specific spots at the Vedder Park. Next year would be the better time to nail down the exact locations.”

A city staff report references consultation with the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP in which Mounties say they have no concerns with the alcohol consumption in Vedder Park provided that there are no glass containers; signage has defined boundaries, reminders of the legal drinking age and no drinking and driving; and defined hours that liquor is allowed.

According to city documents, Chilliwack City Council passed on August 4, 2020 Bylaw 2020, No. 4830 to allow the consumption of alcohol at Vedder Park and Crossing Park, as a pilot project until October 31, 2020. At the time, council directed staff to initiate an online survey to solicit public feedback and report back to council.

Around that time, three surveys were released to the public. The surveys were available through a pop-up booth in Vedder Park and online, and were promoted on social media, the city’s e-newsletter, and on the radio. The city received 733 responses from the three surveys.

Interestingly, the on-site survey found that 57.9 per cent of respondents strongly approved or somewhat approved the concept of allowing liquor consumption in designated spaces. The on-site survey found that 26.31 per cent of respondents were strongly opposed to alcohol consumption, and 15.79 per cent were neutral.

The preliminary online survey was available for feedback from August 5-23, 2020. However, only 40 per cent of survey respondents strongly approved or somewhat approved the concept of allowing liquor consumption in designated park spaces. Approximately 54 per cent of online respondents strongly or somewhat opposed the concept of alcohol in public parks, and six per cent were neutral.