Summer Stomp organizers have so far fulfilled requirements set out by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District but RCMP are expressing concern over potential violation of liquor laws for the July 19 to 22 event.
Sgt. David Evans, rural operations NCO with the RCMP’s Vernon/North Okanagan Detachment, voiced his concerns.
Evans says organizers of any public gathering are required by law to apply for a special liquor licence that allows them to set up a beer garden on the proposed site, something Stomp organizers have not done.
“I have concerns around a bring-your-own-booze policy in the proposed location for a group that size and the related issues that could arise around that,” he said, referring to the remoteness of the Salmon Valley Road location and the fact alcohol can be consumed anywhere on-site.
Stomp organizer Steve Hammer would not respond to questions from the Market News, other than to say that they are proceeding with plans to hold the annual event.
Evans says servers in beer gardens are legally responsible for not over-serving, can assess the amount of alcohol consumed by a person and monitor age requirements.
“To respond to calls puts our officers and members of the public in general at greater risk because it’s not contained to an area. It’s harder to control people, identify people (who are possible troublemakers) and people having access to bottles,” he says. “By virtue of this being a public event it is illegal. There’s any number of events we have that range anywhere from hockey, curling, rodeos, music concerts and when those events wish to serve alcohol, they go through proper process by applying for a special licence. It gives enforcement the opportunity to review plans to ensure public safety.”
“As far as a police presence goes, people cannot be found intoxicated in a public event and that’s a public place,” Evans says, noting his disappointment CSRD directors have chosen not to enforce permitted use regulations which would prohibit the event.
He will be asking assistance from other detachments to help police the area that will have Sturgis North and the Armstrong Metalfest running that weekend.
“There will be road checks. We will be targeting people driving under the influence,” he cautions. “You will see a very increased police presence throughout the entire Vernon-North Okanagan region.”
And while he has only had email contact with the Stomp organization, Evans says he will meet with organizers to address this and other issues.
CSRD staff, meanwhile, are in wait-and-see mode.
Development services assistant Dan Passmore says Stomp organizers met the CSRD’s June 1 deadline set by providing more detailed security, fire management, traffic plans, emergency response and general operations plans.
He says Interior Health and BC Safety Authority inspectors will conduct on-site inspections once infrastructure and vendors are on-site.
As well, organizers have applied to the Wildfire Management Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources to authorize an exemption for their bonfire, which will be in excess of the half-metre wide by half-metre high campfire restriction that goes into effect June 15 at noon.
“As it stands now, the report will be advising the board on the fact the Stomp has fulfilled all their conditions and the board resolution previously given should stand,” he says of the directors’ decision to rescind bylaw enforcement on the site for the duration of the Stomp, pending more complete reports and a willingness to shut off the music (live or otherwise) at midnight.
Passmore says he will be collecting information for directors right up until the June 21 meeting.
“It is an evolving situation and the situation will be evolving likely right up to the meeting,” he says. “If anything ugly comes up in the meeting, the board knows about that and has an opportunity to deal with it.”
A neighbour who does not wish to have his driveway used as access to the Stomp has not yet heard from organizers, but Passmore says he understands the plan is to route entry away from there.
“It is not one of the items the board specifically asked about,” he says. “If they haven’t straightened things out by June 2, the board may look at that and say they won’t want to approve something that creates trespass.”
