Greek pub plan draws. -acrowd _ THE GREAT Greek restaurant will not become a ‘pub untilat- least 1995. A public hearing into the . controversial application ~will reconvene on Jan. 9.” “NORTH VANCOUVER - GIT¥Y COUNCIL | “ By Robert Gaister Council delayed ‘making a deci- ~ sion on the application. After prescn- | ‘tations from about’25 speakers, not - all members of the. gallery had been “heard, - Those’ who were ‘heard included “owners ‘of both Sailor Hagar’s and the - Rusty’ Gull pubs, expressed their. displeasure with , council for discarding the results of an- earlier survey of residents and moving the 107 West Esplanade application to a public hearing stage. Robert Savage, co-owner of the Rusty Gull, told councillors that “a referendum’ is the’ only. proper way ; that public input can be obtained. : ‘think’ 2f this’ application pro- “ceeds, a clear message will be sent to ‘other applicants that the city of North ‘Nancouver is a good place to apply for’ a pub because city, council doesn’t. - : equire a referendum,” said Savage. . “They only require a public hear- ing and close | proximity to other pubs and ‘licensed establishments really i is f little concern.” However, other, speakers chal- lenged this. reasoning accusing the owners of speaking’ out in their own . What 1 hear are ‘people ‘who are afraid for their own. business,” ‘said Graeme Bowbrick,'a lower Lonsdale resident. He added , that concerns over increased noise resulting froma pub “ erawl environment are not based on studies, but rather conjecture: “Public - policy should not be based on mere. WITH CORRESPONDENCE ‘for and against the proposed ‘Jong-term care facility for seniors at 419 Keith Rd. con- “ tinuing “to. grow’ (over, 600 submissions), West . Vancou- ver District Council has voted o’adjourn the public hearing Both owners. a NEWS photo Brad Ledwidgo NICK VAVAAIS (left, owner of the Great Greek restaurant, is joinec by William Kessel in the North Vancouver City council chambers Monday during a public hearing to help council deterimine the outcome of Vavaris’ application for a pub licence. The hearing was adjourned until Jan. 9 speculation.” Others like Walter Richards, stat- ed that the survey of residents was - botched by the city and should not figure in council's final decision. He added that those missed in. the survey were also the people most. likely to vote in favor of the pub. He believed this would decrease the dis- parity between the survey's findings and the more than 80% support received by. both Sailor Hagar’s and the Rusty Gull during the respective referendums held prior to their open-_ ings. “l'm suggesting to you that it is denied Mr. Vavaris,” said Richards. The community survey of the’ Great Greek restaurant’s pub ticense application..was carried out earlier this year by city staff and found that » 58% of the respondents were against on the issue to Monday, Jan. The hearing will take place at West Vancouver senior secondary, with provisions | to continue the following night, ‘depending ‘upon "the number: of speakers attending the meeting. “We must listen to the public , and we will do so, as long as pos- sible,” said Coun. Pat Boname. There are already 50 to 60 neo- ple on a list who have indicated they want to speak on the contro- this constituency that was excluded « from Mr. Vavaris’ survey that put the: other two over the top and were le hear - the proposal. ‘ However, concems of both the ‘proprietor and several councillors ° prompted council to have an indepen- dent auditor review the survey process, The audit, carried out by KPMG * Peat! Marwick Thorne Chartered Accountants, found some aspects of ’ the survey to have been flawed. Although no evidence of actual ballot tampering was found, it was revealed that 2,122 residents, or 34% of the eligible survey. voters, were | missed. - The missed eligible voters were . found to be residents who were not owners in the area. Richards also referred back to Brian Riedlinger’s statements ‘made during ‘the Sailor. Hagar’s owner's: appearance before council on Dec. 12. At that meeting, Riedlinger referred to the territorial . split “the nm versial issue of building a 150-bed facility on a four-acre site in a res- ‘idential neighborhood. east of ' Taylor Way. * This is despite two nights of hearing that have ‘already taken place. The plan has pitted seniors and their advocates against the resi- dents of the Cedardate neighbor- hood. Vancouver ' Regional District obtained an Greater ™ Hospital Council made the decision: to ‘adjourn ‘after tearning that the: 9, 1995. existing pubs jin the area ‘ively enjoy. “That’s OK for the Mafia. They divide public real estate among them- - selves, but the pub owners are not the Mafia and this type of attitude has nothing to do with free enterprise,” , said Richards. Other Lower Lonsdale residents speaking against the pub application included Joanine Gregoire, who ‘said : that adding another pub to the area “will do nothing to enhance this com-. - rounity of ours, . : “ believe our area is is already satu- rated with options for obtaining alco- hol,” said Gregoire, a drug and alco- . hol counselling service employee. But others like Randy Riddall dis- agreed. ; Riddall, a millwright by trade, stated that although’ the area’ is already home to several drinking out- lets, they all cater to a similar clien- tele. to resul extension on a Nov. 30 option to purchase the Keith Road property from the Graham family. - The option will now run out on March 15, 1995. Mayor. Mark Sager asked that . speakers ‘at’ the: January hearings yemain to a 10-minute limit and then return to the back of the list if they wish to speak again. On Coun. Allan Williams’ sug- gestion, more names for the list of : speakers will be taken in: the school foyer at'6:45 p.m, prior | to the hearing. - " Heal care cost crunch From page 4 guess everything is open to ‘question and review.” Smith said. He added that the i integration initiative was one of the ideas he ~ and Barth have hatched in trying © to come to grips with declining - funding. Smith wants a decision made on the proposal ‘for the beginning of the 1995-96 fiscal year, which begins in April. But he said the plan needs the approval of the Burnaby and ‘North Shore health boards and the provincial government, as well as input trom medical and hospital. support staff, so the decision-making process may take longer. Crist, who is also a North Vancouver District. councillor, said the integration plan runs counter to the. provincial gov- ernment’s- push: to localize healthcare services and make them more responsive to com- _ munity needs. He also questioned that ‘the impetus for integration comes from Smith and not provincial Health Minister Paul Ramsey." - Asked Crist: “Why ‘should - the hospital accept the responsi- bility that belongs to the minis- “er?” ~. The Dec..9 integration feasi- ° bility study report said integra- tion would lead to:gains other , than cost savings such as: y @ increased availability of expertise, educational programs ‘and resources; ~ @i- development and integration of “best practice,” or the bene- | fits of learning from one anoth- er "decreased costs through bulk purchasing; decreased duplications. The report also‘ cites areas that would be “possibfe losses” if integration Proceeds, includ- - ing:. unique culture and identity; @ staff involvement in decision : ‘ making; .. ; lA ability to solve problems in in a - timely manner; 8B jobs. : The’ report concludes that’ “there is sufficient evidence to suggest that this new initiative be embraced ‘and moved. for- ward steadily and expeditious. : . ly” Smith said plans to. “ merge’ clinical medical facilities are not currently being considered, but may be in the future. The integration proposal will be discussed at the board’s January meeting, said Smith.