Working group to make recommendations Steven Pelton Contributing Writer WHAT is more important: a good night’s sleep or an economically suc- cessful city? That's what North Vancouver City council wants to find out. City residents may or may not be able to go for a bite to gat after a late movie pending what new regulations council sets regarding business hours of operation. Recent complaints. from: city residents about noise, graffiti, vandalism and other nui- sances have torced the city to review its leg- islative authority in terms of limiting business hours. Last week the city held a public session to - provide background information on the issue of late night business hours. At the meeting, administrative manager of development ser- vices for the city, Lisa Zwarn, said that the city is “looking’ for the best way to balance the needs of residents, businesses and patrons.” About 30 people arrended Tuesday night's Meeting to fill out a questionnaire and talk with city staff. Industry representatives and members of the public were in attendance. Zwarn wants to get people thinking about the issue and hopes to have recommendations ready to take forward to council by October. A late night business is defined by the city as premises open 24 hours or those which close benveen midnight and 6 a.m. Businesses which may be affected by new regulations include convenience stores, gas- stations, restaurants and pubs. Zwarn said that wo months ago a petition reached council from concerned residents. Redevelopment has created an environment in which apartments and condominiums are in close proximity with commercial areas, and residents are bothered by late night discur- banees. As a response to the petition, the city is : creating a working group involviag members of the public, business community and city ‘staff. The working group will consider ways of regulating bate night businesses and present reconimendations to council. Ultimately, bylaw amendments will be drafted by the working group. Businesses believe that there is a viable ecu- “nomic market for late night operations and Preparing argue thar they are legally entitled co operate. Business representatives sav thac they enhance the ambience of the neighbourhoouw and pro- vide emplovment. Brad Williams, who has been ® anaging Sailor Hagar’s Brew Pub tor 14 vear-, argues that late night businesses are an asset to the community. “We are trying to keep people on the Nerth Shore instead of venturing down- town,” he said. Williams stated that he has never had any problems with drunk and disorderly conduct after hours. “There have been absolutely po instances of late night rowdiness,” he said. According to Wilkars, the last Sailor Hagar’s customers feave by 12:50 am. which is cartier than he is permitted to stay open under his liquor licence. “You could say that this is a move to be sensitive to the community's con- cerns,” he said. Some residents argue that noises from late night businesses interrupt sleep and increase the potential for crime. They have noticed an increase in garbage and drug paraphernalia. City resident Lynn Mann believes that new regulations should be adopted to create a qui- eter environment at night. “lL certainly don't agree with blanket curfews, but something has to be done to stem the tide of late night hooli- gans,” she said. Vice-president of A&W Paul Hollands adraits that there have been some problems with noisy patrons at his 24-hour drive- through. “The franchise operator is working with neighbours and aggressive initiatives, include refusing to serve problem clients,” he said. Hollands argues chat many shift workers, including taxi drivers and police officers, need food services 24 hours of the dav. The Municiral Act gives the city authority to regulate any category af business within the city, however provincial jurisdiction such. as liquor ficensing complicates the city’s ability to enforce its own regulations. Zwarn said that the city is “looking for creative solutions.” Other municipalities which do not regulate business hours inchide North Vancouver District, Burnaby and White Rock. West Vancouver currently regulates business hours for retail stores. If you would like to be a part of the city's working group on this issue or would like -more information, you can cantace Lisa : me, . 990-4240 or — ¢-mail LOWER Lonsdale’s Sailor Hagar's Brew Pub manager Grad Williams says there has |:een no late-night rowdiness at his pub. Zwarn at . for the big one ~. Jan-Christian Sorensen “1. News Reporter porensen@nsnews.com BAND together. Expect the unexpected. Be pre- pared. - =... That?s what the North and West Vancouver Emergency “Program (NWVEP) has been teaching North Shore commu- ities sirice its inception in “51978. : ‘! Based on. similar programs - in operation in California, the North Shore — incarnation . teaches essential. preparedness “+ and safety for both neighbour- : hoods and individuals. While =; « NWVEP ‘instructors focus on “earthquake preparedness, its ‘courses: also ‘prepare North Shore residents for explosions, floods and freak winter storms. “You just have to accept at | some point that (disasters) are ‘going to happen and then do ° the things that you can do to have some control over your “situation,” said Laurie Bean, NWVEP acting program coor- dinator. “You can’t stick your head in the sand and not think about it.” The personal preparedness + program is delivered in three ~" See more page 4 Wednesday. August 23, 2000 — North Share News ~- 3 ness hours NEWS photo Julie lverson Murder victim said to be on LS| From page \ The accused was 15. Her girlfriend was older, bur didn’t have a driver's licence. “We were going to drive bur the insurance on the car was for a month,” she testified. Steudle went to Vancouver to buy 100 hits of LSD for an acquaintance. The accused teen testified that the three of them went down to Granville and Davie to buy the “100 toc” of LSD. The price was $3G0 and Steudle did not have enough money. She testified that they bought “five hits or so.” Steudle had never taken LSD before. He took three hits of the drug. The girls each took one hit, she tes- tified. The accused teen testified that Steudle “needed a ride” to the ferry. She testified that Steudle drove until he was too high to drive. He went into the back seat and the accused’s girlfriend drove. The accused teen testitied that Steudle was hav- ing a bad trip and “started to freak out a little bit.” “He yelled... He was not very comfortable... He was really high,” she testified. : “He put his arms around ---- (hee girlfriend) and the seat and said, ‘I’m going to f*** you.’ He yelled it,” she testified. She testified Steudle repeatedly made the com- ment that he wished to have sex with her partner. The accused teen testified chat Steudle was kicked out of the car and the two young women drove away. A short time later, sbe noticed Steudfe’s pot and money in the back seat and returned to the ferry terminal. “I figured a deal is a deal. We both did,” she tes- tified. ; She said the two of them looked for Steudle for - about an hour and then gave up. - The next day they drove until the car broke down near Chase. The young women, both street kids, eventually ended up in the Victoria area, squat- ting in parks, living in abandoned buildings and pan handling. “a . When asked about her confession to undercover police concerning grabbing and pushing Steudle to his death off the bridge, she testified that she told the officers “what they wanted to hear.” Justice Robert Edwards earlier imposed a publi- cation ban relating to. most evidence from: the undercover police investigauon. Forensic psychologist Robert Ley testified for the defence's case. . Ley said the accused teenager nad an opposition- al personality, mistrusted people, was domineering and moody, had difficulties tolerating frustration, could be hostile and was a chronic liar. He diagnosed her with a borderline personality disorder. The psychologist agreed with a probation offi- cer’s report about the accused teen in which her family life was described as “horrendous.” The accused teen was born at Masset in the Queen Charlotte Islands and was the oldest of nine children, all of whom were apprehended and put in the care of the Ministry for Children and Families. - The accused teen’s mother, a native person, was an alcoholic and violent. Her father, a Caucasian, was-an alcoholic uatil his first child was born, a chronic marijuana user and had a “criminal history.” .. The parents separated when the accused teen was 10. She had been in 15 to 20 foster homes between age 12 and 15, according to the psychologist. “What we see is a person, a child who has had an . extensive degree of neglect and abuse,” testified ” Ley. “The accused girl had a “significant” problem with drugs including alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and heroin. She did not use intrayenous needles to take drugs. She had “self mutilation” scars on her arms. Ley said the accused girl was “impulsive, volatile and easily angered.” He predicted she would make fran-""- tic efforts to avoid abandonment or rejection. “She will do virtually anything to avoid that’ experience,” he tesiified. Since her arrest about 18 months ago, she has been in youth jail. Her parents have not visited her. She has briefly spoken to her father a few times on’ the phone. ; oe. Prosecuting Crown lawyer. Trevor Cockfield opened his cross examination of the accused girl by saving, “Ms ------, you want this court to believe that you are a really good Jiar.” She replied, “Yes and no.” “You lie when it suits you,” said Cocktield- “I lied (to the under cover police) because I was scared,” she testified. LS The Crown lawyer stated that the accused girl liked it when her lies got her what she wanted. “Correct,” she replied. ; i ae Cockfield asked her to describe the rest of the car trip from Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay with Steudle. “Quiet and intense,” she replied more than once, soe ‘ The prosecuting Crown lawyer asked: about details involving how Steudle ended up in the back seat. - - Loe “} don’t remember. I was stoned,” she testified. Cockfield pointed out that she had several ver- sions of events near the bridge during the under-. cover investigation. : At one point she testified, “It doesn’t matter: what I say, you are the same as alJ the cops. You don’t believe me so could you put your question ©’ another way.” Among the statements to undercover police, the accused teen stated she was mad at Steudie for mak- : ing, a pass at her partner, walked with him to the top of the hill where the bridge was.: The two were in an. altercation. She grabbed him and pushed him off. :~ The accused girl’s partner was not called to tes- tify for either side in the trial. Steudle’s mother Deborah Nash has attended the trial. 0: The jury is expected to start deliberations this: week.“ Poe . _ MT ae he hte 4