A proposal for a pilot program allowing drinking in five Richmond parks was voted down on Monday by the majority of city council.
But the item is expected to be back on city council’s agenda next week.
At Monday’s committee meeting, two city councillors, Bill McNulty and Chak Au, spoke adamantly against drinking in parks, while some others wanted to limit the program.
City staff, directed by city council, had proposed allowing alcohol consumption in Garry Point Park, Minoru Park — in the Minoru Lakes area — Aberdeen Park, King George/Cambie Community Park and McLean Neighbourhood Park.
McNulty said he hasn’t had anyone approaching him asking for alcohol to be consumed in parks, while Coun. Kash Heed, who initiated the idea, said drinking is already happening in parks.
At the meeting, Richmond’s medical health officer, Dr. Meena Dawar, disccouraged city council from going ahead with pilot, saying it would further normalize alcohol consumption, especially among youth and children.
It was recommended there be a 10-metre buffer between designated drinking areas and areas where youth and children normally congegrate such as ball diamonds, playgrounds and spray parks to “minimize the risk of adverse role-modelling.”
The province allowed municipalities, starting in June 2021, to allow drinking in parks. Several Lower Mainland cities such as Vancouver, New Westminster and North Vancouver, changed their bylaws to allow some drinking in parks.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie told city council he’s spoken to some mayors in the Lower Mainland on the topic and there have been no issues.
“They relate they have had no problems with it — none,” Brodie said.
However, he said he didn’t want Garry Point Park and Minoru Park to be included in the pilot program. Amendments to take out these two parks, however, failed, and, in the end, the majority voted against the pilot project.
Voting against the motion were Brodie, as well as Couns. McNulty, Au, Andy Hobbs and Michael Wolfe.
The pilot would have run from July to September.
