City of St. John's report calls for George Street bars to close earlier
Moving taxi stands, food vendors off strip proposed in council recommendation
St. John's city council will consider changes to George Street at its next meeting, including closing bars earlier and restricting cabs and mobile vendors to other sections of the downtown area.
Formed in 2014, the mayor's advisory committee on crime prevention was created in response to increasing crime in the city.
While the report released Friday discusses everything from hosting a neighbourhood forum to creating awareness campaigns, the bigger proposed changes target George Street.
"What's happening is that sometimes when the bars close people congregate in that area and things happen that shouldn't," said Art Puddister, council representative on the committee.
Puddister is alluding to fights, drinking on the street and drug use. All of which escalates, the committee suggests, when crowds spill from bars onto the famous downtown strip.
Closing bars earlier than the current 3 a.m. last call is one of the recommendations.
"Probably around 1 a.m., in line with what took place 15 years ago," Puddister said.
Even if city council is in agreement with the recommendations, the provincial government would have to amend legislation that would force bars to close earlier.
The George Street Association is in agreement with the report — even if it means shutting down earlier in the night.
"As long as it's consistent and uniformly invoked," said Seamus O'Keefe, executive director of the association.
"We don't want to create an unfair competitive advantage against our bar owners just because of our location on George Street."
In order to shuffle bar-goers off the street quicker, the committee wants to block off George Street between Queen and Adelaide streets, beginning at 10 p.m. The rule applies to taxis, as well.
It's suggesting a taxi queue on Water Street to transport westbound travellers, and another on New Gower Street heading in the opposite direction.
The report also suggests moving food vendors off George Street and into a well-lit location.
Councillors will vote on the recommendations at Monday's council meeting.