ASH participated in a Sandy Hill Town And Gown Committee meeting on November 28, 2019 at Ottawa City Hall to review the handling of the 2019 “Panda Game”. The minutes & PDF (2019 Post Panda Community Discussion.pdf) below were provided by Councillor Fleury’s office and the photograph by an ASH member living on Russell Avenue.
Amanda Mullins: Events Central Presentation
See Annex I (attached via e-mai for full presentation
- Full cost of Ottawa Police and City services for the Panda invoiced to organizers (OSEG, University of Ottawa and Carleton) will be provided to Town and Gown
- Feedback from Town and Gown stakeholders will inform in final report, to be provided once complete to Panda Organizers and Town and Gown members.
Ottawa Police
Resource Deployment
- Double the number of officers deployed compared to 2018
- Full public order response team deployed
- Supporting officers were also mobile (bikes and motorcycles)
- Focus areas: Sandy Hill, Old Ottawa South, TD Place and Glebe
- Russell Ave and Old Ottawa South party near Carleton were key “party” locations
- OPS satisfied that they were able to manage both street parties along with traffic management issues
- OPS issued more charges this year, and more IDs were asked for. Exact numbers were not available
- Social media is used to communicate about where the “party” areas are
- OPS to follow up with specific Sandy Hill residents to move forward in resolving damage claims
By-Law Services
Resource Deployment
- Focused teams in Sandy Hill, but no overtime officers
- Individuals where people invited over 500 people to their properties are being pursued by By-Law (Part 3 summons with no set fine) – if over 500 people are present, they are required to go to the City to get a permit
Paramedics (not present at meeting)
- Additional resources assigned to both communities
Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario
- Monitoring/enforcement of licensed venues; i.e. Tailgate and TD Place
- Compliance official attended both tailgate and TD Place and were in contact with OPS, organizers and security officers on site
- Part of license agreement requires licensees to prohibit consumption of alcohol by minors (this is the same for all licensees across Ontario). How this is enforced is up to the licensee, as minors can be allowed in the licensed area, while not consuming. Possible penalties or conditions on future licenses can be place should minors be found consuming
- It is good practice to have ID verification requirements such as bracelets or other similar identification once and individual enters the licensed venue
- AGCO compliance officers can ask for IDs of participant, usually with licensee present. If minors are found, they can be removed from the premises. If many violations are seen, AGCO can place conditions on future permits (i.e. No minors even allowed inside the licensed venue)
uOttawa
- Final costs associated with Paid Duty Officers (also shared with Carleton and OSEG) to be provided to Town and Gown
- Numerous Staff on the ground (at tailgate and Russell Avenue to encourage student to go to the tailgate)
- Observations form Staff on the ground was that large crowds needed to be dispersed earlier in the morning so that large crowds could not congregate
Residents
See Annex II for written feedback
- Positive to have volunteers walking through Russell Avenue directing students to go to the tailgate
- Discussion of how the tailgate could become a successful event in future years that could alleviate individuals congregating on Russell Ave.
- If people are on private property and are not tenants (and property has agent status) why are police not removing these individuals?
- What other supports exists to residents/landlords/homeowners experiencing these issues?
- Discussion of cancelling future Panda Games – issues arise about how these unsanctioned street parties will continue, but that these individuals would not have a destination to go to afterwards (Queens and Waterloo are seeing this go up to 30 000 people escalating over several years)
- Suggestion of selling alcohol at the tailgate to attract more people
- Examples of landlords using best practices and setting out rules with their tenants to prevent disruptive behaviour in the community. Is there a way to ensure that other landlords are doing the same?
University of Ottawa Student Union
- Early planning is needed to build success of the tailgate event. Planning will start over the summer to make meaningful improvements
- Promotion and benefits to attending a sanctioned event will be increased (DJ, free food, concert, etc.)
- Panda Game and sanctioned tailgate party to be packaged together to increase appeal to students purchasing tickets
- As the tailgate becomes a more “legitimate” event, students will be incentivised (drinking or not) so that all want to attend
- Tailgate hours to be extended so that people without Panda Game tickets still have a sanctioned place to be in the community
- Discussion of broadcasting the Panda Game at the tailgate
Councillor Fleury
- Community not supported by Ottawa Police by allowing the illegal event to build up along Russell
- Too much OPS enforcement focus at the licensed tailgate event
- Consider the opportunities and risks of sanctioning a licensed tailgate event along Russell
- Strategy needs to be developed for those who come to the zone to party for Panda and have no intentions to go to the game
- Changing Panda Game to Friday night
Key Unresolved Issues
- Russell Avenue street party not to be legitimized.
- Russell Avenue street party is legitimized when there are barriers to accessing and participating in the tailgate
- Residents/landlords/homeowners are not supported when unknown individuals are found on (or damaging) their property
- No recourse or responsible party identified for property owners reporting damage to OPS after the fact