REDLANDS VOTE COULD START ACTION TO END RAVE PARTIES

REDLANDS - With a single vote Tuesday, the Planning Commission could
make a lot of trouble for anyone trying to throw rave parties at
Pharaoh's Theme and Water Park.

The commission is scheduled to make a final vote on the revocation of
Pharaoh's conditional use permit (CUP) in a public hearing Tuesday.
The commission started the public hearing May 26 after the City
Council instructed city staff to prepare documents to revoke the CUP.
The council acted because the defunct theme park has been home to a
series of all-night dance parties.

"I think that we need to look to the safety of our children as well
as the citizens of the city of Redlands," said Councilman Mick
Gallagher said April 10.

Though City Council members and Police Chief Jim Bueermann have
spoken publicly against the raves at Pharaoh's, the Planning
Commission will not delve into discussions of the morality of the
all-night dance parties at the park.

"The purview of this body extends only to land use issues," said
Planning Commission Chairman Paul Foster. " not the wide range of
other issues that may accompany this matter in the public venue."

City staff compiled a list of 30 reasons the Planning Commission
should revoke the CUP. Aladdin Entertainment Group, LLC, owned by
James and Art Braswell of Yucaipa, is the true holder of the CUP,
according to Redlands city spokesman Carl Baker.

The list includes the accusation that park activities have ceased and
its go-karts, water slides, arcade games and other attractions have
been abandoned. The park is also no longer used for its conditionally
permitted use, according to the report. The list also accuses the
off-site parking - along the streets outside the park - caused by the
all-night raves is a violation of the CUP. The list also states that
allowing guests into the park who are under the influence of illegal
drugs or alcohol is a violation of the CUP.

During an April 18 rave, police made 40 drug-related arrests - the
most of any Pharaoh's dance event. Police arrested 31 people for
drugs during a March 16 rave. At the most recent rave June 13, police
arrested four people for drugs.

If the Planning Commission revokes the CUP, that will not be the end
of the line for Pharaoh's. Aryana could appeal the revocation to the
City Council. If the City Council upholds the Planning Commission's
vote, Aryana could take the city to court - which is exactly what he
plans to do, according to his attorney, Roger Diamond.

"If we lose before the City Council, then we can challenge their
decision (in court)," Diamond said May 26. "But I'm always an optimist."

Keith Kelly, James Braswell's attorney representing Aladdin
Entertainment Group, spoke in favor of the commission's decision to
move forward with the revocation CUP.

"We are in agreement with (Community Development Department Director
Oscar) Orci's presentation," Kelly said May 26. "We don't believe
these activities are authorized or warranted at the park."

Kelly said Aladdin Entertainment Group plans to reopen Pharaoh's as
an amusement park.

Aryana and Aladdin Entertainment Group are mired in a legal battle
for ownership and possession of the park.

The Planning Commission's public hearing to revoke the park's CUP is
not the first time Pharaoh's has been through the process. The City
Council held revocation hearings for the CUP starting in late 1998
and ending in April 1999.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the
Council Chambers at City Hall, 35 Cajon Street.