PIZZA JOINT ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN DESPITE DRUG BUST

An Edmonton pizza parlour that was the site of a drug bust in 2008 has
been allowed to stay open as long as it complies with certain
conditions, a city hall committee ruled on Tuesday.

Police found drugs at Zocca's Pizzeria on Castle Downs Road in June
2008, prompting the eventual cancellation of the restaurant's business
licence and the suspension of its liquor licence.

Seven people, including the owner, were charged with offences
including drug trafficking, possession and production.

The city's chief licensing officer determined Zocca's was "being used
as an integral part of a drug distribution operation," lawyer Simon
Renouf told a quasi-judicial committee meeting at City Hall.

But when prosecutors decided not to go forward with drug charges, the
city's public safety compliance team dropped its recommendation that
Zocca's business licence be revoked. Instead, the team and a lawyer
representing Zocca's put forward a joint submission that the
restaurant's licence be renewed with conditions in place.

Adam Karbani, who represents Zocca's owner, said the restaurant owner
is committed to working with the public safety compliance team. The
team is comprised of representatives from police, the fire department,
the city, and the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. The team works
with licensed establishments to address safety issues.

The committee ruled Zocca's may stay open with conditions, namely that
the business licence be reviewed in six months, that staff go through
liquor serving training, that staff work with the public safety
compliance team to prepare a training manual and that a ban on certain
patrons be kept in place until 2010.

The Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission has imposed similar
conditions in order for Zocca's liquor licence to be reinstated.