CITY AGREES TO PUT LEASH ON ACTS LIKE SNOOP DOG

Snoop Dogg may have to sit up and beg if he ever wants to perform in
Lethbridge again. And the city will only throw him a bone if he
promises to behave.

The same goes for any rock, rap or hip hop group booked to perform at
the Enmax Centre.

City council unanimously accepted a resolution Monday aimed at
ensuring bands don't break any laws - or encourage others to - while
they perform in Lethbridge.

"This is a pro-active measure," Ald. Rajko Dodic told council.

The resolution is council's response to a Snoop Dogg concert in
January during which he and other rap artists smoked marijuana and
encouraged the audience to do the same, which many did.

"With flagrant disregard for city smoking bylaws and drug laws, a
couple of thousand avid fans were encouraged to light up and get high
by the hip hop acts . . ." stated a Lethbridge Herald story following
the concert by Snoop Dogg, Belly, and the Dogg Pound.

Enmax and city officials, including Mayor Bob Tarleck, received
numerous complaints in the days that followed the concert. It led
council during a subsequent meeting to direct administration to come
up with a plan to prevent such behaviour during concerts.

Council approved the plan, which comprises four conditions, including
one that requires artists with a bad rap to post a performance bond
before they're allowed to return.

"They won't get it back if they don't live up to conditions," Tarleck
said after the meeting.

He added if artists don't like the conditions, they simply won't be
allowed to perform in the city.

Tarleck told council the city isn't attempting to "take the life out
of Lethbridge" when it comes to concerts, and he said he particularly
wants youth to enjoy them, but there must be restrictions.

"When people are in our house, follow our rules."

He said rock bands may flaunt the rules in other cities but they won't
be allowed to in Lethbridge.

In addition to the performance bond, Enmax officials must contact
Lethbridge regional police before a band is booked to discuss any
concerns police may have. Enmax management must also research the
background of artists to learn of any potential problems which may
have occurred at other venues. If concerns are identified, the
promoter and management must resolve the concerns before the concert
or the event will not be allowed.