Downtown Toronto councillors want a provincial review of Muzik’s liquor licence, with several calling for a temporary or permanent shutdown of the controversial nightclub at city-owned Exhibition Place.

Toronto-East York Community Council voted 8-0 Monday to recommend that council ask the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario for a public hearing on whether to “suspend or revoke” the club’s licence.

The nine-year-old club has hosted many high-profile events but has a history of violence including the Aug. 4 gun slayings of Duvel Hibbert, 23, and 26-year-old Ariela Navarro-Fenoy.

It also has, since 2013, been cited by the AGCO for infractions including narcotic use on the premises and permitting disorderly behaviour.

“It’s time for Toronto City Council to say to Muzik nightclub: ‘Enough is enough — you are not operating in the public interest,’” Councillor Gord Perks said. “We are going to demand that the (commission) pay attention to what the legislation says ... that they will suspend or revoke licences where they are not in the public interest.”

He and others accuse Muzik of using event sponsorships, including Police Chief Mark Saunders’ Nov. 5 gala, and political and lobbyist connections, to curry favour.

Don Kelcher, whose south Parkdale home is close to Muzik, urged committee members to ask for the hearing. He said he and his neighbours are sick of deafening noise, rowdy behaviour and violence.

Michael Binetti, a lawyer representing Muzik, failed to convince councillors that a public hearing is unwarranted.

The AGCO has already imposed new conditions, including installation of new security cameras, he said. The club is set to reopen Saturday with metal detectors at the door.

The licence discussion was considered by the commission, which “decided to impose addition conditions on the licence which Muzik is respecting,” Binetti said. “It’s their role.”

At its Sept. 30 meeting, city council is to consider the community council’s request, along with the Exhibition Place board’s recommendation that Muzik get a 10-year lease extension to 2034 without the usual tendering process.

Muzik owner Zlatko Starkovski told the Exhibition Place board: “Considering we have had almost 2 million people in there, and those little charges over 10 years, it’s an actual immaculate record in reality.”

At that meeting, Binetti called the Toronto-East York motion a “back door” attempt to close the club.

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As well as the lease extension, the board voted to tell council it has no concerns with Muzik’s liquor licence.