Community Safety Committee Meeting Minutes - February 12, 2002
Community Safety Committee
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Date: |
Tuesday, February 12th, 2002 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair |
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Also Present: |
Councillor Lyn Greenhill |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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MINUTES |
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1. |
It was moved and seconded |
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That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, January 15th, 2002, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE |
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2. |
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 12th, 2002, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room. |
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COUNCILLOR LINDA BARNES |
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3. |
RICHMOND FCM MUNICIPAL DRUG STRATEGY UPDATE |
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The Chair referred to her report on the FCM Municipal Drug Strategy and stated that she was prepared to answer any questions which the Committee might have. |
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The FCM Municipal drug strategy was then discussed, during which concern was expressed about the lack of community representatives on the Staff Working Group, and about the possibility that the community would be expected to follow an action plan prepared and developed by the working group without being permitted to have any input. Reference was made to the proposed new external committee, and the Chair advised that community involvement would comprise part of that committee. She noted however, that as yet, a decision had not yet been made on what form that that involvement would take. Cllr. Barnes added that the Staff Working Group would be examining this matter further at its February 19th, 2002 meeting. |
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Corporal Davis Wendell, of the Richmond Detachment of the RCMP and a member of the Staff Working Group, spoke further on the matter, stressing that whatever model was chosen, the working group intended to incorporate as many stakeholders as possible, including the community at large, into the external committee. |
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Councillor Greenhill, in referring to the proposed external committee, stated that she was of belief that the model would have the same structure as the former Mayors Task Force on Crime and Drugs. She indicated her support for this particular form, stating that the model being proposed by the FCM required an external stakeholder group. Discussion then ensued on this matter, during which the Chair stated that she believed that the task force model was the one being considered, however, she added that the model chosen would be focussed and would have a start and end date. Support was offered for the task force model which had been created for the former Mayors Task Force on Crime and Drugs, however, the comment was made that other agencies should be included in the process as quickly as possible, otherwise these agencies could feel that the strategy was being imposed on them. |
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Discussion continued, during which the Chair provided information to the Committee, and responded to questions on, the role and mandate of (i) the City, which was to act as a facilitator to bring other agencies, such as RADAT and other service deliverers, together, and would not provide services, other than those within the mandate, (ii) the FCM, and (iii) the Lower Mainland Municipal Association. Cllr. Barnes indicated that the goal of the working group was to avoid a duplication of services and to identify groups at the local level and then determine what could be delivered to the community in a reasonable and affordable manner. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the report (dated January 29th, 2002, from Councillor Linda Barnes), regarding an Update on the Richmond FCM Municipal Drug Strategy, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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4. |
AUXILIARY POLICING |
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Corporal Steve Goss, of the Richmond Detachment of the RCMP, advised that he was responsible for the community police stations in Steveston and South Arm. He then provided Committee members with copies of the "Auxiliary/Reserve Constable Program Provincial Policy", a copy of which is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes. |
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Discussion then ensued among Committee members and Cpl. Goss, during which he provided the following information: |
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the uniforms for auxiliary police officers would be identified through the blue bands on their hats; jackets and bullet-proof vests would have the word "Auxiliary" on the back; as well, the uniforms would have the appropriate shoulder patches |
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with regard to the ride-a-long program, auxiliary police officers would only participate as identified in the policy and would not be participating for enforcement purposes |
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funding for the program had previously been approved by Council |
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applicants would be between the ages of 19 and 55, and would undergo an extensive and thorough background check (3 to 4 month process) before being accepted |
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the supervisor would be responsible for ensuring that the policy guidelines relating to the auxiliary members were being adhered to and that they were only participating in crime prevention programs. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the RCMP incrementally re-initiate the Auxiliary Constable Program. |
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(2) |
That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to sign an agreement with the Provincial government to give effect to this program. |
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The question on the motion was not called, as the following amendment was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the following be added as Part (3), That a letter be written to the Ministry of Attorney General, requesting that the original Auxiliary Constable Program, which would allow auxiliary police officers to carry weapons, be re-instated. |
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The question on the motion was not called, as concern was expressed by the new members of the Committee about approving the motion without being aware of the history of the matter. |
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As a result of the discussion, the motion was WITHDRAWN. |
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The question on the main motion was then called, and it was CARRIED. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That staff prepare a report for submission to the Community Safety Committee on the history of the Auxiliary Policing Program in Richmond with respect to auxiliary officers being permitted to carry weapons; and the decision of the Provincial Government to de-arm them; and that staff include in that report, the position of the RCMP on whether auxiliary constables should be allowed to carry weapons. |
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CARRIED |
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At this point in the meeting, it was agreed that the Chief Administrative Officer, George Duncan would report to the Committee on the status of City's relationship with E-Comm. |
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Mr. Duncan provided an update to the Committee on meetings which he had had with the Solicitor Generals Department on the problems which Richmond was experiencing with the E-Comm operation. He advised that a meeting of the E-Comm Board of Directors would be held on February 27th, 2002, to address Richmond's concerns, and that he would provide a further update after that time. |
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A brief discussion then ensued among Committee members and Mr. Duncan on E-Comm. |
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5. |
presentation thermal imaging cameras |
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Chief Training Officer Dave Anderson, accompanied by Deputy Chief Wayne Stevens, gave a short demonstration on the two thermal imaging cameras recently acquired by the Fire Department. As well, information on What Thermal Imaging Is, Application and Benefits, was circulated to the Committee, and a copy is attached as Schedule B and forms part of these minutes. |
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A brief discussion ensued, during which, in response to questions, the following information was provided: |
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the larger camera cost $23,000, and the smaller of the two was $15,000 |
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the goal of the Department was to equip each fire truck with a small camera (for a total of nine cameras) and to install a large camera on each of the two rescue trucks |
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additional funds had been requested to allow the purchase of two small cameras. |
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6. |
DIVISIONAL QUARTERLY REPORT |
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Ms. Wendy Mah, Project Lead, Emergency Program, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the GIS system and the information which City staff could obtain from this system to deal with an emergency situation. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is attached as Schedule C and forms part of these minutes. |
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(Cllr. McNulty left the meeting at 5:10 p.m., and did not return.) |
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During the presentation, Ms. Mah responded to questions regarding the type of information being included in the system and whether any information had been included on the fuel barges located in Steveston Harbour. Ms. Mah also provided information on the volunteers who had been trained to provide information to the community at local neighbourhood meetings. |
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During the discussion which took place, Fire Chief Jim Hancock also spoke on (i) the information which should be included in the system, (ii) the input process, (iii) the advantages which the system would give to fire fighters who were responding to emergency situations; (iv) the feasibility in the future of allowing residents with disabilities or other special needs to provide the Fire Department with current information as to their status through the Internet. The suggestion was made that the Independent Living Centre would also be a good resource for this information. |
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7. |
MANAGERS REPORT |
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The Manager, Communication & Public Affairs, Ted Townsend, commented briefly on the recent media tour to the City's existing fire halls, and advised that the Fire Chief would be the guest of the Mayor at his upcoming monthly television program on Shaw Cable, and that discussion would focus on the status of the community safety buildings. |
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Mr. Townsend, in response to questions with regard to the delivery of contaminated soils to Richmond, advised that staff were still reviewing the situation. He noted that the Federal Government was presently examining its regulations on the import and export of contaminated soils, but added that the regulations dealt more with procedures to be followed. |
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A brief discussion ensued, during which information was provided by Cllr. Steves on legislation in Ontario which if passed, would prohibit the movement of contaminated soil between provinces and countries. Advice was also given that staff would be reporting to Committee on this issue. |
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Prior to the adjournment of the meeting, the Chair thanked staff for their excellent presentations, indicating that it was important for Council to see the people who were in the field doing the work. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (5:26 p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, February 12th, 2002. |
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_________________________________ |
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Councillor Linda Barnes |
Fran J. Ashton |