MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, March 12^th, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, May 14^th, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

3.

neighbourhood services home safe program
(Report:  Apr. 3/02, File No.:  0103-40-CV1B1) (REDMS No. 678715)

The Manager, Policy & Research, Lauren Melville, accompanied by Manager, Human Resources, Gail Tremeer and Area Coordinator Denise Tambellini, briefly reviewed the report, and material circulated, with the Committee.  (A copy of the material circulated is on file in the City Clerks Office.)

Gail Tremeer and Denise Tambellini then reviewed the process undertaken to prepare the program, which would (i) connect staff with the community, (ii) provide a pro-active approach to service delivery, and (iii) help to build a more attractive and safer neighbourhood.  They noted that many departments had been involved in the preparation of the program which comprised five categories which would be offered initially:  Emergency Preparedness; Home Safe; Fire Safety; Youth Safety and Building Safety, and these categories were each reviewed.

Also reviewed by staff was the manner in which the program would be introduced to the first neighbourhood chosen as a pilot site, which involved on‑duty Fire and Police officers and City staff introducing themselves to residents to advertise and promote the first community meeting to be held.  A fire truck and/or police car could be in attendance as an enticement to draw people from their homes; boards would be displayed to promote a menu of services and would provide opportunities for people to interact with each other.  As well, a City staff member would be in attendance to act as a facilitator between the City and the local neighbourhood on issues which arose which were not on the menu of services.  Advice was given that following the conclusion of the meeting, an evaluation and debriefing process would be initiated and adaptations made before the program was submitted to the next pilot area. 

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed program, during which the following information and comments were provided:

the program would be presented to each of the three selected neighbourhoods on the basis of one area every three to four weeks

a press release should be announced prior to people entering a selected neighbourhood, otherwise residents may be reluctant to attend the community meeting; as well, notices could be sent home with students

a neighbourhood would comprise the residents of approximately 20 homes; the actual attendance numbers of residents who attended the community meeting would be reported to the Committee at a future meeting

staff had endeavoured to organize the Home Safe Program in such a way that it would not impact on other organized programs such as Blockwatch; staff would be informing area residents about Blockwatch as part of the Home Safe Program but would not organize the Blockwatch program in the neighbourhood

the issue of the Building Safety component and whether residents would be concerned that the program might be seen a ploy to get inspectors into homes to look for building violations should be addressed

the Home Safe Program offered an opportunity for auxiliary police officers to be involved

with respect to the Fire Safety component, on-duty fire crews would be delivering the program and would be instructed in what to do if that program was selected

Community Safety Division staff would be working with staff in the Building Department on the selection of an appropriate time to attend community meetings

the Home Safe program would function within existing budgets.

During the discussion staff were asked to provide information on all costs relating to the initiation of the pilot project, including (i) preparation of the material to be circulated as part of the Home Safe Program, and (ii) the provision of staff resources to the community meetings, as it was felt that these costs required analysis. 

Also during the discussion, staff were congratulated on the preparation of an excellent program.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 3^rd, 2002, from the Manager, Policy & Research), regarding Neighbourhood Services Home Safe Program, be received for information.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

4.

FCM MUNICIPAL DRUG STRATEGY UPDATE
(Report:  Mar. 25/02, File No.:   3000-09) (REDMS No. 670881)

The Manager, Divisional Programs, Shawn Issel, accompanied by Corporal Davis Wendell, indicated that they were available to answer any questions which the Committee might have.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on:

the proposal to hire a graduate student in the appropriate area of study

funding of the project

the previous needs assessment study

the changes currently being made in the provision of health care

the proposed Terms of Reference, and specifically to the line which indicated that the meetings would be at the call of the staff liaison the suggestion was made that this be amended to read at the request of the Chair of the Task Force

whether the City had a responsibility to be involved in the project

whether any consideration would be given to the 19 goals proposed by the previous task force.

It was moved and seconded

( 1 )

That the implementation plan for a Richmond Substance Abuse Strategy be approved, and

( 2 )

That the Terms of Reference for the Richmond Substance Abuse Task Force (attached to the report dated March 25^th, 2002, from the Manager, Divisional Programs), be approved, and

( 3 )

That $15,000 in funding associated with the Implementation Plan, be approved (as specified in the report dated March 25^th, 2002, from the Manager, Divisional Programs).

CARRIED

5.

DIVISION QUARTERLY REPORT

The Project Lead, Emergency Program, Tara Simpson, accompanied by Fire Chief Jim Hancock. Deputy Chief Dave Scorgie, and Chief Fire Prevention Officer Rick Stene, and Supt. Ward Clapham, OIC, Richmond Detachment of the RCMP, reviewed their respective components of the Division Quarterly Report, and responded to questions on specific issues.  A copy of the report is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.

It was moved and seconded

That the Division Quarterly report presented to the Community Safety Committee at its April 9^th, 2002 meeting, be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISIONAL PLAN PHASE II
(Report:  Mar. 25/02, File No.:  0100-20-C5PA1-01) (REDMS No. 670865)

Ms. Issel reviewed Phase II of the Community Safety Division Plan with the Committee.  A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is attached as Schedule B and forms part of these minutes.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on:

the manner in which the questions were prepared and distributed

the rationale for including only one Cantonese youth group

the lack of applications received for appointment to the Advisory Task Force and whether the staff should continue with the development of the strategy

whether the task force would be used to forward the information obtained from the focus sessions to specific groups.

Reference was made during the discussion to the lack of response from specific organizations, and the suggestion was made that these groups should be reminded about the need to submit names for representation on the task force.

It was moved and seconded

That the option recommended by staff (in the report dated March 25^th, 2002, from the Manager, Divisional Programs) regarding the formation of a Community Safety Division Plan Advisory Task Force, be approved.

CARRIED

7.

AUXILIARY POLICING
(Report:  Apr. 2/02, File No.:  5350-01) (REDMS No. 677007)

Supt. Ward Clapham reviewed his report with the Committee, during which he commented that the use of auxiliary police officers as part of the Home Safe Program was an excellent idea.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on:

how the uniforms worn by auxiliary police officers would be marked to indicate to the public that these men were auxiliary police officers and therefore, unarmed

the proposed use of reserve police officers to replace regular police officers who were absent from duty for vacation, maternity or paternity leave, etc.

how interested individuals would apply to become auxiliary police officers

the duties which would be performed by auxiliary police officers and whether any of these duties could result in the officers being placed in hostile situations

the purchase by the City of weapons for Richmond's auxiliary police officers a number of years ago and the need to recognize that contribution

the appropriateness of having the Deputy Commissioner and Commanding Officer of the RCMP E Division provide information to the Committee in the future on the use of reservists to temporarily replace regular duty RCMP officers.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 2^nd, 2002, from the Officer in Charge, Richmond Detachment of the RCMP), regarding the Disarming of Auxiliary Constables, be received for information.

CARRIED

8.

APPLICATION FOR SOIL CONSERVATION PERMIT (SOIL PLACEMENT) JANI AND ERIC KARLS, 12831 NO. 4 ROAD
(Report:  Mar. 7/02, File No.:  8350-01) (REDMS No. 654292)

It was moved and seconded

That the issuance of a Soil Conservation Permit to Jani and Eric Karls for the placement of approximately 1,000 cubic metres of fill at 12831 No. 4 Road, be authorized.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

9.

AWARD OF CONTRACT T.1532 RICHMOND RCMP PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING RENOVATIONS
(Report:  Mar. 25/02, File No.:  0775-20-T.1532) (REDMS No. 666113)

The Manager, Facilities Planning & Construction David Naysmith, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee and responded to questions on the following matters:

the rationale for the significant difference in amounts between the lowest and second lowest tenderers, and whether Canarc Construction had the expertise to successfully complete the work

the rationale for proceeding with the renovations to the RCMP public safety building at this time when consideration is being given to replacement of community safety buildings in the future.

It was moved and seconded

That the City enter into a contract with Canarc Construction in accordance with Tender T.1532 for the Richmond RCMP Public Safety Building renovations, for the tendered amount of $308,576 including GST.

CARRIED

10.

MANAGERS REPORT

(a)

Cpl. Wendell provided information on the recent International Conference on Community Policing, reporting that 14 delegates from South American countries attended workshops on Richmond's model for community policing.

(b)

Reference was made to the status of negotiations regarding the YVR contract, and information was provided by the General Manager, Community Safety, Chuck Gale, on this matter, during which he reported that YVR was being charged for the City's actual cost of delivering services to the airport.  A brief discussion ensued, during which the suggestion was made that City Council should meet the Board of YVR on this and other matters.  

(c)

Reference was made to the an increase in the number of break-ins in the area of Jacombs Road and Cambie Road, in the industrial park.  Supt. Clapham commented on the increase in crime in this area, and provided information on steps which were being taken by the detachment to address the situation.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:02 p.m.).

CARRIED

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, April 7^th, 2002.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant