MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Wednesday, August 28^th, 2002, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, November 13^th, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE ADVISORY TASK FORCE

3.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meetings of the Community Safety Committee Advisory Task Force held on:

(1)

Tuesday, June 4^th, 2002;

(2)

Wednesday, July 24^th, 2002;

(3)

Wednesday, August 21^st, 2002; and

(4)

Wednesday, September 11^th, 2002,

each be received for information.

CARRIED

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

4.

SUMAS ENERGY 2 AND BP CHERRY POINT ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES - UPDATE
(Report:  Oct. 2/02, File No.:  6125-01 ) (REDMS No. 853290)

The Assistant Manager, Environmental Programs, Margot Daykin, reviewed the report with the Committee.  During her review, Ms. Daykin advised that subsequent to the preparation of the report, the Board of the Greater Vancouver Regional District had adopted a recommendation that the Province of British Columbia seek intervenor status because the Provincial Government had been the intervenor in the initial Sumas 2 Project hearings and was experienced in the process to be followed.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the matter, during which concern was expressed about the delay in sending a response to the National Energy Board.  In response, advice was given by the General Manager, Community Safety, Chuck Gale, that the delay was a result of his concern about the complexity of the issue and the feasibility that the City could act in haste before knowing all the details of the situation, which could have resulted in embarrassment to the City.  He stated that while he understood the concerns of the Committee, it was his belief that the lack of a response did not compromise the situation at this point.

Discussion continued, during which in response to questions, advice was given that a transboundary airshed management committee had been established and was in the early stages of determining how to measure the transfer of air pollution across boundaries.  Additional advice was given that this committee was not yet considering possible policies and practices which could be initiated.

Concern was expressed and discussion ensued on (i) the cumulative impacts which could result and the need to ensure that this issue would be addressed; and (ii) why, if the Sumas Energy 2 project met Canadian standards, were Canadians concerned about pollution generated from the facility, and whether Canadian standards addressed certain specific issues.

(Cllr. Greenhill left the meeting at 4:12 p.m.)

Reference was made during the discussion to a newspaper article in the October 16^th, 2002 issue of the Vancouver Sun which dealt with this issue and the upcoming hearings.

Reference was also made to the staff recommendation which recommended that a letter be written to the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD).  The suggestion was made that in light of the recent decision of the GVRD to request the Provincial Government to apply for intervenor status, that the recommendation be amended accordingly.  As a result, the following amended motion was introduced

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a letter be written to the National Energy Board advising of:

(a)

the City of Richmond's concerns regarding the adverse impacts to air quality in the Lower Mainland as a result of the proposed Sumas Energy 2 electrical generation facility,

(b)

Councils position that the National Energy Board consider evidence of the environmental impacts of the entire Sumas Energy 2 project as opposed to only those impacts associated with the construction of a power transmission line in Canada.

(2)

That a copy of the letter to the National Energy Board be sent to the Office of the Premier, the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the City of Abbotsford.

(3)

That a letter be written to the Province of British Columbia to:

(a)

express the City of Richmond's concerns regarding the potential for adverse impacts to air quality associated with the BP Cherry Point electrical generation facility,

(b)

urge the Provincial Government to seek intervenor status for the BP Cherry Point review process to represent the City of Richmond's interests,

(c)

encourage the Provincial Government to explore options for a developing more strategic approach to strengthening transboundary airshed management in the Lower Mainland, particularly with respect to addressing cumulative impacts of existing and new facilities.

(4)

That a copy of the letter to the Provincial Government be sent to the federal Ministry of Environment and provincial Ministers of Water, Land and Air Protection, Sustainable Resource Management and Energy and Mines.

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Chair stated that letters should be sent out as soon as possible to advise the appropriate agencies of the City's position on the matter.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

It was moved and seconded

That staff prepare a letter to the Greater Vancouver Regional District expressing the City's disappointment with the Boards decision to recommend that the Provincial Government seek intervenor status regarding the Sumas Energy 2 and BP Cherry Point Energy Generation Facilities, and indicating that the City is of the view that the Board should have taken this matter forward because the GVRD is responsible for air quality in this region.

CARRIED

5.

emergency demolition services
(Report:  Sept. 30/02, File No.:  5140-01) (REDMS No. 868390)

Chief Fire Prevention Officer Rick Stene advised that he was available to respond to any questions which the Committee might have.  A brief discussion ensued during which the following information was provided:

-

the need for emergency demolition services arises approximately once every two years

-

the cost of the service depended on the size of the building, however, such cost is usually recovered through the appropriate insurance company; if the insurance company was not available to authorize the service at the time of the fire, the Fire-Rescue Department would endeavour to recover the costs at a later date

-

the criteria for the company providing the demolition service was that they would be able to respond to the request within five minutes of being called, and have their equipment on-site within three hours.
 

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated September 30^th, 2002, from the Fire Chief), regarding Emergency Demolition Services), be received for information.

CARRIED

6.

JUNIOR FIRE FIGHTERS DAY CAMP
(Oral Report)  (PowerPoint Presentation)

Deputy Fire Chief Wayne Stevens introduced Fire Inspector Dave Clou, who developed the Junior Fire Fighters Day Camp program.  A PowerPoint presentation (a copy of which is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes) was then given on the first Day Camp held in early August of this year.

Discussion ensued during the presentation, during which the following information was provided:

-

twelve children, including one girl, participated in the pilot program

-

the goal of the program was to teach life safety educational skills to children and to raise community awareness about the core services provided by the Fire-Rescue Department

-

the program could accommodate approximately twelve children ranging in age from 5 to 9 years

-

Inspector Clou would like to offer the program more often throughout the year, however, because of the scope of the program, it would be difficult to do because the participating fire hall crew would have to be taken down to a second responder level.
 

A suggestion was made during the discussion, that tickets which provided information on the program and which indicated that interested children could call to participate, should be sent home with students at the end of the school year as a means of generating interest in the program. 

The Chair, in closing the discussion, noted that there had been excellent feedback about the program, and indicated that she looked forward to hearing about how this program could be implemented in other community centres.  The Chair thanked Fire Inspector Clou for his efforts.

It was moved and seconded

That the oral report and PowerPoint presentation regarding the Junior Fire Fighters Day Camp Program, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

DIVISION QUARTERLY REPORT
(PowerPoint presentation)

The Manager, Divisional Programs, Shawn Issel, along with Fire Chief Jim Hancock; Superintendent Ward Clapham, OIC, Richmond Detachment of the RCMP; the Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs, Suzanne Bycraft; the Acting Manager, Community Bylaws, Victor Wei, and Manager, Human Resources, Gail Tremeer, participated in a PowerPoint presentation, during which each reported on specific areas of interest within their respective sections.  A copy of this presentation is attached as Schedule B and forms part of these minutes.

(Cllr. Greenhill returned to the meting at 4:36 p.m., during the above presentation.)

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and Supt. Clapham on issues relating to marijuana grow operations, including the impact on the City; the addictiveness of todays marijuana as compared to marijuana grown a number of years ago; how the RCMP laid charges; and whether the City's building inspectors advised the RCMP of house plans which appeared to be specially designed to accommodate marijuana grow operations.

Reference was made to a statement in the PowerPoint presentation about the RCMPs proposed Five Year Plan.  In response to questions about the availability to Council of this plan, advice was given that presentation of the plan had been delayed by one month, and that it was hoped that the report would be submitted to Council within the next short while.

Also discussed among Committee members and staff was the likelihood of a terrorist attack taking place in Richmond, and the steps being taken to prepare for such an event.

Information was also provided on the interaction of the City's Building and Fire Inspectors to identify common issues and to develop a plan of action to deal with these problems.

The Chair, in concluding the discussion, thanked the presenters for their reports.

It was moved and seconded

That the oral report and PowerPoint presentation on the Division Quarterly Report for the 2^nd and 3^rd Quarters, be received for information.

CARRIED

8.

MANAGERS REPORT

(a)

Street Racing Supt. Clapham provided information to the Committee on the proposal to establish a Special Street Racing Task Force.  A copy of the material circulated to the Committee on the task force is attached as Schedule C and forms part of these minutes.
 

Discussion ensued among Committee members, staff and Supt. Clapham on this issue, during which Supt. Clapham provided information on steps being taken by the Richmond Detachment to combat street racing, such as the possible installation of cameras in police vehicles. 

Discussion also took place on (i) the needs of the public to see solutions being developed and put in place to deal with speeding; (ii) action taken to date to address this problem; (iii) the composition and purpose of the proposed task force; (iv) the need of Council to be aware of its powers and restrictions with regard to speeding and to work together with the RCMP on enforcement and education; (v) whether additional resources might be required to deal with the situation; and (vi) the need for short and long term plans.

During the discussion, staff were requested to provide to Council, a list of what had been done to address speeding in Richmond, the action currently being undertaken, and the direction in which the City was proceeding.  The suggestion was also made during the discussion that the Speed Watch volunteers be used to undertake a neighbourhood blitz to alert motorists as to whether or not they were speeding.

Questions were also raised about the issuance of a press release which would outline the action being taken by the City and the RCMP.  Reference was also made to the report being prepared by staff, and the suggestion was made that the report should be presented to the General Purposes Committee rather than waiting until the next meeting of the Community Safety Committee.
 

(b)

Oral Reports to Committee Mr. Gale reported that The Administrators Group (TAG) had been addressing the types of reports being submitted to Committee and Council.  He noted that a number of problems had arisen because of the fact that this particular Committee dealt with more oral reports than written reports, and at the present time, TAG did not support the submission of oral reports to Committee.
 

A brief discussion ensued on this matter, as a result of which it was agreed that issues which required decisions would be presented in a written report format.  It was further agreed that information matters could be dealt with orally, with backup documentation (i.e. PowerPoint presentation).

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:51 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 Wednesday, October 16^th, 2002.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant