MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, April 15^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 10^th, 2003, 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 meeting of the Community Safety Committee Advisory Task Force held on April 8^th, 2003, be received for information.

CARRIED

 

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

4.

Police Chief Briefing
(Oral Report)  (30 Minutes in duration)

Constable Gary Law, Richmond Detachment of the RCMP, Auxiliary Constable Coordinator, gave a PowerPoint presentation on Auxiliary Constable Program.  A copy of the presentation is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes. 

Following the conclusion of the presentation, discussion ensued among Committee members and Const. Law about the program.  Congratulations were offered by the Chair and Mayor Brodie on the recent graduation ceremony.  The Chair also offered her thanks to the new members of the Auxiliary Constable Program.

The Chair, in referring to the 9-1-1 Awards Night held recently, noted a number of police officers and fire fighters in the audience, and she congratulated all those persons who had been nominated and honoured at the event.

5.

RFP FOR SALE AND LEASEBACK AGREEMENT FOR FIRE VEHICLES
(Report:  Feb. 25/03, File No.:  0650-01) (REDMS No. 971952)

The Director, Finance, Andrew Nazareth, accompanied by Deputy Chief Dave Scorgie, reviewed the report with the Committee.  Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on:

whether a portion of the funds received from the sale/leaseback arrangement would be set aside each year for investment, and the timing of this investment
 

the risk, if any, to the City in entering into such an arrangement and the impact of this arrangement, based on rising or falling interest rates
 

the percentage of return to the City
 

whether the percentage of return would be as high for this proposal as had been obtained by the City for the Public Works vehicle purchase scheme
 

the impact, if any, on the City's operating budget if the proposed sale/leaseback arrangement was approved
 

the responsibility of the City to undertake maintenance and repairs to the vehicles
 

the rationale for recommending that the City lease vehicles rather than purchasing them outright at this time.
 

(Councillor Howard left the meeting at 4:43 p.m., during the above discussion, and did not return.)

It was moved and seconded

That the Purchasing Department exercise the option outlined in Section 11.4 of the current FRP submission by GE Fleet Services to add new Fire Rescue Vehicles/Equipment to the lease program.

CARRIED

6.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FIRE APPARATUS
(Report:  Apr. 29/03, File No.:  0650-01) (REDMS No. 973348)

Deputy Fire Chief Scorgie, accompanied by Captain Barry Williams, a member of the Vehicle Replacement Committee, reviewed the report with the Committee.

Captain Williams, in speaking further to the proposal, advised that the fourth vehicle, if approved, would be the same in construction as the three trucks purchased in 2002, and would have the same chassis, drive line and cab as those vehicles.  He added that a large supply of parts would not have to be maintained in order to fit a variety of vehicles; and that maintenance and driver training would not be required as the first three vehicles would be in operation by the time the Department took possession of the fourth vehicle.

Captain Williams added that with the rotation of personnel from fire hall to fire hall, it made sense to have the vehicles as similar as possible to ensure that during high stress situations, there would be no unexpected incidents occurring.

A brief discussion ensued, during which in response to questions, Deputy Chief Scorgie confirmed that the vehicle in question was not a Quint and would compliment the existing vehicles.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Richmond Fire-Rescue (RFR) exercise the option of obtaining the fourth fire apparatus as noted in Tender Contract T.5129.
 

(2)

That a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be used to ensure the supply and delivery of one fire apparatus by Federal Signal Corporation in an amount not to exceed $759,984.00, inclusive of applicable taxes.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

7.

HAMILTON & SEA ISLAND COMMUNITY SAFETY BUILDINGS PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
(Report:  Apr. 2/03, File No.:  7000-09-20-030; 7000-09-20-031) (REDMS No. 984185)

The Manager, Policy Planning, Terry Crowe, accompanied by Senior Planner Kari Huhtala, advised that they were available to respond to any questions which the Committee might have.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the feasibility of consolidating the funds for art projects at each building into one fund for a more substantial piece of art at one building.  Advice was given during the discussion that there would be sufficient funds available to place art at all three buildings, and questions were then raised about the feasibility of creating art for the three buildings which had a common theme, and which for the Community Safety building, would be on a grander scale than the art pieces proposed for the fire halls.  At this point, staff circulated photographs of public art introduced at three fire stations in Seattle, Washington.  (A copy of these photographs are on file in the City Clerks Office.)

Discussion continued among Committee and staff members on how a common theme to the art work could be introduced, while at the same time, recognizing the uniqueness of each neighbourhood.  During the discussion information was provided by staff on (i) the history of the establishment of the public art fund, and (ii) the process which would be followed to obtain art proposals for the facilities in question.

As a result of the discussion, the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated April 2^nd, 2003, from the Manager, Policy Planning), regarding the Hamilton and Sea Island Community Safety Buildings Public Art Projects, be referred to staff to:
 

(1)

further examine the feasibility of installing fewer art pieces at certain fire stations and larger pieces at others;
 

(2)

identify how staff could incorporate a common approach to art pieces for those public safety buildings which were coming on-stream, while incorporating community identities and input, as well as the creativity of the individual artists.

CARRIED

OPPOSED:  Cllr. Barnes

8.

MANAGERS REPORT

(a)

The General Manager, Community Safety, Chuck Gale, reported that five Richmond firefighters would be climbing Mt. McKinley in Alaska in May, 2004, to raise funds for the Make A Wish Foundation.  He stated that their objective was to raise $203,000 through corporate and private sponsorships.  Mr. Gale also advised that the team required a vehicle to transport them and their equipment to various BC training sites once every six weeks approximately, and suggested that if the Committee supported the idea of allowing the team to use an appropriate City vehicle for this purpose, that staff could make this happen.
 

Mr. Gale then introduced Jim Wishlove and Kelly Moss, spokesman and team member respectively, and discussion then ensued among Committee members and the delegation on the type of vehicle required, and their efforts to raise funds and public awareness about the event.
 

As a result of the discussion, Mr. Gale was directed to prepare a report to the next meeting of the General Purposes Committee to provide more detailed information on the event and on the proposal to use a City vehicle to provide transportation to the team.
 

(b)

The Chair referred to the final report of the Fireworks/Cracker Advisory Task Force received by all members of Council in the form of a memorandum, which among other things, indicated that the Task Force was being disbanded as their work was now complete.  Cllr. Barnes, on behalf of the Committee, acknowledged and thanked the Task Force for their efforts.
 

(c)

The Chair referred to a recent news release regarding the ending of the Block Parent Program in Richmond, and advice was given by Mr. Gale that he had requested information on this matter which he would provide to the Committee.
 

(d)

The Chair referred to the Giving Kids What They Need To Succeed workshop held at City Hall during the morning of May 13^th, 2003, and acknowledged the participation of the Richmond Detachment of the RCMP at this event.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:25 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, May 13^th, 2003.

_________________________________

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerks Office