MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Thursday, September 11^th, 2003, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, November 12^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 September 9^th, 2003, be received for information.
 

The question on the motion was not called, as questions were raised about the proposed Safe Communities Foundation.  Advice was given that the Foundation would be a volunteer community program, part of a Canada-wide network, to support community safety issues and initiatives within Richmond.  In response to further questions, advice was given that the Community Safety Advisory Task Force would be submitting a report to the Committee on the proposal within the next short while, as the project was currently a work in progress. 
 

Reference was made to the survey undertaken by the Task Force.  In answer to questions, advice was given that the survey had been approved by the Committee as part of the Task Forces work plan, and that the purpose of the survey was to gather information from the community on safety issues.
 

Reference was also made to the life span of the Task Force, and advice was given that the Task Force would be submitting its final report within the next one and a half months.  Further advice was given that the proposed Foundation was a sub-committee and was expected to continue but at arms length from the City. 
 

Reference was made to the number of citizens who were interested in safety issues within the City and questions were raised about whether there would be any opportunity for these people to participate on future task forces.  Discussion ensued on how the Community Safety Advisory Task Force came to be created, during which the comment was made that the final report could identify issues which might require the formation of another task force, which could provide another opportunity for members of the public to volunteer their services.
 

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

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

4.

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

Supt. Ward Clapham introduced the Commissioner Gary Forbes to the Committee.  Supt. Clapham then reported and responded to questions on the state of affairs of crime and other issues, including:

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automobile theft

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the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team

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break and enter occurrences

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the Auxiliary Constable program

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a possible partnership with the City of Vancouver Police Department regarding domestic violence

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new officers coming to Richmond

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the Green Team and grow ops

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the Positive Ticket program

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the Cst. Jimmy Ng memorial

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the homeless in Richmond.
 

Prior to concluding the discussion, the Chair referred to the RCMPs successful Positive Ticket program and presented Supt. Clapham with a bundle of coupons from Brent Kerr, of Riverport, for free shoes and two games of free bowling at Zone Bowling.

5.

SAFETY VILLAGE UPDATE
(Oral Report)

Fire Chief Jim Hancock introduced Ms. Angele Beausoleil and Mr. Chris Gale, of EdQuest Interactive Corp.  Ms. Beausoleil then gave a PowerPoint presentation to explain the proposed Virtual Safety Village.  A copy of the material circulated by the delegation is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.  During the presentation, the following information was provided:

o         

the City was working on a P3 partnership with EdQuest and others to bring the Virtual Safety Village to Richmond

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there would be no cost to the City as the team would be finding sponsors for development of the program

o         

students, six to twelve years of age, and their parents would be targeted.
 

During the discussion which ensued, reference was made to the proposed Safety Village, and advice was given that furthering of that project was not a priority at this time, as the focus was on the development of the virtual Safety Village.  Further advice was given that the program would be very flexible and could be delivered to any user on a CD-Rom.  With reference to providing a link to the City web site, a response was given that this was an option which could be considered.

Reference was made to the search for sponsors, and the suggestion was made by the Chair that the development team should approach the City's Corporate Sponsorship Committee. 

Discussion continued, during which in response to a further question about whether educators had been approached about the program, advice was given that an educator was a member of the development team and had tested the prototype for the program.  The suggestion was made that the team contact the Richmond School District to determine if the new program would be something in which the District could participate, such as the District did with Project Wet.

During the discussion, staff and the delegation were congratulated on developing an excellent and exciting program.

In concluding the discussion, the Chair asked that staff keep the Committee apprised of their progress on the development of the program.

6.

COAST GUARD UPDATE
(Oral Report)

Ms. Susan Pickerall, representing the Coast Guard, provided an update to the Committee on the Coast Guards hovercraft and dive team.  She spoke about the repairs currently being undertaken on the existing hovercraft Siyay, and stated that the vessel should be back in service by October 27^th.  Ms. Pickerall further advised that the backup vessel should be in the Coast Guards possession by May, 2004, and would be used to provide service when the primary vessel, Siyay, required maintenance.

Ms. Pickerall also reported that the last group of divers were completing their training and would be available by the beginning of November.  She added that the entire complement of divers would be able to respond to any type of water rescue.  Information was also provided that 90% of the rescue calls received by the Coast Guard came from the Richmond area. 

The Chair thanked Ms. Pickerall for her report, and during the brief discussion which ensued, Ms. Pickerall was asked to convey to her superiors, the desire of the Committee that the Coast Guard provide annual updates to the Community Safety Committee, or if an important issue arose, to feel free to appear before the Committee at any time.

7.

disaster response routes
(Report:  Sept. 24/03, File No.:  5125-01) (REDMS No. 1069887)

The Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs, Suzanne Bycraft, reviewed her report with the Committee.  She also introduced Allan Galambos, Ministry of Transportation, and Doug Allan, Joint Emergency Liaison Committee Project Manager.

Discussion ensued among Committee members, staff, and the delegation, during which, in response to questions, the following information was provided:

o         

designation of the Disaster Response routes would mean that City staff could advise City works crews that these roads had to be cleared of debris before anything else

o         

the purpose of the signs was to allow the movement of supplies into an affected area, and if necessary, the evacuation of people

o         

erection of the Disaster Response Route signage along the designated routes would allow City staff not only to set priorities but to also advise the Provincial Ministry where the City's designated routes were located

o         

the Airports emergency disaster route was located within Richmond and therefore was an important component of the initiative, the purpose of which was to provide a link to the Abbotsford Airport

o         

Richmond was the only community in the Lower Mainland which did not have designated emergency response routes

o         

staff were not aware of any funding which might be available to help offset the cost of erecting the signs, but would pursue that option further

o         

if Council gave its support to the proposal, staff would ask the Emergency Planning Committee for direction on who should receive special identification which would be required in the event of an emergency occurring.
 

During the discussion, concern was expressed about whether bridges, etc., which lead to surrounding municipalities would be road worthy after an earthquake, and questions were raised about whether collection areas had been identified.  In response, advice was given that residents would go to community centres and that these muster points had been identified.

It was moved and seconded

That Disaster Response Routes and associated signage be approved along Alderbridge Way from the Highway 91 interchange, south on Garden City Road to Granville Avenue, west along Granville Avenue to No. 2 Road, along No. 2 Road from the airport to Steveston Highway, west on Steveston Highway to No. 1 Road, and south on No. 1 Road, (as shown on Attachment 2 to the report dated September 24, 2003, from the Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs).

CARRIED

8.

COORDINATED APPROACH TO MOSQUITO CONTROL IN THE GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT
(Report:  Sept. 16/03, File No.:   6125-04-01) (REDMS No. 1066230)

Ms. Bycraft reviewed her report with the Committee.  Introduced were Dr. James Loo, Chief Medical Health Inspector, and Kelvin Higo, Chief Public Health Inspector.

Mr. Higo reported that the City's 2003 program was very intensive, and that the City had participated in a special study to determine if a new chemical might be beneficial in preventing the West Nile Virus in the coming year.  He also provided information on regular meetings held with all health authorities on the subject of mosquito control.  Mr. Higo advised that British Columbia had 91 cases of the virus however, every case had originated from other areas.

With reference to the proposal now being considered, Mr. Higo stated that he did not have any problems with the project, but added that even with the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) providing a coordinated approach on a regional basis, Richmond would still be responsible for maintaining its own mosquito control program.  He added that even though the virus had not been a problem in 2003, it was expected that the virus would finally arrive in British Columbia in 2004.

Discussion ensued on the proposal, during which support was expressed for the proposal, however it was felt that Richmond should play a lead role and continue to spray for mosquitoes, even if the GVRD did not.  The request was also made that funding be included in the 2004 budget if the City intended to undertake mosquito control work on an annual basis.  In response to financing of the program, advice was given by Mr. Higo that it was his understanding that the Provincial Government would be providing funding to municipalities to initiate a partial program of spraying. 

During further discussion on the GVRD proposal, advice was given that the GVRD had forwarded the proposal to Lower Mainland municipalities because it had been approached by municipalities which had GVRD parks located within their boundaries.  Ms. Bycraft stated that staff were wanting to ensure that the cost of mosquito control was fair, but at the same time, did not want to turn control of the City's program over to the GVRD.

Reference was made to the need to educate the public about the West Nile virus, and advice was given that pamphlets and other educational materials would be prepared and distributed to community centres for area residents.  The comment was made that if residents took the appropriate precautions, then 95% of the work would be done.

In concluding the discussion, it was noted that coordination of the mosquito control program through the GVRD would provide the benefit of coordination and consistency by allowing municipalities to continue with their own existing programs in a more coordinated manner or, alternatively, to have the GVRD carry out a mosquito control program on their behalf.

It was moved and seconded

That the Greater Vancouver Regional District Board of Directors be advised that Richmond Council supports a coordinated approach to mosquito control, with voluntary participation by member municipalities, to control the spread of West Nile Virus.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:31 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 15^th, 2003.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerks Office