MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, February 10^th, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 14^th, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

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

Superintendent Ward Clapham and Insp. Tony Mahon reported to the Committee on the following matters:

(1)

Asset Building; and

(2)

Crime Update,

Discussion ensued among Committee members and the delegation on these and other matters.  Committee then requested that staff investigate the proposed decrease in funding for Victim Services and provide an update on this issue to Committee at its next meeting to be held on April 14^th, 2004. 

4.

MARINE EMISSIONS IN GREATER VANCOUVER AREA WATERWAYS

(Report:  Feb. 27/04, File No.:  6175-01) (REDMS No. 1121624)

The Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs, Suzanne Bycraft, accompanied by the Assistant Manager Environmental Programs, Margot Daykin, indicated that they were available to respond to questions. 

A brief discussion ensued on this topic, and in response to a query from Committee, Ms. Daykin advised that to date, there had been no response from the Federal Government concerning the designation of Indian Arm and English Bay/False Creek areas as no-discharge zones.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a letter be written to the Honourable Tony Valeri, Minister of Transport advising of Councils position that:

The federal government accelerate its efforts and adopt the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sewage and air discharge standards for large commercial ocean-going vessels. 

(2)

That copies of these letters be sent to Honourable David Anderson, Minister of Environment, to Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and to the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD).

CARRIED

5.

PARKING PROGRAM PARKING (OFF-STREET) REGULATION BYLAW AMENDMENT

(Report:  Feb. 23/04, File No.:  8060-20-7673) (REDMS No. 1125660, 1125663)

The Manager, Community Bylaws, Mr. Don Pearson stated that he was available to answer questions.  In response to queries from the Committee, he advised that:

              the parking lot at 12900 Railway Avenue would be chained and gated at night, and could not be accessed between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.

              parking would be a maximum of 3 hours, this ensured that patrons had a reasonable length of time to complete their business;

              some parking lots in the area had extended parking; and

             signage in Steveston  indicated choices for both short and extended parking hour lots.

It was moved and seconded

That Parking (Off-Street) Regulation Bylaw No. 7403, Amendment Bylaw No. 7673, which adds a newly developed parking lot to Schedule A, be introduced and given first, second and third readings

CARRIED

6.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS SAFETY SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

(Report:  Feb. 2/04, File No.:   8000-01; xr 0035-01) (REDMS No. 1119064)

Mr. Rick Bortolussi, Manager, Building Approvals Department stated that he was available to answer questions.  In response to a query from Committee, he advised that the apprenticeship program would be significantly changed and in its place, one qualified person would oversee the work of other employees.  Discussion then ensued concerning safety and liability issues.  Mr. Bortolussi advised that:

staff may have to spend more time on inspections, however fees charged were for services provided;

staff would monitor and keep data on the number of times a project was inspected;

the City would establish an agreement with the Province on respective roles and responsibilities;

there would be a memorandum of understanding between the City and the Safety Authority Association concerning levels of service and monitoring;

on April 1^st, the Act would take effect, however, before that occurred, an agreement between the provincial government and local government had to be executed;

an agreement is being drafted by the province and is expected to be  available shortly; and

the policy branch was aware of the timelines for City approvals processes and grandfathering may be implemented until agreements are executed.

Discussion ensued on this topic, and a request was made that Mr. Bortolussi report to Council on the proposed agreement before the end of March.  A request was also made that a copy of the ratified agreement be forwarded to Mr. Brian Clewes, Industrial Training Authority Chair, and to the Minister of Advanced Education, the Honourable Shirley Bond.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated February 2^nd, 2004, from the Manager, Building Approvals Department), regarding the Provincial Governments Safety System Transformation Project, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGERS REPORT

(a)

Dave Scorgie, Deputy Fire Chief, updated Committee on the YVR transition which would occur on April 30^th at 6:00 pm.  He advised that all 37 downsized positions would be covered by attrition.

He stated that the ECOMM transition would occur on Wednesday,      May 5^th.  He noted that transition teams were very professional, and were hard at work transferring institutional knowledge.  He also noted that the Corporation of Delta would join ECOMM in June. 

In response to a query from Committee, Ms. Parissa Aujla advised that staff will be bringing a report to Committee on the budgetary impact of joining ECOMM.  She stated that there would be no impact on the 2004 budget.

Staff responded to Committees queries on efficiencies that would justify the City joining ECOMM and stated that these would also be addressed in the report to Committee.

(b)

Deputy Chief Scorgie was congratulated on his pending retirement and thanked for all his hard work done on behalf of the City.

(c)

The Chair referred to correspondence received concerning homeless cats, and referred this to Mr. Pearson for action.  She also referred to correspondence received from Wasteline Containers Ltd. and forwarded this to Ms. Suzanne Bycraft for information.

(d)

The Chair noted that Sumas Energy II Plant had been refused.

(e)

The Chair advised that both she and Fire Chief Jim Hancock attended the National Defense Land Force Western Area Reception on Wednesday, February 11^th, 2004.

(f)

Committee discussed an incident concerning an off-leash Doberman Pinscher in the West Dike area.  

It was moved and seconded

That more visible signage should be erected in this area with regard to dogs off leash, and that increased enforcement of this matter should be provided during the summer months.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:35 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,    March 9^th, 2004.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Desiree Wong
Recording Secretary, City Clerks Office