MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, March 9^th, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, May 11^th, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

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

Inspector Tony Mahon spoke briefly about the following matters, and then introduced with respect to:

(1)

Victim Services Update Scott Vallance, Unit Manager, and Glenna Christensen, Assistant Manager, who provided information and responded to questions on  the Victim Witness Services Program.  A copy of the material circulated by the delegation is on file in the City Clerks Office.

During the discussion which ensued, the delegation was requested to provide in its next report, a breakdown of the 136 situations to which staff and volunteers had responded during the period January 1st, 2002 to December 31^st, 2003.
 

The Chair thanked the delegation for their presentation.
 

( 2)

Regional approach to Marijuana Insp. Paul Nadeau, who spoke about the marijuana grow op situation.  Discussion ensued among Committee members and the delegation on action which could be taken by the City to deal with this matter.  As a result of the discussion, the RCMP was requested to provide an update in six month's time on the status of these grow ops.
 

In concluding the discussion, the Chair thanked Insp. Nadeau for his report.

4.

ANIMAL, BIRD & BEEKEEPING REGULATION BYLAW AMENDMENT
(Report:  Mar. 25/04, File No.:  8060-20-7692) (REDMS No. 1218614, 1167592)
 

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 7692 which amends Animal, Bird & Beekeeping Regulation Bylaw No. 7137 to regulate the nuisance caused by the feeding of pigeons or other birds, be introduced and given first, second, and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

PESTICIDE USE MANAGEMENT IN RICHMOND
(Report:  Mar. 29/04, File No.:  6125-04-01) (REDMS No. 1216668)

The Assistant Manager, Environmental Programs, Margo Daykin, spoke briefly about the recommendations, noting that the focus was on all users and the action which could be taken to reduce the use of pesticides. 

(Mayor Brodie entered the meeting at 4:40 p.m.)

In response to questions, the following information was provided:

-

with regard to potential costs to the City, the recommended approach dealt with the use of pesticides on a corporate level as directed by the City's corporate plan, some of which might have financial implications while others could simply be the implementation of different initiatives; any significant cost implications would be submitted to Council for approval

-

the stakeholder groups to whom the draft policy would be sent after adoption of the recommendation would be advised that the City was seeking input; following receipt of that information, a more strategic action plan would be developed and submitted to Council for approval

-

a major initiative of the proposed approach was to try and focus on, and emphasize, community power and decision making with respect to the availability of products.

Discussion continued, with concern being expressed about whether Recommendation No. 3 was premature at this time.  The request was also made that copies of the bylaws of other municipalities which were referred to in the staff report, be provided to members of Council.

Mr. Ivan Bulic, SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) Project Coordinator, (using transparencies as part of his presentation) spoke at length about alternatives which were available to using pesticides. 

During the brief discussion which ensued among Committee members, concern was expressed about Recommendation No. 3, with the view being expressed that the Committee should have the opportunity to review the findings before finalizing policy and implementation strategy.

As a result of the discussion, the following amended recommendation was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That a community-wide policy approach be adopted to address concerns pertaining to pesticide use which:
 

(a)

ensures responsible corporate pesticide management;
 

(b)

in partnership with the community, facilitates information sharing and the adoption of preferable practices that reduce pesticide risk; and
 

(c)

encourages stronger management by senior governments to better protect human health and the environment.
 

(2)

That the proposed Pesticide Risk Reduction Policy (attached to the report dated March 29^th, 2004, from the Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs), be referred to the City's Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE) and Agricultural Advisory Committee, Richmond Health Services, and other stakeholder groups for input.
 

(3)

That staff report to the Community Safety Committee in October, 2004, with results of the input from the stakeholders referred to in Part (2) above, for discussion.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the order of the agenda be varied to deal with Item No. 7 at this time.

CARRIED

7.

RICHMOND SAFE COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE BUSINESS PLAN
(Report:  Mar. 24/04, File No.:  0060-01) (REDMS No. 1214206, 1218109)

The Manager, Policy Development & Corporate Programs, Shawn Issel, accompanied by Senior Planner Kari Huhtala, advised that the proposed Richmond Safe Communities Alliance was not intended to be an advisory committee of Council, but rather, a community based organization.

In response to questions, the following information was provided:

-

with respect to whether appointments to the Alliance would be related to specific organizations, Alliance members were not appointed, as anyone who had an interest in safety could become a member; the interim Board had been formed and once the business plan had been approved, formal appointments would be made to the Board
 

-

the interim Board of the Alliance, which had been established to get the Board appointed, would most likely elect representatives to the Board
 

-

financial implications to the City in approving the proposed recommendations were still to be determined as the City would be one of a number of organizations which would be approached for assistance; with respect to the City, any funding requirements would be submitted as part of the grant process  (further information was provided by Mr. Huhtala on possible funding sources across Canada, during which he advised that the purpose of the Alliance was to present one voice on community safety and to identify potential funding which could be allocated to fully promote education).
 

Discussion continued among Committee members and staff on the issue of possible financial implications to the City, on the contributions already being made by the City with respect to safety initiatives, and on whether the recommendation should be amended to include the words on the understanding that there would be no cash commitment made by the City.

Also discussed was the amount of staff time to be contributed to the Alliance, during which information was provided that Mr. Huhtala was committed to be involved with the project until June when it was anticipated that the Business Plan would be adopted by the national organization.  Ms. Issel stated that her involvement as staff liaison would be minimal and would only continue until the formal Board was functioning on its own. 

Further advice was given that the Alliance consisted of those stakeholder agencies which were involved with safety, and that one of the purposes of the Alliance was to act as a forum to coordinate the activities of the stakeholders to provide better efficiency.  Advice was given that the focus of the Alliance was to provide to promote prevention and education rather than enforcement or regulatory activities.

Discussion continued, with reference being made to the timeline and the impact which could result if the report was referred to staff for more details on the financial implications. 

Ms. Florence Gordon, President of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the many hours which the members of the Task Force had spent on developing the plan now being considered by the Committee.  She advised that her main objective was to have Richmond named as the first Safe City in all of British Columbia, and that this could only be achieved if the timeframe outlined in the report, was maintained.  Ms. Gordon stated that while she would like to have the proposed plan adopted in June, she would also appreciate a report to Council regarding the financial situation.

As a result of the discussion, the following amended recommendations were introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Richmond Safe Communities Alliance (RCSA) Business Plan be endorsed;
 

(2)

That Councillor Linda Barnes be appointed to the Interim Executive Board of the Richmond Safe Communities Alliance;
 

(3)

That staff forward the Business Plan to the Canadian Safe Communities Foundation to be considered for designation as a Safe Community, and
 

(4)

That staff provide written information to Council prior to the April 26^th, 2004 Regular Council Meeting on potential cost implications to the City.

CARRIED

6.

2004 WEST NILE VIRUS PROGRAM PROPOSAL
(Report:  Apr. 2/04, File No.:  6125-04-8) (REDMS No. 1129199)  (PowerPoint presentation)
 

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Richmond Health Services be retained to undertake a Proactive Larviciding Program and a Catch Basin Study, as per their proposal dated April 2, 2004, 2004 West Nile Virus Program Proposal.
 

(2)

That staff bring forward a bylaw amendment which would provide additional regulatory means to assist Richmond Health Services in controlling mosquito populations on private property.
 

Prior to the question on the motion being called, as a brief discussion ensued among the delegation Dr. James Lu, Kelvin Higo, Program Manager, and Steve Chong, on when the virus could be expected to arrive in the Lower Mainland.  Comments were made during the discussion about the need to be proactive and to undertake a pre-emptive program to deal with this virus.

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

8.

AGENDA RICHMOND LOCAL GOVERNANCE LIAISON GROUP MEETING OF FEBRUARY 20^TH, 2004
(File No.:  0151-01) 
 

It was moved and seconded

That the memorandum (dated April 7^th, 2004, from the Manager, Policy Development & Corporate Programs), regarding the Richmond Local Governance Liaison Group Meeting of February 20^th, 2004, be received for information.

CARRIED

Councillor Barnes advised that she had as an individual and not as a Councillor, forwarded her dismay to Vancouver Coastal Health for their recent actions, especially with regard to the ten year contract which they had signed.

A brief discussion ensued on whether the meetings were open to the public, and Cllr. Barnes advised that she would find out.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:32 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, April 14^th, 2004

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerks Office