MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, July 13th, 2004, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 13^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 on the following matters:

(1)

Team IZZAT – East Indian RCMP team get together with youth.

Insp. Mahon provided information to the Committee on Team IZZAT.  A short video clip was then presented of recent media coverage about the team, its work with youth, and its success.
 

A brief discussion ensued, during which information was provided on other programs which the Richmond RCMP Detachment intended to initiate within the coming months; and on the efforts of the Detachment to expand its involvement substantially in local elementary and high schools.  Also discussed was the positive message which Team IZZAT was giving to local youth.
 

It was moved and seconded

That two letters be written, the first to Cpl. Jen Sunner to recognize his efforts in establishing Team IZZAT, and the second to Team IZZAT members, expressing the Committee’s gratitude for taking the initiative to work with City youth.

CARRIED

( 2)

Update on Homicide Incident.

Insp. Mahon provided a brief update on this incident.  During the brief discussion which ensued, the Detachment was commended for its handling of the situation.
 

Insp. Mahon then introduced Sgt. Ron Paysen, Client Services NCO; S/Sgt. Les Flewelling who had replaced Jim Provost, and Cpl. David Hansen.

4.

Fireworks Regulation Changes for Halloween 2004
(Report:  August 25/04, File No.:  12-8060-7801/7802) (REDMS No. 1215638, 1258044, 1318195, 1320630)

The Manager, Community Outreach, Don Pearson, accompanied by Fire Chief Jim Hancock, advised that the main highlights of the changes in the current firework regulations were (i) the change in the definition of ‘roman candle’ to remove all reference to diameter; (ii) the restricting of use of fireworks to between the hours 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on October 31^st only, and (iii) introducing a permit process for those businesses which sell fireworks.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed changes, with the following information being provided in response to questions:

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a permit would only be issued by the Fire Department following a thorough review of the proposed event and the qualifications of the event operator

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the fines proposed in the Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw (MTI) amendment were consistent with other municipalities and with practices of the City in the past

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the regulations contained in the new Fireworks Regulation Bylaw would have a far greater impact on those businesses which were found to be contravention of selling fireworks because those operators would not be permitted to sell fireworks in the future.

Particular attention was then paid to the amounts of the fines proposed in the MTI bylaw amendment, with opinions being expressed that the fine amounts should be considerably higher, especially for selling fireworks without a sale permit.  The comment was made that a fine in the amount of $1,000 would have a much greater impact against a business than a fine of only $100.

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

It was moved and seconded

That the fine amount contained in Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7132, Amendment Bylaw No. 7802, for selling fireworks without a sale permit, be increased to $1,000.
 

The question on the motion was not called, as the suggestion was made that the City should have the ability in the bylaw to suspend the business licence of any business operator who failed to comply with the bylaw regulations.  Staff were requested to review this proposal and provide a memorandum to Council on whether business licences suspensions could be included in the bylaw.

Further discussion took place on the amounts of the proposed fines, with comments being made that the remaining fines should also be increased to a minimum of $250.

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

It was moved and seconded

That Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7132, Amendment Bylaw No. 7802, be referred to staff for review and revision of the proposed fine amounts as discussed, and that a memorandum and accompanying revised bylaw be submitted to the September 27^th, 2004 Regular Council Meeting as part of the Council Agenda package.

CARRIED

Also addressed by Committee members with staff were the issues of:

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how enforcement of the firework regulations would take place

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whether the City would be handing out printed notices to the sellers of fireworks to ensure that they and the purchasers were aware of the new regulations.
 

Discussion continued on the issue of the notification of business operators and the public about the new fireworks regulations, with the suggestion being made that a condition of obtaining the required permit be that the operator was required to display the proposed bylaw in clear view of the public, similar to the posting of the annual business licence.  The need for a communication strategy for the future was raised, and the need for postings, advertising and publicizing of the new regulations at the appropriate locations was also addressed.

In response to a further question, information was provided that the required $300 permit fee would be on an annual basis.  Reference was made to a statement in the staff report about the need to educate adults and children about the dangers of fireworks, and the suggestion was made that City staff should involve the School Board in promoting awareness of these dangers with the school children, along with the new restrictions on the use of fireworks and the penalties for abusing this use.

The Chair noted that the Fire Department staff at the No. 1 Fire Hall be responsible for the issuance of permits, rather than selling the permits at City Hall, and staff were requested to report to Committee after the upcoming fireworks season, on whether the collection of fees had proven to be an onerous problem for the Department.

Discussion continued briefly on the need to ensure that the public was aware of the new fireworks regulations, during which the suggestion was made that the sellers should be required to ask each purchaser if they were aware that fireworks could only be discharged between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on October 31^st.  Staff were asked to consider whether this could be made a condition of obtaining a permit.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw 7801 which repeals and replaces Firecracker & Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 2116, with the permit process to be initiated upon adoption, but the permit not to be charged until January 1, 2005, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

The Chair noted that Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 7132, Amendment Bylaw 7802 would be submitted to Council without a recommendation in anticipation of the amendments being suggested by staff.  She reiterated that a memorandum and revised bylaw would be included in the Council Agenda package for the September 27^th, 2004 meeting.

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(a)

The Chair referred to correspondence which had been received regarding Veteran’s Licence Plates and a proposal that veterans be allowed to park free in November.
 

Mr. Pearson advised that the proposal would require a bylaw amendment, however, staff were considering the feasibility of allowing those individuals with Veteran’s Licence plates to park free the week of November 11^th where possible.  He added that a report would be submitted to Committee on the matter.
 

(b)

The Chair referred to correspondence received from the Greater Vancouver Regional District regarding the California Air Resources Board’s Heavy Duty Idling Control Measure, and questioned whether staff were reviewing this matter.
 

A brief discussion ensued during which it was noted that there were a number of enforcement issues relating to this matter.  As a result, staff were requested to provide a memorandum to Committee on this issue.
 

(c)

The Chair referred to correspondence from Mrs. Kathy Kiernan regarding the control of internet child pornography in the City, and the following referral motion was introduced:
 

It was moved and seconded

That the correspondence (dated July 18^th, 2004, from Mrs. Kathy Kiernan), regarding internet child pornography, be referred to staff for review.

CARRIED

(d)

Fire Chief Hancock reported that Fire Department personnel would now be responding to a wider range of medical emergencies as a result of changes initiated by the British Columbia Ambulance Service.  He stated that staff would be reporting to the Committee on the Department’s level of involvement.
 

(e)

Chief Hancock referred to a recent article which appeared in the Vancouver Sun regarding the potential of a nationwide radio system collapse.  He advised that in British Columbia, with E-Comm, safety workers (police, fire and ambulance) had compatible radio technology and would be able to communicate with each other in the event of a major disaster.  Chief Hancock further advised that a study was currently underway which required Richmond responders to communicate with each other, the result of which should be increased efficiency and effectiveness.
 

(f)

The Chair referred to the recent media attention paid to the Richmond Night Market and to the debriefing which was to take place following the closure of the market for the winter.  She asked that one or two area residents be included in the debriefing, and that a memorandum be submitted to the Committee on the outcome.

(g)

The Chair expressed her appreciation to staff for the Community Safety ‘Progress Report, January – August, 2004’, and noted that many of the initiatives which were started a year ago were being completed.  However, she expressed concern about the lack of any new initiatives coming forward.

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, September 14^th, 2004.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office