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Community Safety Committee
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Date: |
Wednesday, October 13th, 2004 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall |
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Present: |
Councillor Linda Barnes, Chair
Councillor Derek Dang, Vice-Chair
Councillor Bill McNulty
Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie |
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Absent: |
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m., at which time it was agreed that the matter of a “Traffic Light on No. 5 Road” would be added to the agenda as an additional item.
The request was made to also add “Traffic Signal at Moncton Street and No. 1 Road”, however, the Chair noted that this issue had previously been referred to staff for review. |
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NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE |
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2. |
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 9th, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room. |
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3. |
Ms. Carol Reichert, Richmond Homeless Cats, regarding the City’s plan to renew the SPCA’s shelter contract.
(Letter: Sept. 15/04; File No.: 1000-05-021) (REDMS No. 1335403)
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Ms. Carol Reichert, accompanied by Leslie Landa, asked the City not to enter into a contract with the SPCA for the operation of the Richmond Shelter, but instead, to consider her organization as an alternative. (A copy of the material circulated previously by Ms. Reichert on this matter is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.) |
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Ms. Reichert spoke about the difficulties which the Richmond Homeless Cats Society had had with the Richmond SPCA shelter, and expressed concern that the SPCA was not responding to the needs of the community. She stated that the SPCA had been invited to work with the Society to ensure that animals, rather than being euthanized, were turned over to the Society for medical treatment and adoption, but had declined. |
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Ms. Reichert also spoke about the number of animals being brought to the Richmond Shelter from other municipalities, and stated that the SPCA statistics did not appear to reflect these outside animals. She further noted that the SPCA did not have the funds available for veterinary care and as a result, animals were being euthanized because of their medical conditions. |
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Ms. Reichert asked that the Richmond Homeless Cats Society be considered as an alternate organization to operate the Richmond Shelter, noting that funds would always be available for veterinary care. She advised that the Society had over 100 volunteers working at their No. 6 Road cat shelter; that the Society would improve conditions at the SPCA shelter to make it more animal friendly; that animals would no longer be euthanized; and that the current ‘spay and neuter’ program would be increased. In concluding her presentation, Ms. Reichert stated that the Society was of the view that it was now time for a change in the operation of the SPCA shelter and expressed the hope that the Committee was of the same belief. |
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Reference was made to the status of the current contract between the City and the SPCA, and information was provided that the contract was currently being reviewed by the SPCA; and that under the new contract, the City had assumed responsibility for animal control, with the SPCA retaining control of the shelter. |
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Discussion then ensued among Committee members and the delegation on the matter, during which comments were made about the need to verify the statistical information provided by Ms. Reichert in comparison to those provided previously by the SPCA. Questions were also raised about whether the SPCA was providing service to a larger area than was required in the current contract. Concern was also expressed about the SPCA bringing in animals from other areas and the lack of veterinary care. |
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Reference was made to the SPCA Shelter located on City-owned property on No. 5 Road, and advice was given that the Homeless Cat Society wished to take over the current facility, with the hope of expanding the hours of operation, and intended to expand its operation to include the care of dogs. A brief discussion also ensued on whether the Society received a discount on veterinary costs. |
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June Humphries, a volunteer with several animal rescue groups, referred to the statistics provided by Carol Reichert with respect to the number of animals surrendered to the Richmond SPCA Shelter for adoption, and advised that these figures included animals brought in from other municipalities. She indicated that 150 animals had been surrendered for adoption in Richmond, with 200 cats coming from other areas. Ms. Humphries also spoke about the difficulties in obtaining statistical information from the SPCA. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That the proposal of the Richmond Homeless Cats Society to assume responsibility for the operation of the Richmond Animal Shelter (currently operated by the SPCA), be referred to staff for evaluation and consideration, including within that evaluation, any future direct cost implications to the City; and |
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(2) |
That execution of any contract between the City and the SPCA be suspended until after completion of the review of the proposal put forward by the Richmond Homeless Cats Society |
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CARRIED |
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Questions were raised about the timing of the report to Committee on the results of the review, and advice was given that the report would most likely be submitted to the November meeting of the Committee. |
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Reference was also made to the fact that Council had authorized the execution of the contract and that the SPCA only had to execute the contract, and the suggestion was made that staff should be directed to immediately advise the SPCA of the review now being undertaken. The suggestion was also made that City staff should contact the Law Department on the legality of suspending the execution of the contract. |
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It was also noted that the contract had been entered into for a two year period, commencing January 1st, 2004. Questions were raised about whether a formal request for proposal call (RFP) had been issued, and advice was given that while an RFP had not been issued, a number of proposals were received through word of mouth. The suggestion was also made that if the Richmond Homeless Cats Society’s proposal warranted consideration, then Council may wish to consider other alternatives when the contract expired at the end of 2005. |
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In concluding the discussion, the Chair asked staff to check with the City Law Department as quickly as possible about the legality of withholding execution of the contract. Cllr. Barnes then thanked the delegation for their presentation, and indicated that staff would be in touch with them. |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION |
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4. |
Police Chief Briefing
(Oral Report) (30 Minutes in duration)
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Items for discussion: |
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(1) |
5 Year Policing Plan Priorities |
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Supt. Ward Clapham, OIC Richmond Detachment, RCMP, accompanied by Insp. Tony Mahon, Operations Support Officer, briefly reviewed a newspaper article which reported on a documentary being filmed with members of the Richmond Detachment, which would form part of training seminars for the corporate training company, Franklin Covey.
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Material was then circulated to Committee members on “Richmond – West Fraser Area Strategic Framework” and the “2004/2005 Strategic Action Plan”, a copy of which is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes. Discussion ensued among Committee members and the RCMP delegation on:
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the extension of hours of operation of nightclubs within the City, and what could be done to deal with the impact of these extended hours on the police force (the suggestion was made that a closed meeting was needed to deal with these concerns in greater detail) |
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the ‘positive tickets’ program |
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the integration of UBC with the Richmond Detachment |
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the recently enacted “Safe Street” legislation |
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whether speed had been a factor in the recent accident fatality which had occurred on No. 5 Road (the Chair requested that the Detachment increase enforcement in the area, and in response, advice was given that targeted traffic enforcement had already been increased and that volunteers on patrol were also being utilized; Supt. Clapham indicated that he would provide an oral report at the next meeting on the steps being taken by the Detachment to deal with the situation; the Chair also requested that the patrols be extended further south along No. 5 Road to encompass the many religious facilities located along that route; a comment was made that utilizing “Team IZZAT” in this area might also be beneficial).
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the oral report (from Supt. Ward Clapham, OIC Richmond Detachment) regarding the Detachment’s Five Year Policy Plan Priorities, be received for information. |
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CARRIED |
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( 2) |
Introduction of Cpl. Dennis Wilson (Youth Section) |
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Supt. Clapham advised that Cpl. Wilson was unavailable and indicated that he would be introduced at the Committee’s next meeting. |
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5. |
AMENDMENTS TO THE TRAFFIC REGULATION BYLAW AND THE PARKING (OFF-STREET) REGULATION BYLAW – PROPOSED PARKING EXEMPTION
(Report: Sept. 27/04, File No.: 12-8060-7828/7829) (REDMS No. 1324421, 1339000, 1339057)
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the following bylaws that exempt vehicles displaying British Columbia veteran’s licence plates from paying for parking during the week of November 6th to 13th, 2004 inclusive, be given first, second and third readings:
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(1) |
Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 5870 Amendment Bylaw No. 7828; and |
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(2) |
Parking (Off-Street) Regulation Bylaw 7403 Amendment Bylaw No. 7829. |
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CARRIED |
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6. |
TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON NO. 5 ROAD
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It was moved and seconded |
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That staff investigate the traffic situation on No. 5 Road, including the intersection of No. 5 Road and King Road and other areas, and report to the Committee with recommendations on options which could be implemented in terms of pedestrian signals or other measures to ensure community safety, and whether funding would be available through the City, or if it would be feasible to seek community partners as a source of funding. |
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CARRIED |
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The Chair referred to the speed limits on several of Richmond’s major arterial roads, and asked that staff provide information on (i) when speed limits within the City had last been reviewed; (ii) whether a review of these limits should be undertaken, (iii) who had jurisdiction over City’s roads, and (iv) who was responsible for setting speed limits within the City. |
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Staff were also asked to include in the report, information from the RCMP on ‘hot spots’. |
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The Chair circulated to the Committee, copies of the agenda for the October 15th, 2004 meeting of the Richmond Local Governance Liaison Group. A copy of the agenda is on file in the City Clerk’s Office. |
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There was nothing on which to report. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (5:04 p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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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 13th, 2004. |
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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair |
Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant, City Clerk’s Office | |
