MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

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

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, December 14^th, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

The Chair advised that the order of the agenda would be varied to deal with Item Nos. 5 and 6 prior to Item No. 4.

RCMP

3.

Police Chief Briefing

(Oral Report)  (5 to 10 Minutes maximum in duration)

Items for discussion:

(1)

Traffic on No. 5 Road – Insp. Tony Mahon.

Inspector Tony Mahon, accompanied by Supt. Ward Clapham, provided an update on the No. 5 Road traffic issues, advising that the traffic unit had been undertaking high visibility laser and radar enforcement. 

Inspector Mahon also noted that the City had completed a traffic study of the area, and stated that he would like an opportunity to review the information obtained.  Following that review, Insp. Mahon indicated that he would provide a further update on a potential operational plan to address the traffic problems.

Discussion took place among Committee members and staff on (i) the speed limit on No. 5 Road and whether this speed should be reduced; (ii) overall speed limits for the City; and (iii) the dangers of motorists passing on the right.

(2))

Halloween Statistics

The Chair referred to the statistical information which had been received on Halloween 2004, and discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the information provided.

Reference was made to a survey undertaken by the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia regarding Halloween experiences, and discussion ensued on whether the Association would be recommending a regional ban of fireworks.  Also addressed was whether a total ban of fireworks would put an end to the problems which were occurring, as there was still the issue of illegal firecrackers being brought in from the United States.

Further discussion took place on the occurrences, if any, which took place during the week prior to Halloween, and the damage which occurred on October 30^th and 31^st.

The Chair referred to the comments provided by Fire Chief Hancock about a possible regional ban of fireworks and to the comments about the illegal use of firecrackers, and requested that staff examine these issues and bring forward a report at the appropriate time on how to handle this type of situation, including financial accounting.

Discussion continued on the matter of a regional ban of fireworks, and questions were raised about any action being taken at a regional level by the Greater Vancouver Regional District; whether the Solicitor General’s Office had been contacted about the feasibility of implementing a province-wide ban, and whether there would be prosecution of those people who were in possession of illegal firecrackers.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

4.

FIRE DEPARTMENT TRANSITION/ECOMM UPDATE

(Report:  Oct. 26/04, File No.:  09-5140-0-01; xr 09-5125-17-01) (REDMS No. 1221749)

Please see Page 3 of these minutes for action taken on this matter.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

5.

(Report:  Oct. 26/04, File No.:  12-8060-20-7848) (REDMS No. 1347108, 1311232)

The Supervisor, Parking Program, Wayne Mercer, briefly reviewed the report with the Committee.

It was moved and seconded

That Traffic Bylaw No. 5870, Amendment Bylaw No. 7848, to clarify the terms under which a parking permit is valid and to provide a clear indication as to when a vehicle is parked in a permit zone in contravention of the Bylaw, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

6.

PARKING PROGRAM – PARKING IN BLOCK METER ZONES

(Report:  Oct. 26/04, File No.:  12-8060-20-7849) (REDMS No. 1309766, 1309814)

A brief discussion ensued among Committee members and Mr. Mercer regarding the use of cell phones to pay parking fees.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the report (dated October 26^th, 2004, from the Supervisor, Parking Program), regarding the activation of the designated Block Meter Zone on the west side of the 4100 block of Hazelbridge Way, be received for information.

(2)

That Traffic Bylaw No. 5870, Amendment Bylaw 7849, to clarify the designation of Block Meter Zones and the payment methods available for parking, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

FIRE DEPARTMENT

4.

FIRE DEPARTMENT TRANSITION/ECOMM UPDATE

(Report:  Oct. 26/04, File No.:  09-5140-0-01; xr 09-5125-17-01) (REDMS No. 1221749)

The Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs, Suzanne Bycraft, accompanied by the Manager, Finance & Administration, Parissa Aujla, and Deputy Chief Geoff Lake, spoke briefly about the report.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on:

§           

the cumulative deficit and the plan to have this deficit eliminated by 2015

§           

how it had been determined that E-Comm provided quicker response times because of automated call-outs

§           

E-Comm’s efforts to find new stakeholders, and the purpose of the system which was to have every municipality within the Greater Vancouver Regional District and surrounding areas participate in the new system

§           

the degree of input which the City had at the decision-making level, and how many of the decisions made by E-Comm were beyond the control of the City

§           

whether there was any feedback available from staff on how E-Comm was working for the City.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff report on the number of stakeholders who presently participate in the E-Comm dispatch system, and provide recommendations on how the City could provide assistance with the recruitment of new stakeholders by E-Comm.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated October 26^th, 2004, from the Fire Chief), regarding the Fire Department Transition/EComm Update, be received for information.

CARRIED

7.

MANAGER’S REPORT

The Chair referred to minutes of a recent meeting of the Thompson Community Association Board of Directors, which indicated that a motion had been passed to cancel the “Night Shift” program due to an inability to meet program goals.  She requested that the matter be referred to the appropriate staff for comments, noting that the “Night Shift” program had always been seen as a way to keep youth safe.

The Manager, Community Bylaws, Don Pearson, referred to correspondence received from a Richmond resident about the number of children who were viewing pornography on the Internet, and he referred to a bylaw which had been recently adopted by the Province of Ontario which dealt with child pornography.  Mr. Pearson indicated that he would be meeting with the City Solicitor to determine whether that bylaw would be legal under the Community Charter.

The Chair advised that on November 16^th, 2004, the City would receive from the National Safe Communities Foundation, an official designation as a safe community, which Cllr. Barnes noted was a significant award to the City.

Reference was made to the recent townhouse fire in which two young children and their grandfather were rescued from the burning structure by Richmond firefighters.  The request was made, to which the Chair agreed, that a letter of commendation be sent on behalf of the Committee, to the entire Fire Department and to the paramedics for their efforts in saving the three individuals in question.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:56 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, November 9^th, 2004.

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

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