MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Committee held on Tuesday, January 11^th, 2005, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 15^th, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION

3.

POLICE CHIEF BRIEFING

(Oral Report)  (30 Minutes in duration)

Items for discussion:

(1)

Police Update

Sgt. Maria Salzl, NCO i/c Community Policing, provided information on the new Crime Prevention Team and the programs for which this team is responsible.  (Information material circulated to Committee members is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.)

Sheila Yamamoto, Assistant Blockwatch and Crime Prevention Coordinator, provided information on action being taken to deal with crimes occurring at the Ackroyd shopping centres.

DARE Coordinator Debbie Hunwicks provided information on the DARE program currently being taught to Grade 5 students in the Richmond school system.

Cpl. Dave Williams Acting NCO i/c Richmond Traffic Section, reviewed his Statistical Traffic Enforcement Report with the Committee.  A copy of this report is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.  A brief discussion ensued on the increase in the number of pedestrian vs motor vehicle accidents and whether education would help to reduce the number of accidents which were occurring.

(2)

Integrated British Columbia Gang Task Force

Insp. Rennie Nesset, Operations Officer, provided information on the formation of the Integrated British Columbia Gang Task Force by the Provincial Government.  He explained that this task force had been formed at the request of the Indo-Canadian community to deal with Indo-Canadian gangs.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

4.

(Report:  Jan. 19/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7890) (REDMS No. 1381326, 1388927)

It was moved and seconded

That Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 5870, Amendment Bylaw No. 7890, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

The question on the motion was not called, as the following amendment was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Clause (1) of Bylaw No. 7890 be amended by deleting in the proposed subsection 12A.7, the figure ‘15’ and by substituting the figure ‘30’.

CARRIED

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

5.

PARKING PROGRAM – OFF-STREET – VETERANS’ PLATES, CELLULAR PAYMENT AND ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS
(Report:  Jan. 19/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7891) (REDMS No. 1395674, 1396390)

It was moved and seconded

That Parking (Off-Street) Regulation Bylaw No. 7403, Amendment Bylaw No. 7891, as amended to delete in Clause (1) of Bylaw No. 7891, the proposed subsection 5.2.2, the figure ‘15’ and substituting the figure ‘30’, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

6.

MUNICIPAL TICKET INFORMATION (MTI) REVIEW

(Report:  Jan. 19/05February 7, 2005, File No.:  12-8060-20-7321) (REDMS No. 1394967)

The Manager, Community Bylaws, Don Pearson, reviewed his report with the Committee. 

A question was raised about whether the fines currently in effect for unconfined dogs and dogs at large provided a sufficient deterrent to the owners of these dogs.  Information was provided that increased enforcement should be a major factor in providing a deterrent as the lack of animal enforcement in the past did not instil any fear in dog owners about ‘getting caught’.

Discussion also ensued on the status of the creation of a ‘local bylaw court’ to deal with the collection of fines, as well as a ‘local traffic court’ to deal with parking and other traffic-related offences.  Information was provided that initially the local court process would only deal with parking offences, and that as City staff became more experienced, animal control issues would become part of that process.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated January 19^th, 2005, from the Manager, Community Bylaws), regarding the Municipal Ticket Information (MTI) Review, be received for information, and that staff report by the end of March 2005 on any appropriate adjustments to the current fine amounts.

CARRIED

7.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SAFETY STANDARDS ACT
(Report:  Jan. 14/05, File No.:  01-0035-20-SSTA1) (REDMS No. 1396484, 1237664)

The Manager, Building Approvals, John Irving, in response to questions, advised that the increase in the number of failed gas inspections was most likely a result of the current building boom and construction sites.  He added that all failed inspections were re-inspected to ensure that the faults had been corrected. 

During the discussion, advice was given that the City was represented on a new ‘Safety Administrators’ Group’ which would be holding monthly meetings to deal with on-going issues and to help develop new regulations.

Reference was made to earlier concerns that public safety could be compromised by the use of lower skilled people to work on safety systems, and advice was given that staff had not seen any problems to date, however, problems could occur in the future as more and more unqualified trades people were employed.  It was indicated however that the City’s bylaws would address any liability issue which might arise.

It was moved and seconded

That the report (dated January 14^th, 2005, from the Manager, Building Approvals), regarding the impact to the City of the new provincial government Safety Standards Act and Safety Authority Act and their associated regulations, be received for information.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

8.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION BYLAW NO. 7898

(Report:  Feb. 1/05, File No.:  12-8060-20-7898) (REDMS No. 1398104, 1391241)

A brief discussion ensued between the Manager, Emergency & Environmental Programs, Suzanne Bycraft and the Chair about the selection of the General Purposes Committee as the committee to report to for emergency planning.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 7898, which establishes an Emergency Management Organization under the provisions of the Emergency Program Act, be introduced and given first, second and third readings.

CARRIED

9.

2005 COMMUNITY SAFETY MAJOR INITIATIVES

(PowerPoint presentation)

The Manager, Operational Support Community Safety, Sandy Pearson advised that a PowerPoint presentation would take place to review the 2005 Community Safety Initiatives.  A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.  The following individuals then reviewed their section’s initiatives with the Committee:

‘Community Bylaws’ – Don Pearson.

‘Emergency Programs’ and ‘Environmental Programs’ – Suzanne Bycraft.

‘BC Ambulance Service’ – Pascal Rodier, Unit Chief, Station 250.

‘Fire Rescue’ – Deputy Chiefs Geoff Lake and Reg Smith.

‘Richmond RCMP’ – advice was given that the Richmond Detachment would be reporting to the March 15^th Committee meeting on its 2004 accomplishments and 2005 initiatives.

‘Richmond Safe Communities Alliance’ – Shawn Issel.

The Chair noted that Pascal Rodier had participated in the presentation voluntarily, and she asked that staff pass on her thanks to Pascal for his contribution to the presentation.

A brief discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on such matters as (i) the ‘public access AED and CPR’ initiative and whether the City had access to any of the statistics regarding the success of this program; and (ii) HAZMAT training and whether the City would realize any savings as a result of local firefighters being trained to deal with hazardous materials.

10.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Shawn Issel provided an update on the Richmond Night Market, noting that the owners wished to expand its operation and were working with Urban Development staff to apply for a new Temporary Use Permit.  Ms. Issel added that the neighbourhood consultation which was to have taken place as a result of the 2004 Night Market would now occur as part of the application for the Temporary Use Permit.  She further advised that both the owners and the RCMP had issues which had to be addressed.  In response, the Chair asked that the message be conveyed to the owners that although the City supported the Night Market, neighbourhood concerns, crime issues and staff time to deal with the proposal would have to be mitigated.

The Chair asked that the SOS Team review an issue in Steveston relating to Steveston Harbour Authority property, the wooden boardwalks in the area, and smoking on the boardwalk.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:21 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, February 15^th, 2005.

_________________________________

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Councillor Linda Barnes
Chair

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